1/2000 thru 6/2020 All Films

Alphabetical List of All Films Watched Jan., 2000 through December, 2023

In the years 2000 through December 2023, I watched approximately 8,775 films.

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)

Some links are to longer reviews on site or on my main reviewing site at letterboxd.com where all reviews are rated on a 5-star basis.
A FILM is defined as a 70 min. plus visual event. A non-capitalized film title is a short film worthy of note.
The year included with the film is the year I watched each film.
(V) = TV, Video or DVD ( +) = repeat viewing (W/O)= walked out

Click to go to Ken Rudolph Movie Site front page.

!WOMEN ART REVOLUTION (2011, d. Lynn Hershman-Leeson) V. Polemic docu 40 years in work on women in art. Moving ending saved film from didacticism. ** 1/2
#CHICAGOGIRL - THE SOCIAL NETWORK TAKES ON A DICTATOR (2014, d. Joe Piscatella) *** 3/4
(DIS)HONESTY: THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES (2015, d. Yael Melamede) *** 1/4
(T)ERROR (2015, d. David Feliz Sutcliffe, Lyric R. Cabral) ***
[500] DAYS OF SUMMER (2009, d. Marc Webb) *** 1/2
[UNTITLED] (2009, d. Jonathan Parker) ***
¡ATRACO! (2013, d. Eduard Cortes) ** 1/2
02:34 (2019, d. Blair Letham) short film ***
06/05 THE SIXTH OF MAY (2005, d. Theo Van Gogh) ** 3/4
1,000 TIMES GOOD NIGHT (2014, d. Erik Poppe) ** 3/4
1:1 (2006, d. Annette K. Olesen) ***
10 ITEMS OR LESS (2006, d. Brad Silberling) ** 1/2
10 YEAR PLAN, THE (2014, d. J. C. Calciano) * 1/2
10 (2003, d. Abbas Kiarostami) Ten vignettes of lady cab driver & her passengers (including her son). Static camera, droning voices. I snoozed. * 1/2
10,000 KM (2014, d. Carlos Marques-Marcet) *** 1/4
10.5 (2004, d. John Lafia) V. The most epically ridiculous, scientifically absurd, horribly written & acted mini-series in tv history. But the f/x were pretty awesome. *
100 MILE RULE (2003, d. Brent Huff) Caper film about a salesman at a conference who is entrapped into an illicit affair. *** 1/4
100 STEPS (I cento passi) (2011 d. Marco Tullio Giordana) *** 1/2
100 YEAR OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED, THE (2016, d. Felix Herngren) ** 3/4
1001 GRAMS (2014, Norway, d. Bent Hamer) *** 1/4
101 REYKJAVIK (2000, d. Baltasar Kormákur) *** 1/4
101 REYKJAVIK (2001, d. Baltasar Kormákur) + ***
10th DISTRICT COURT (2005, d. Raymond Depardon) Docu of the quotidien goings on in a local Parisian court. Illuminating...better than Judge Judy. ***
11 FLOWERS (2012, d. Wang Xiaoshuai) *** 1/4
11:55 (2016, d. Ari Issler, Ben Snyder) *** 1/4
116 Cameras (2017, d. Davina Pardo) *** 3/4
11'9''01 (2003, France doc. d. various) 11 short films by various directors based on 9/11. Mostly a waste of celluloid. ** 1/2
12 HOURS (2001, d. Raul Marchand Sanchez) * 1/2
12 ROUNDS (2010, d. Renny Harlin) V.An action flick of desperate unlikliness with a hero of utter stolidity. But it moves fast enough to be almost tolerable. **
12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013, d. Steve McQueen) ****
12 (2008, d. Nikita Mikhalkov; Russia) ***
12:08 EAST OF BUCHAREST (2006, d. Camelia Porumboiu) **
12-12-12 (2013, d. Amir Bar-Lev) *** 1/2
127 HOURS (2010, d. Danny Boyle) Franco is splendid in a role that he mostly has to play alone (or to a videorecorder); but the film tries too hard. *** 1/4
13 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING (2002, d. Jill Sprecher) *** 1/2
13 GOING ON 30 (2004, d. Gary Winick) Another ridiculous kid in a grownup's body fantasy, though Mark Ruffalo is always worth watching. * 1/2
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI (2017, d. Michael Bay) *** 1/4
13 MINUTES (2016, d. Oliver Hirschbiegel) ****
13 MOONS (2002, d. Alexandre Rockwell) 0*
13 REASONS WHY (2017, d. various) ****
13 REASONS WHY (season #3) (2019, d. various) *** 1/2 High school murder who-done-it with intriguingly complex script and many contemporary issues well done.
13 TZAMETI (2008, d. Géla Babluani) V. Fr./Georgian variation on Intacto. Suspenseful +Giorgi Babluani is a find! *** 1/4
13TH (2016, d. Ava DuVernay) *** 1/2
1408 (2007, d. Mikael Hafström) ** 3/4
15 YEARS PLUS A DAY (2013, d. Gracia Querejeta, Spain) *** 1/2
15: A Quinceañera Story (2017, d. Matthew O'Neill & Thalia Sodi) **** doc short: trans girl Zoey,14, gets to have the most beautiful Quinceañera ever!
150 MILLIGRAMS (2017, d. Emmanuelle Bercot)
16 ACRES (2012, d. Richard Hankin) V. Informative docu of infighting over 16 acre site of 9/11 culminating in memorial. Lots of politics, but very clearly shown with fine footage. *** 1/4
16 BARS (2019, d. Sam Bathrick) *** 1/4
17 AGAIN (2009, d. Burr Steers) Absurd wish fullfilment fantasy revisiting hi-school with hints of incest. Strangely enjoyable since Zac Efron pulls it off; ** 3/4
17 GIRLS (2012, d. Delphine & Muriel Coulin) ** 3/4
170 Hz (2012, d. Joost van Ginkel) ** 3/4
1917 (2019, d. Sam Mendes) ****
1971 (2015, d. Johanna Hamilton) *** 1/2
1981 (2010, d. Ricardo Trogi) ** 1/4
1985 (2018, d. Yen Tan) *** 3/4
2 DAYS IN NEW YORK (2012, d. Julie Delpy) Fairly funny comedy, but I loathed all the characters (esp. prissy Chris Rock), jeered the script. Even NYC sucked. * 1/2
2 DAYS IN PARIS (2007, d. Julie Delpy) ***
2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (2003, d. John Stockman) Great action & sound; but the longest 65 minutes of repetitive testosterone tweaking ever. * 3/4
2 GUNS (2013, d. Baltasar Kormákur) ** 3/4
2 MINUTES LATER (2007, d. Robert Gaston) * 1/2
2:37 (2006, d. Murali K. Thalluri) *** 1/2
2+2 (2013, d. Diego Kaplan) ** 1/2
20 CENTIMETERS (2006, d. Ramón Salazar) ***
20 CIGARETTES (2012, d. Aureliano Amadei) ***
20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL (2023, Ukraine, Doc., d. Mstyslav Chernov) ****
20 FEET FROM STARDOM (2013, d. Morgan Neville) *** 3/4
20 FINGERS (2004, d. Mania Akbari) Tight close-ups of a couple in motion, arguing shrilly, incessantly, boringly. Like recent Kiarostami, only feminist. * 3/4
20,000 DAYS ON EARTH (2014, d. Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard) ** 1/2
20:30:40 (2004, d. Sylvia Chang) Interwoven, soapy comedy about 3 varied aged women neighbors in modern Taipei. Somewhat superficial and overly long. * 3/4
200 AMERICAN (2012, d. Richard LeMay) V. 2003 earnest, no-budget gay film: young Aussi hustles in NYC, meets rich A-gay and much poorly acted melodrama ensues. ** 1/4
2009 ACADEMY SHORT ANIMATIONS (2010, d. various) Some clever stuff (esp. Logorama), but a long Wallace & Gromit shows series is played out. ** 3/4
2009 ACADEMY SHORT FILMS (2010, d. various) 4 serious message films and one comedy in an average year for this category. ** 3/4
2013 ACADEMY-AWARD-NOMINATED ANIMATED SHORT FILMS (2013, d. various) ** 1/2
2013 ACADEMY-AWARD-NOMINATED LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILMS (2013, d. various) **
2016: OBAMA'S AMERICA (2012, d. D'Souza & Sullivan) V. Docu starts out interestingly as Obama bio, then degenerates into unfounded opinion and poorly reasoned conjecture. ** 1/4
2046 (2005, d. Wong Kar-Wei) Ravishingly beautiful romantic film, Tony Leung beds several women and androids, and as usual I lost the narrative thread. ***
20th CENTURY WOMEN (2016, d. Mike Mills) *** 3/4
21 GRAMS (2003, d. Alejandro Gonzálas Iñárritu) Art film about love & dying with a choppy non-linear narrative & some great acting by all involved. *** 1/2
21 JUMP STREET (2012, d. Lord & Miller) Grown up Superbad, but this one was funny more than stupid. Too many cock jokes! Hill & Tatum fine pairing. ** 3/4
21 (2008, d. Robert Luketic) A slam dunk for me both in subject & Jim Sturgess; but so logically flawed it's a shame. ** 3/4
23 (2003, Germany d. Hans-Christian Schmid) True life story of youg German hackers who provide crucial passwords to the Russians. ***
24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE (2002, d. Michael Winterbottom) *** 1/2
24TH DAY, THE (2004, d. Tony Piccirillo) Excellent 2-person gay-themed drama with incredibly good acting by Scott Speedman & James Marsden. *** 1/2
25 CENT PREVIEW (2007, d. Cyrus Amini) **
25 DEGREES IN WINTER (2004, d. Stéphane Vuillet) Fun comedy about a Spanish family who has an adventure helping a Ukranian illegal immigrée in Brussels. ** 3/4
25th HOUR (2002, d. Spike Lee) *** 1/2
27 CLUB, THE (2008, d. Erica Dunton) ** 1/4
28 DAYS LATER (2003, d. Danny Boyle) DV looked terrible, but story gripped and terrific visuals. Cillian Murphy, so great in Disco Pigs, is hot! ***
28 DAYS (2000, d. Betty Thomas) ** 1/2
28 WEEKS LATER (2007, d. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo) Spare, horrifying, pessamistic...Michael Haneke would be proud. ***
3 (2011, d. Tom Tykwer) *** 1/4
3 1/2 MUNITES, 10 BULLETS (2015, d. Marc Silver) *** 1/4
3 BACKYARDS (2011 d. Eric Mendelsohn) ** 1/4
3 DAYS TO KILL (2014, d. Joseph McGinty Nichol) * 1/2
3 LITTLE PIGS, THE (Les 3 p'tits cochons) (2007, d. Patrick Huard) Fr. Canadian sex comedy which somehow works. ***
3 MILE LIMIT (2014, d. Craig Newland) ** 3/4
3 NEEDLES (2006, d. Thom Fitzgerald) *** 1/4
3:10 TO YUMA (2007, d. James Mangold) A perfect Western, until unmotivated ending spoiled it. *** 1/4
300 (2007, d. Zack Snyder) Spectacular design, coherent narrative, even good dialog well presented. Comic book gore, but wow. *** 1/4
317th PLATOON, THE (La 317ème section) (2011, d. Pierre Schoendoerffer) *** 1/2
32 SOUNDS (2023, Doc. d. Sam Green) *** 3/4
32A (2008, d. Marian Quinn) ** 1/2
36 QUAI DES ORFÈVRES (2005, d. Olivier Marchal) Auteuil & Depardieu in a French noir that could have been a Michael Mann film, dark & violent. ***
360 (2012, d. Fernando Meirelles) ***
38 At the Garden (2023, doc. short, d. Frank Chi) *** 1/4
38 WITNESSES (2012, d. Lucas Belvaux) *** 1/2
39 POUNDS OF LOVE (2005, d. Dani Menkin)V. ***
39 STEPS, THE (2010, d. James Hawes) V. One of the worst BBC Masterpiece's ever. No chemistry, plot holes. Why remake perfection? * 1/2
3-IRON (2005, d. Kim Ki-Duk) Fascinating, but weird Korean thriller about a silent young guy who breaks into houses. Very filmic and mysterious. *** 1/4
3SOME (2010, d. Salvador Garcia Ruiz) *** 3/4
4 DAYS IN FRANCE (Jours de France) (2017, d. Jerôme Reybaud) *** 1/2
4 DAYS IN MAY (2012, d. Achim Von Borries) *** 1/2
4 MINUTE MILE (2014, d. Charles-Olivier Michaud) ** 1/2
4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (2007, d. Cristian Mungiu; Romania) *** 1/4
4 (2005, d. Ilya Khzhanovsky) Allegorical Russian film, lots of symbolism of items of 4; but stupefyingly repetative, overlong and obscure. *
4.1 Miles (2016, short, d. Daphne Matziaraki) *** 1/4
4: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER (2007, d. Tim May) **
40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS (2002, d. Michael Lehmann) ***
40 DAYS OF SILENCE (2014, d. Saodat Ismailova) 3/4*
40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, THE (2005, d. Judd Apatow) * 1/4
40 YEARS IN THE MAKING: THE MAGIC MUSIC MOVIE (2018, d. Lee Aronsohn) *** 3/4
40 (2011 d. Emre Sahin) ***
40-LOVE (2015, d. Stéphanie Demoustier) ** 3/4
42 (2013, d. Brian Helgeland) *** 1/4
4400, THE (2004, d. various)V. "Limited" tv sf series about returned alien abductees with strange powers. Compelling serial tv and I hope it continues. ***
45 YEARS (2015, d. Andrew Haigh) *** 1/2
49 UP (2006, d. Michael Apted) *** 1/2
4SOME (2013, d. Jan Hrebejk) *** 1/4
4th Wing: An 8-Pulse Cancer Therapy (2017, d. Raji Sundararajan) * India didactic medical short doc to illustrate with interviews a new cancer therapy: ECT.
5 BROKEN CAMERAS (2012, d. Burnat & Davidi) V. Powerful & heartbreaking docu: 5 years of West Bank family man filming his town's non-violent struggle against Israeli settlers. *** 3/4
5 FINGERS (2013, d. Joseph L. Mankiewicz) *** 1/2
5 FLIGHTS UP (2015, d. Richard Loncraine) ** 1/2
50 Feet from Syria (2015, d. Skye Fitzgerald)
50 FIRST DATES (2005, d. Peter Segal) V. Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore bring out the best of each other. This film mines gold out of a weird concept. ***
50 SHADES OF GREY (2016, d. Sam Taylor-Johnson) ***
50/50 (2011, d. Jonathan Levine) Great screwball chemistry between flawlessly convincing Gordon-Levitt & Anna Kendrick elevates a so-so, if heartfelt script. *** 1/4
500 YEARS (2017, d. Pamela Yates) * 1/2
54 (2006, d. Mark Christopher) V. Finally caught this interesting film. Ryan Phillippe never hotter; Mike Myers never better. ***
5B (2019, d. Dan Krauss, Paul Haggis) *** 3/4
5x2 (2005, d. François Ozon) Unsparing, fascinating film about a dissolving marriage told in 5 reverse vignettes. Ozon's best in years. *** 3/4
6 POINTS ABOUT EMMA (2012, d. Roberto Pérez Toledo) ** 3/4
600 MILES (Mexico) (2015, d. Gabriel Rapstein) *** 1/2
'63 Boycott (2018, d. Gordon Quinn) *** 3/4
66/67 - FAIRPLAY WAR GESTERN (2010, d. Ludwig & Glaser) **
6IXTYNIN9 (Ruang talok 69) (2000, d. Pen-Ek Ratanaruang) **
6TH DAY, THE (2000, d. Roger Spottiswoode) **
7 BOXES (2013, d. Juan Carlos Maneglia, Tana Schémbori) *** 1/4
7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE (2018, d. José Padilha) ***
7 DAYS IN HELL (2015, d. Jake Szymanski) **
7 KINDS OF WRATH (7 thymoi) (2021, d. Christos Voupouras) Drama of gay Greek man encountering 7 immigrants mainly his Arab lover. **
7 LETTERS (Singapore) (2015, d. Various) ** W/O
7 VIRGINS (2005, d. Alberto Rodríguez) *** 1/4
7 YEARS (2007, d. Jean-Pascal Hattu) *** 1/4
71 - INTO THE FIRE (2011, d. John H. Lee) *** 1/4
'71 (2015, d. Yann Demange) *** 1/2
72 DAYS (2011, d. Danilo Serbedzja, Croatia) * 1/2
76 DAYS (2021, d. Hao Wu, Weixi Chen, Anonymous) ****
78/52: HITCHCOCK'S SHOWER SCENE (2018, d. Alexandre O. Philippe) *** 1/2
8 (2012, d. Rob Reiner) V. Streamed web reading of Dustin Black's play...great cast, unrehearsed, but strong. Book needs shaping. Still, moving & important. ** 1/2
8 1/2 WOMEN (2000, d. Peter Greenaway) * 3/4
8 MILE (2002, d. Curtis Hanson) ***
8 WOMEN (2002, d. François Ozon) ** 1/2
80 MILLION (2012, d. Waldemar Krzystek, Poland) ** 1/2
800 BULLETS (2003, d. Alex de la Iglesia) Comedy moden day homage to spaghetti Westerns & their genre. Funny, poignant. *** 1/2
881 (2007, d. Royston Tan; Singapore) W/O
9 FULL MOONS (2013, d. Tomer Almagor) *** 1/4
9 SONGS (2005, d. Michael Winterbottom) Video verité about a couple, she American, he English, into Sex, Antarctica, and Rock & Roll. *** 1/4
9 SOULS (2004, d. Toshiaki Toyota) A comedy about escaped convicts rampaging. I was bored and unamused and walked after an hour. W/O
9 (2003, d. Umit Unal) Turkey AFF. Docudrama. Videotaped interrogation of 6 suspects in murder rape. ** 1/2
9:06 (2010, d. Igor Sterk; Slovenia) ** 1/2
99 FRANCS (2008, d. Jan Kounen) ***
99 HOMES (2015, d. Ramin Bahrani) *** 1/4
99%: THE OCCUPY WALL STREET COLLABORATIVE FILM (2013, d. Aaron Aites & Audrey Ewell & Nina Krstic & Lucian Read) ** 1/2
9TH COMPANY (2006, d. Fyodor Bondarchuk; Russia) *** 1/2
A CIAMBRA (2017, Italy, d. Jonas Carpignano) ** 3/4
A DIOS MOMO (2005, d. Leonardo Ricagni) W/O
A Night at the Garden (2018, d. Marshall Curry) *** 1/2
A SIDE, B SIDE, SEA SIDE (2006, d. Wing-Chiu Chan) ** 1/4
A SUN (2021, Taiwan, d. Chung Mong-Hong) *** 1/2
À TOUT DE SUITE (2007, d. Benoît Jacquot) V. Jacquot doing 60's Godard pretty darn well. ***
A.K.A. DOC POMUS (2013, d. William Hechber & Peter Miller) ** 3/4
AACHI & SSIPAK (2007, d. Joe Bum-jin) 1/2*
AAYNA KA BAYNA (2013, d. Samit Kakkad) ** 3/4
ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL (2017, d. Steve James) *** 1/2
ABALLAY (2012, d. Fernando Spiner, Argentina) * 3/4
ABANDON (2002, d. Stephen Gaghan) ***
ABANDONED (2001, d. Arpad Sopsits) *** 1/4
ABBUFFATA L' (2008, d. Mimmo Colopresti) ***
ABCs OF BOOK BANNING (2023, Doc. short, d. Sheila Nevins) ** 3/4
ABEL (2011 d. Diego Luna) Crazy 10-year old boy wrecks havoc with his already splintered Mexican family. Psychologically suspect; but involving & well acted. ***
ABOLITIONISTS, THE (2016, d. Darrin Fletcher & Chet Thomas) ** 3/4
Abortion Helpline, This is Lisa (2021, Doc short, d. Barbara Attie, Mike Attie) Troubled women call concerned "Lisas" at an abortion hotline.*** 1/2
ABOUNA (2003, d. Mahamet Saleh Haroun) Chad AFF. Two young brothers and their trials finding their father. **
ABOUT A BOY (2002, d. Chris & Paul Weitz) ***
ABOUT DRY GRASSES ( 2023, d. Nuri Bilge Ceylan) *** 1/4
ABOUT ELLY (2009, d. Asghar Farhadi) ***
ABOUT SCHMIDT (2002, d. Alexander Payne) *** 1/4
ABOUT THE LIVING (2002, d. Jorge Aquilera) **
ABOUT TIME (2013, d. Richard Curtis) ** 1/4
ABOVE AND BEYOND (2015, d. Roberta Grossman) *** 3/4
ABOVE US ONLY SKY (2011, d. Jan Schomburg) *** 1/4
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER (2012, d. Timur Bekmambetov) Ludicrous title, ridiculous premise. But 3D action f/x are some of the best ever on film. ***
ABSENT (2011, d. Marco Berger) ***
ABSOLUT (2005, d. Romed Wyder) Fascinating, complex thriller about 2 computer hacker political terrorists & memory restoration. *** 1/4
ACACIAS, LAS (2012, d. Pablo Giergelli) ** 3/4
ACADEMY ANIMATION SHORTS (2015, d. various) (See 2/7/2015 letterboxd.com for individual reviews) **
ACADEMY LIVE ACTION SHORTS (2015, d. various) (See 2/8/2015 letterboxd.com for individual reviews) *** 1/4
ACCEPTED (2007, d. Steve Pink) V. ** 1/2
ACCOMPLICES (Complices) (2010, d. Frédéric Mermoud) . *** 1/2
ACCORDING TO SPENCER (2001, d. Shane Edelman) ***
ACCOUNTANT, THE (2016, d. Gavin O'Connor) ***
ACCUSED (2014, Netherlands, d. Paula van der Oest) *** 1/2
ACNÉ (2008, d. Federico Veiroj) ***
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (2011 d. Julie Taymor) V.+++ Still amazing evocation of the '60 and remarkable showcase for immortal Beatles songs. Fab, gear, hyperbolic. ****
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (2007, d. Julie Taymor) The '60s film I've been waiting 40 years for. ****
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (2008, d. Julie Taymore) + Even on 2nd view, this is my fave film of decade so far. ****
ACT OF KILLING, THE (2013, d. Joshua Oppenheimer, Anonymous) *** 1/4
ACTRESSES, THE (2010, d. E. J-Yong) ** 1/2
AD ASTRA (2019, d. James Gray) ** 3/4
ADAM & STEVE (2005, d. Craig Chester) Silly at times, but also funny & touching romantic comedy about 2 quirky, mature gay men. ** 3/4
ADAM (2009, d. Max Mayer) *** 1/4
ADAM PROJECT, THE (2022, d. Shawn Levy) ** 3/4
ADAM'S APPLES (2005, d. Anders Thomas Jensen) ***
ADAPTATION (2002, d. Spike Jonze) *** 1/2
ADDICTION (2005, d. Minna Virtanen) ** 3/4
ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, THE (2011 d. George Nolfi) Phil Dick story ridiculously surreal. Glossy; but boring since I didn't believe a bit of it. **
ADMIRAL, THE (2009, d. Andrei Kravchuck) *** 1/2
ADMISSION (2013, d. Paul Weitz) ** 3/4
ADOPTED, THE (2012, d. Melanie Laurent) ***
ADORATION (2009, d. Atom Egoyan) + Not quite as stunning the 2nd time around...but worse: 2nd time this week I went to a film I didn't realize I'd seen before! *** 1/4
ADORATION (2008, d. Atom Egoyan) *** 1/2
ADORE (aka) TWO MOTHERS (2013, d. Anne Fontaine) ***
ADULTS IN THE ROOM, THE (2010, d. Andy Blubaugh) ***
ADVENTURELAND (2009, d. Greg Mottola) Jesse Eisenberg, like Michael Cera is the ideal pomo hero. Pleasant, if subdued, rom-com. ** 3/4
ADVENTURES OF FELIX, THE (2001, d. Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau) *** 3/4
ADVENTURES OF SEBASTIAN COLE, THE (2003, d. Tod Williams) V. Coming of age/disfunctional family story nicely, if eliptically realized. Adrian Grenier! ** 3/4
ADVENTURES OF TINTIN, THE (2011, d. Spielberg & Jackson) Non-stop action to the point of serious fatigue. Very convincing mot. capture characters. **
ADVOCATE (2019, d. Rachel Leah Jones, Philippe Bellaiche) ****
AE FOND KISS (2005, d. Ken Loach) Ill fated love of a young 2nd generation Paki for a white woman in today's Scotland. Subtle & affecting. ***
AFFAIR OF LOVE, AN (2000, d. Frédéric Fonteyne) ***
AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE, THE (2001, d. Charles Shyer) ** 3/4
Affairs of the Art (2022, anim. short, d. Joanna Quinn) ***
AFGHAN STAR (2009, d. Havana Marking) ***
AFRICAN ELECTION, AN (2011, d. Jarreth Merz) ** 1/2
AFTER INNOCENCE (2005, d. Jessica Sanders; docu) V. *** 1/4
After Life (2017, d. Prisca Bouchet & Nick Mayow) ** 3/4; short doc about a mortuary making beautiful corpses in New Zealand.
AFTER LUCIA (2012, d. Michel Franco, Mexico) *** 1/2
After Maria (2019, doc. short, d. Nadia Hallgren) *** 1/2
AFTER MIDNIGHT (2005, d. Davide Ferrario) Whimsical paean to film à la Amélie without the irony, a charmingly cockeyed love triangle. *** 1/4
AFTER THE LAST ROUND (2010, d. Ryan Pettey) V. Docu about boxing & brain damage. Definite point of view; but a tad too obviously heart tugging. ***
AFTER THE STORM (2017, d. Hirokazu Kore-eda) *** 3/4
AFTER THE WAR (Dopo la guerra) (2018, d. Annarita Zambrano) *** 1/4
AFTER THE WEDDING (2006, d. Susanne Bier; Denmark) *** 1/2
AFTER TILLER (2013, d. Martha Shane & Lana Wilson)
After (2015, d. Eytan Fox) Nicely acted and directed 1990 short film of young soldier Jonathan (Hanoch Reim) in puppy love with his gay lieutenant (Gil Frank). *** 1/2
AFTERIMAGE (2016, Poland, d. Andrzej Wajda) *** 1/4
AFTERIMAGE (2017, d. Andrzej Wajda) *** 1/2
AFTERLIFE (2003, d. Alison Peebles) Affecting drama: ambitious man forced to care for Down's Syndrome sister. Tear jerker, never goes over the top. *** 1/4
AFTERLIFE (2015, d. Virág Zomborácz) * 1/4
AFTERMATH (2004, d. Paprika Steen) Emotionally shattering, beautifully acted chamber drama about the affects of grief on a couple & the people around them. *** 1/2
AFTERNOON DELIGHT (2013, d. Jill Soloway) *** 1/4
AFTERNOON OF A FAUN: TANAQUIL LE CLERCQ (2014, d. Nancy Buirski) ***
AFTERSCHOOL (2008, d. Antonio Campos) *** 1/4
AFTERSHOCK (2010, d. Feng Xiaogang; China) *** 3/4
AFTERSUN (2023, d. Charlotte Wells) *** 1/4
AFTERWARDS (2008, d. Gilles Bourdos) ** 1/4
AGAINST THE CURRENT (2009, d. Peter Callahan) *** 1/2
AGE OF ADALINE, THE (2015, d. Lee Toland Krieger) ***
AGE OF UPRISING (Michael Kohlhaas) (2014, d. Arnaud Des Palieres) **
AGENT CODY BANKS 2 (2004, d. Kevin Allen) Silly, but coherent kids film. At least miles better than Inspector Gadget, which is saying something. ** 1/4
AGITATOR (2002, d. Miike Takashi) ** 3/4
AGORA (2010, d. Alejandro Amenábar) ** 3/4
AGRONOMIST, THE (2004, d. Jonathan Demme) V. Doc. about Haitian radio radical good guy Jean Dominique. Interesting, but slow mid-section disappoints. ** 3/4
AGUA (2007, d. Verónica Chen) ***
AHEAD OF TIME (2005, d. Ágúst Güdmundsson; Iceland) * 3/4
AHEAD OF TIME (2010, d. Bob Richman) ***
AHIMSA STOP TO RUN (2006, d. Leo Kittikorn; Thailand) *
AI WEIWEI: THE FAKE CASE (2014, d. Andreas Johnsen) ** 3/4
AI WEIWEI:NEVER SORRY (2012, d. Alison Klayman) V. Overlong, important bio docu of politically active, ever-tweeting Chinese artist whose life itself is worldclass art. *** 1/4
AI (2001, d. Steven Spielberg) ****
AIME TON PERE (2003, d. Jacob Berger) Swiss AFF. High gloss road picture about Literature Nobelist and his estranged son. *** 1/4
AIMÉE & JAGUAR (2000, d. Max Färberböck) ** 3/4
AIMÉE, L' (2008, d. Arnaud Desplechin) ** 1/4
AIN'T SCARED (2008, d. Audrey Estrougo) **
AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS (2013, d. David Lowery) ***
AIR DOLL (2010, d. Hirokazu Kore-eda) **
AIRES DIFICILES, LOS (2006, d. Gerardo Herrera) ** 3/4
AJAMI (2009, d.Scandar Copti & Yaron Shani; Israel) *** 3/4
AKA (2004, d. Duncan Roy)V.+ Complete re-edit from multi-screen festival version 2 years ago. Well done British lower class gay imposter story. ** 3/4
AKEELAH AND THE BEE (2006, d. Doug Acheson) Predictable, manipulative, moving film about an 11 yr. old black girl spelling genius. ** 1/2
AL FRANKEN: GOD SPOKE (2006, d. Nick Doob, Chris Hegedus) *** 1/4
ALAMO, THE (2004, d. John Lee Hancock) Mediocre script with too many levels of flashbacks; but otherwise fairly well made historical pic. ** 1/2
ALATRISTE (2006, d. Augustin Diaz Yanes) ** 3/4
ALBERT NOBBS (2011, d. Rodrigo Garcia) Well intentioned, nicely acted, if stogy story of women living as men in old Ireland. ** 3/4
ALBINO ALLEGATOR (2005, d. Kevin Spacey)V. Hostage film in a bar with some good perfs, but pretty average script and direction. ** 1/2
ALCATRAZ AVE. (2000, d. Tom Edgar) ***
ALEGRE MA NON TROPPO (2004, d. Fernando Colomo) Slick, high gloss '94 Spanish sex farce on confused sexuality with clever plot and some fine acting. ***
ALEX & EMMA (2003, d. Rob Reiner) Romantic comedy. A novelist & a steno who are writing and acting out a novel. A real turkey, both novel and script. *
ALEX OF VENICE (2014, d. Chris Messina) ***
ALEX STRANGELOVE (2018, d. Craig Johnson) *** 1/4
ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY (2014, d. Miguel Arteta) ** 1/2
ALEXANDER (2004, d. Oliver Stone) Epic with a confusingly constructed script but some great battle scenes. Jolie's accent inexplicable; but Farrell is pretty good. ** 3/4
ALEXANDRA (2008, d. Alexander Sokurov) ***
ALFIE (2004, d. Charles Shyer) Jude Law is an attractive star playing a cad in this somewhat boring, mediocre comedy. Shyer is a hack director; but his casting works. ** 1/4
ALGORITHMS (2014, d. Ian McDonald) ***
ALI BLUE EYES (2013, d. Claudio Gionannesi) *** 1/4
ALI ZAOUA, PRINCE DE LA RUE (2000, d. Nabil Ayouch) ***
ALI (2013, d. Paco R. Baños) * 3/4
ALI (2001, d. Michael Mann) *** 1/2
ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL (2003, d. W.R. Fassbinder) V. Indictment of conformest, xenophobic German character; old woman marries nice young Moroccan. ***
ALIAS BETTY (2002, d. Claude Miller) ***
ALICE AND MARTIN (2000, d. André Téchiné) ***
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (2010, d. Tim Burton) Visually inventive, story deficient. ** 1/2
ALICE UPSIDE DOWN (2008, d. Sandy Tung) ** 3/4
ALICE (2006, d. Marco Martins; Portugal) ** 3/4
ALIVE (Zhivoy) (2007, d. Alexander Veledinsky) ** 3/4
ALIVE INSIDE (2014, d. Michael Rossato-Bennett) ** 3/4
ALIVE! (2009, d. Artan Minarolli; Albania) ** 3/4
ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU CHOU (2002, d. Shunji Iwai) **
ALL GOD'S CHILDREN (2013, d. Adrian Popovici, Moldova) *** 1/4
ALL GOOD THINGS (2011 d. Andrew Jarecki) V. The stranger than fiction life of Robert Durst as brought chillingly to screen by another great Gosling perf. *** 1/4
ALL HAT (2007, d. Leonard Farlinger) ** 3/4
ALL IN (2008, d. Nick Vallelonga) V. I usually like poker movies; but this barely watchable drama was terrible. *
ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY (2021, d. Liz Garbus, Lisa Cortés) The legacy of Stacey Abrams fighting for right to vote. *** 1/4
ALL IS LOST (2013, d. J.C. Chandor) *** 1/2
All on a Mardi Gras Day (2019, doc. short, d. Michal Pietrzyk) ** 1/2
ALL OR NOTHING (2002, d. Mike Leigh) ** 3/4
ALL OR NOTHING (2004, d. Mike Leigh) V. Finally caught Leigh's miserabilist version of Life is Sour. As usual, fine filmmaking; but depressing. ***
ALL OVER THE GUY (2003, d. Julie Davis)+ V. One of the better gay films...bittersweet romantic comedy which has the ring of truth and originality. *** 1/4
ALL OVER THE GUY (2001, d. Julie Davis) *** 1/4
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (2023, Germany IFF, d. Edward Berger) *** 1/2
ALL THAT BREATHES (2022, d. Shaunak Sen) ***
ALL THAT I LOVE (2010, d. Jacek Borcuch; Poland) + ***
ALL THAT I LOVE (2010, d. Jasek Borcuch) ***
ALL THAT IS SACRED (2023, Doc. short, d. Scott Ballew) *** 1/4
ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED (2022, d. Laura Poitras) *** 1/2
ALL THE KING'S MEN (2006, d. Steven Zaillian) Why was this film critically savaged? Maybe a little over-ripe; but fantastic drama. *** 1/2
ALL THE LIGHT IN THE SKY (2015, d. Joe Swanberg) *** 1/2
ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE (2023, miniseries, d. Shawn Levy) *** 1/4
ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD (2017, d. Ridley Scott) *** 1/4
ALL THE PRETTY HORSES (2000, d. Billy Bob Thornton) ** 1/2
ALL THE REAL GIRLS (2003, d. David Gordon Green) Appalachian love story; poetry of the ordinary. Schneider & Deschanel are great. *** 1/2
ALL THESE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS (2017, d. Michal Marczak) ** 3/4
ALL THINGS MUST PASS (2015, d. Colin Hanks) ** 3/4
ALL TOO WELL: THE SHORT FILM (2021, d. Taylor Swift) *** 3/4
ALL WILL BE WELL (Wszystko Bedzie Dobrze) (2008, d. Tomasz Wiszniewski) *** 1/2
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (2014, d. Stuart Cameron) ** 1/2
ALL-AMERICANS, THE (2019, d. Billy McMillin) *** 1/4
ALLANTICS (2019, Senegal, d. Mati Diop) * 3/4 Spirits of drowned workers possess a cop & townsfolk for revenge and love.
ALLEGRO (2006, d. Christoffer Boe) **
ALLEZ, EDDY! (2013, d. Gert Embrechts) *** 1/4
ALLIED (2016, d. Robert Zemeckis) ** 3/4
ALMANYA (2011, d. Yasemin Samdereli) *** 1/4
Almeda (2022, doc. short, d. Paul Hairston) *** 3/4
ALMOST ADULT (2007, d. Yousaf Ali Khan) ** 1/2
ALMOST BROTHERS (2005, d. Lúcia Murat) Confusingly structured Brazilian story mixing City of God with Carandiru and inferior to both. **
ALMOST FAMOUS (2000, d. Cameron Crowe) *** 1/4
ALMOST HOLY (2016, d. Steve Hoover) *** 1/4
ALMOST MAN, THE (2013, d. Martin Lund) ** 1/2
ALMOST ORDINARY STORY, AN (2003, d. Milos Petricic) Romantic comedy about a couple who may or may not be fated to marry. ** 3/4
ALMOST PEACEFUL (2003, d. Michael Deville) Post WWII Jews trying to return to normal life in Paris dressmaking atelier. Gentle, pastoral, slow. ** 3/4
ALOIS NEBEL (2011, d. Tomas Lunak, Czech Republic) ** 3/4
ALONE IN FOUR WALLS (Allein in vier wanden) (2008, d. Alexandra Westmeier) *** 1/4
ALONE (2005, d. Thomas Durschschlag) 2nd film in a row about a wounded girl: this one a German who cuts herself from psychotic low self esteem. ** 3/4
Alone (2017, d. Garrett Bradley) * 3/4
ALONG CAME POLLY (2004, d. John Hamburg) Big stars, but a terribly tasteless script...even Philip Hoffman overdid his slob schtick. * 1/2
ALONG THE RIDGE (Anche libero va bene) (2011 d. Kim Rossi Stuart) + *** 1/2
ALONG THE RIDGE (2007, d. Kim Rossi Stuart) *** 1/2
ALPHA DOG (2007, d. Nick Cassavetes) Better than expected. Timberlake & especially a game Ben Foster outstanding. ***
ALPHAGO (2017, Greg Kohs) *** 1/2
ALQUIMISTA IMPACIENTE, EL (2003, d. Patricia Ferreira) Thriller/policier...lurid murder of a nuclear plant worker. ** 3/4
ALTINA (2014, d. Peter Sanders) ***
ALTIPLANO (2010, d. Peter Brosens & Jessica Woodworth) *** 1/4
ALZHEIMER CASE, THE (2005, d. Erik Van Looy) Polished thriller about a French mafia assassin whose Alzheimers is affecting his contract hit in Antwerp. ***
AMADOR (2011, d. Fernando León de Aranoa) *** 1/4
AMAMA: WHEN A TREE FALLS (2016, d. Asier Altuna) *** 1/4
AMANAT (2016, Kazakhstan, d. Satybaldy Narymbetov) ***
AMANDA KNOX (2016, d. Rod Blackhurst & Brian McGinn) *** 1/2
AMANDLA! A REVOLUTION IN FOUR-PART HARMONY (2001, d. Lee Hirsch) ** 3/4
AMATEURS (2018, d. Gabriela Pichler) ** 1/4
AMATEURS, THE (2007, d. Michael Traegar) A silly comedy with a fine cast, mostly wasted. * 3/4
AMATI GIRLS, THE (2001, d. Anne DeSalvo) **
AMAZING CATFISH, THE (2014, d. Claudia Sainte-Luce) ***
AMAZING GRACE (2007, d. Michael Apted) Earnest, but sort of boring film with great perf by Ioan Gruffuid. ** 3/4
AMAZING GRACE (2018, d. Sydney Pollack) *** 1/2
AMAZING MRS. PRITCHARD, THE (2007, d. var.) V. Involving, realistic British political what-if fantasy miniseries. ***
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, THE (2014, d. Marc Webb) ** 1/4
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, THE (2012, d. Marc Webb) Much better than Rami's, great 3D f/x. Garfield is super likable as usual. Still, just diverting comicbook stuff. ** 3/4
AMELIA (2009, d. Mira Nair) Straightforward romantic biopic which informs rather than involves. Borderline boring for a Hollywood pic. ** 1/2
AMÉLIE (2001, d. Jean-Pierre Jeunet) *** 1/4
AMEN (2003, d. Costa-Gavras) Shattering Holocaust drama from pov of conscientious SS Lt. and an Italian priest with the ear of the pope. *** 1/2
AMER (2010, d. Hélène Cattet) *
AMERICA BOXED IN (2022, d. Ian Williams, Casey Williams) ****
AMERICA: IMAGINE THE WORLD WITHOUT HER (2014, d. Dinesh D'Souza & John Sullivan) ** 1/4
AMERICAN ANIMALS (2018, d. Bart Layton) *** 1/4
AMERICAN ASSASSIN (2017, d. Michael Cuesta) *** 1/2
AMERICAN COUSINS (2003, d. Don Coutts) The mob (Ukraine and New Jersey versions) come to Glasgow. **
AMERICAN EMPIRE (2012, d. Patrea Patrick) V. Frightening docu re: corporate pillaging of earth, water, food, oil etc. Lots of green "big heads". Effective propaganda plus. *** 1/4
AMERICAN FACTORY (2019 d. Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert) *** 1/2
AMERICAN FOLK (2017, d. David Heinz) *** 3/4
AMERICAN FORK (2007, d. Chris Bowman) **
AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007, d. Ridley Scott) A classic gangster flick, reminiscent of Heat. *** 1/2
AMERICAN GUN (2002, d. Alan Jacobs) ** 3/4
AMERICAN HAUNTING, AN (2005, d. Courtney Solomon) * 3/4
AMERICAN HUSTLE (2013, d. David O. Russell) ** 3/4
AMERICAN JOBS (2004, d. Greg Spotts) V. Informative, reasoned docu about the effect of NAFTA etc. on the American worker. Good polemics and filmmaking. ***
American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton (2022, doc. short, d. Herb Ferrette, Andrew Abrahams) *** 3/4
AMERICAN MADE MOVIE (2013, d. Nathaniel Thomas McGill, Vincent Vittorio) ** 3/4
AMERICAN MADE (2017, d. Doug Liman) **
AMERICAN MEDIA & THE SECOND ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY (2017, d. John Barbour) *** 1/2
AMERICAN OUTLAWS (2001, d. Les Mayfield) *
AMERICAN PASTORAL (2016, d. Ewen McGregor) ***
AMERICAN PIE 2 (2001, d. J.B. Rogers) * 3/4
AMERICAN PRIMITIVE (2009, d. Gwen Wynne) ** 1/2
AMERICAN PROMISE (2013, d. Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson) *** 3/4
AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY: THE EVOLUTION OF GRACE LEE BOGGS (2014, d. Grace Lee) ** 1/2
AMERICAN RHAPSODY, AN (2003, d. Éva Gárdos) V. Maladjustment of child of Hungarian emigres. Well acted, subtle, true to '50s & a little stolid. ** 3/4
AMERICAN RULING CLASS, THE (2005, d. John Kirby) V. *** 1/2
AMERICAN SHOPPER (2007, d. Tamas Bojtor & Sybil Dessau) *** 3/4
AMERICAN SNIPER (2014, d. Clint Eastwood) ****
AMERICAN SON (2008, d. Neil Abramson) *** 1/2
AMERICAN SPLENDOR (2003, US d. Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini) Clever biopic/documentary about Harvey Pekar, comix writer. *** 3/4
AMERICAN SYMPHONY (2023, Doc. d. Matthew Heineman) *** 3/4
AMERICAN TEEN (2008, d. Nanette Burstein) *** 1/4
AMERICAN ULTRA (2015, d. Nima Nourizadeh) *** 1/4
AMERICAN VANDAL (2017, d. Tony Yacenda) *** 3/4; satiric true-crime mocudoc, superbly written and acted high school 8-episode series.
AMERICAN VIOLET (2009, d. Tim Disney) Prdictable "based on true" story of ACLU victory over Texas racial injustices. Good intentions & acting; but so so. ** 3/4
AMERICAN VISA (2006, d. Juan Carlos Valdivia; Bolivia) ** 3/4
AMERICAN WEDDING (2004, d. Jesse Dylan) V. A new scatological nadir for this series; but I have to admit that I laughed at some situations despite myself. * 1/4
AMERICAN, THE (2010, d. Anton Corbijn) Art film disguised as thriller. Also a Sergio Leone film in modern drag, only lacking Morricone's score. Slow, but Clooney shines. ***
AMERICANA (2016, d. Zachary Shedd) **
AMERICANESE (2006, d. Eric Byler) ** 3/4
AMERICANO (2005, d. Kevin Nolan) Contrived travelog with little plot (young Americans in Spain finding themselves) and some poor acting. * 1/2
AMERICANO (2012, d. Mathieu Demy) ** 1/2
AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS (2001, d. Joe Roth) **
AMERICONNED (2023, Doc., d. Sean Claffey) *** 1/2
AMNESIA - THE JAMES BRIGHTON ENIGMA (2006, d. Denis Langlois) Dusan Dukic shines, based on true story. ** 3/4
AMNESIA ( 2004, d. Nicholas Laughland) V. BBC mystery-thriller about an amnesiac cop on the trail of a possible wife murderer. Nice script, but too pat. ** 3/4
AMNESTY (2012, d. Bujar Alimani, Albania) ** 1/2
AMORES PERROS (aka "Love's a Bitch") (2000, d. Alejandro González Iñárritu) *** 1/2
AMOUR (2012, d. Michael Haneke, Austria) *** 3/4
AMREEKA (2009, d. Cherien Dabis) *** 1/2
AMY (2015, d. Asif Kapadia) *** 1/2
AMY'S ORGASM (2001, d. Julie Davis) *** 1/4
An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It (2023, anim. short, d. Lachlan Pendragon) *** 1/4
ANALYZE THAT (2002, d. Harold Rntwamis) **
ANARCHIST COOKBOOK, THE (2002, d. Jorday Susman) ***
ANARCHIST'S WIFE, THE (2009, d. Marie Noelle, Peter Sehr) ***
Anastasia (2022, doc. short, d. Sarah McCarthy) *** 1/2
ANATOMY OF HELL (2004, d. Catherine Breillat) Opaque narrative about a girl who hires a "gay" man to ravage her. Squickily sexually explicit. **
ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (2004, d. Adam McKay) Totally unfunny (for me) silly, even stupid comedy take on '70s newscasters. *
AND ALONG CAME TOURISTS (Am Ende Kommen Touristen) (2007, d. Robert Thalheim) ***
AND NOW...LADIES AND GENTLEMEN (2003, France d. Claude Lelouch) Fine, lush melodrama about a jewel thief & a chanteuse each with memory blackouts. ***
AND SO IT GOES (2014, d. Rob Reiner) **
AND THEN WE DANCED (2019, Sweden, Levan Akin) *** 1/2 A young Georgian folk dancer falls for a fellow male dancer.
ANDER (2009, d. Roberto Caston) Closeted Basque farmer tenderly falls for Peruvian immigrant. Slow, but well observed & touching. *** 1/4
ANDERSON MONARCHS, THE (2012, d. Eugene Martin) V. OK docu of S. Philly all-black-girl 13-under soccer team & white coach. Interesting comment on US today. ** 3/4
ANDY IRONS: KISSED BY GOD (2018, d. Todd Jones, Steve Jones) *** 1/2
ANGEL (2010, d. François Ozon)V. Ozon's English lang. bodice ripper: great cast; despite Romola Garai's technique in despicable title role film is eye rollingly ridiculous. ** 1/4
ANGEL AT SEA (2010, d. Frédéric Dumont) *** 1/4
ANGEL EXIT (2001, d. Vladimir Michalek) ** 1/4
ANGEL, THE (2010, d. Margreth Olin; Norway) ***
ANGELA (2003, Italy d. Roberta Torre) Slow, impressionistic drama based on the true story of a drug running family in Sicily-a torrid love triangle. ** 3/4
ANGÈLE AND TONY (2011, d. Alix Delaporte) ** 1/2
ANGELS IN AMERICA PART ONE: MILLENIUM APPROACHES (2017, d. Marianne Elliott) *** 3/4
ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENIUM APPROACHES (2003, d. Mike Nichols) V. Superb adaptation, utterly absorbing, fabulous acting. Great tv. ****
ANGELS IN AMERICA: PARESTROIKA (2003, d. Mike Nichols) V. Uneven...some parts superlative, some long political speeches I phased out. I'm in lust with Patrick Wilson. *** 1/2
ANGELS OF EVIL (Vallanzasca - Gli angeli del male) (2011 d. Michele Placido) *** 1/2
ANGELS OF THE UNIVERSE (2000, d. Fridrik Thor Fridriksson) *** 1/2
ANGEL'S SHARE, THE (2012, d. Ken Loach) ** 1/2
ANGER MANAGEMENT (2003, d. Peter Segal) Star power. Nicholson mugs & Sandler is quite fine. Embarrassingly bad script & even worse direction! * 1/4
Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices from a Plantation Prison (2022, doc. short, d. Cinque Northern) **
ANGST (2003, d. Oskar Roehler) Drama about a failing marriage, he has sex problems, she's an hysteric. Well acted, if over-the-top, hard to watch. ** 1/2
ANHELL69 (2023, Doc., d. Theo Montoya) *** 1/2
Animal Behavior (2019, d. Alison Snowden and David Fine) Oscar nominated short animated film. *** 1/2
ANIMAL FACTORY (2000, d. Steve Buscemi) ** 1/2
ANIMAL KINGDOM (2010, d. David Michôd) V. Watched again. This time slight downgrade for some plot problems. *** 1/4
ANIMAL KINGDOM (2010, d. David Michôd) *** 1/2
ANIMATRIX (2003, US/JAPAN d. Various) 9 animated shorts from the Matrix universe. Some better than others. ** 3/4
ANINA (2013, d. Alfredo, Soderguit, Uruguay) * 1/4
ANITA TAKES A CHANCE (2001, d. Ventura Pons) ***
ANITA (2014, d. Freida Lee Mock) *** 3/4
Anna (2020, drama short, d. Dekel Berenson) ** 3/4
ANNA KARENINA (2012, d. Joe Wright) *** 1/2
ANNAPOLIS (2006, d. Justin Lin) An average, predictable film with another charismatic perf by James Franco as a boxer-plebe. A guilty pleasure. ** 1/4
ANNE FRANK THEN AND NOW (2016, d. Jokov & Dominik Sedlar) ** 1/2
ANNETTE (2022, d. Leos Carax) ***
ANNIVERSARY PARTY, THE (2004, d. Leigh & Cumming) V. An almost perfect video film of today's Hollywood creative types & their screwed-up fabulous lives. *** 1/2
ANNIVERSARY PARTY, THE (2001, d. Jennifer Jason Leigh & Alan Cumming) *** 1/2
ANOMALISA (2015, d. Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman) ** 1/2
ANONYMOUS (2004, d. Todd Verow) Verow tries arty French porn (a la Porn Theater). He's not up to it as director or actor. Degrading, despicable disaster. 1/2*
ANONYMOUS (2011, d. Roland Emmerich) Interestingly structured costume epic. Ridiculous history; but lots of fun to watch fine actors trying hard. ***
ANOTHER EARTH (2011, d. Mike Cahill) ** 1/4
ANOTHER GAY MOVIE (2006, d. Todd Stephens) * 1/2
ANOTHER HAPPY DAY (2011, d. Sam Levinson) Ups the ante for most dysfunctional family wedding ever. Wonderful, if uneven, acting. Ezra Miller rules! ** 3/4
ANOTHER LIFE (Ovunque Sei) (2008, d. Michele Placido) ***
ANOTHER LIFE (2005, d. Michele Placido) Stephano Accorsi's makes it worth sitting through this strange, eerie romantic film. ** 3/4
ANOTHER ROUND (2021, Denmark, d. Thomas Vinterberg) 4 teachers bond over an experiment in alcoholism. ** 3/4
ANOTHER STORY OF THE WORLD (2017, Uruguay, d. Guillermo Casanova) **
ANOTHER YEAR (2010, d. Mike Leigh) Wonder of wonders, a sensitive, slice-of-life film purely about my age contemporaries. Ending left much unresolved. *** 1/4
ANOTHER (2014, d. Jason Bognacki) 1/2*
ANSELM (2023, Doc., d. Wim Wenders) *** 3/4
ANSWER MAN, THE (2009, d. John Hindman) ***
ANTARCTICA (2008, d. Yair Hochner) Multi-character Israeli gay story of hot men & their sex lives. Well acted, somewhat involving. ***
ANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE (2014, d. Anthony Powell) ****
ANTARES (2005, d. Götz Spielmann) Circularly constructed, sexually explicit slice of life drama about denizens of a Vienna housing development. ***
ANTHROPOID (2016, d. Sean Ellis) ** 3/4
ANTIBODIES (2005, d. Christian Alvart) *** 1/2
ANTIGONE (2019, Canada, d. Sophie Deraspe) To save her errant brother from banishment, young Antigone replaces him in prison. *** 1/2
ANTITRUST (2001, d. Peter Howitt) * 1/2
ANTIVIRAL (2012, d. Brandon Cronenberg) ***
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018, d. Peyton Reed) * 3/4
ANT-MAN (2015, d. Peyton Reed) ** 1/4
ANTS ON A SHRIMP (2016, d. Maurice Dekkers) ***
ANTWONE FISHER (2002, d. Denzel Washington) ** 3/4
ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL (2009, d. Sasha Gervasi) V. Real life version of Spinal Tap, sort of sad, sort of involving; but by the end I was unaccountably moved. ***
ANY DAY NOW (2012, d. Travis Fine) ***
ANY HUMAN HEART (2011 d. Michael Samuels) V. Superbly acted (Broadbent, Macfadyen) 20th century life story as philosophical passage. *** 1/4
ANYTHING ELSE (2003, d. Woody Allen) A failure. Occasionally funny romantic comedy; but Allen's dialog seems false coming from 20-somethings. ** 1/4
ANYTOWN (2009, d. Dave Rodriguez) ** 3/4
APART TOGETHER (2011, d. Wang Quan'an) ***
APARTMENT, THE (2008, d. Billy Wilder) + Holds up remarkably, still Lemmon's and MacLaine's triumph; but also a fine original script. *** 1/4
APOCALYPTO (2006, d. Mel Gibson) Gotta hand it to him, an art film with stretches of boredom; but overall it worked as an action film. ** 3/4
APOLLO 11 (2019, d. Todd Douglas Miller) *** 1/2
APOLLO, THE (2019, d. Roger Ross Williams) ****
APOLONIA, APOLONIA (2023, Doc., d. Lea Glob) *** 1/2
APPALOOSA (2008, d. Ed Harris) I like westerns; but despite a fine cast this one seems derivative (e.g. 3:10 to Yuma) & lacking convincing motivations. ** 1/4
APPLAUS (2011 d. Martin Zandvliet) Tense Danish film about middle age actress's life crisis, with a raw nerve perf. by Paprika Steen as estranged mother of small boys. ***
APPROPRIATE ADULT (2012, d. Julian Jarrold) V. True story of serial killing couple & woman chosen to represent man. Well acted, overlong. ** 3/4
APPROVED FOR ADOPTION (Couleur de peau: Miel) (2013, d. Jung and Laurent Boileau) ****
APRÈS VOUS (2004, d. Pierre Salvadore) Annoying and contrived French farce. * 3/4
AQUAMAN (2018, d. James Wan) *** 1/4
AQUARELA (2019, d. Viktor Kossakovkdy) ** 1/2
ARARAT (2002, d. Atom Egoyan) ***
ARBITRAGE (2012, d. Nicholas Jarecki) Some plot holes don't totally detract from a detail filled, rich looking, well acted, non-clichéd, crooked financier thriller. ** 3/4
ARBOR, THE (2011, d. Clio Bernard) V. Docu of British projects poet/playwrite Andrea Dunbar & her screwed up children. Interesting, novel subject...not well organized. ** 3/4
ARCHANGEL (2008, d. Jon Jones) V. TV thriller from Robert Harris book with a dead fish Daniel Craig perf. pre-Bond, but quite authentic Soviet feeling. ***
ARCHANGEL'S FEATHER, THE (2003, d. Louis Manzo) Venezuela AFF. Allegory, maybe about Archangel Gabriel vs. Big Brother.. ** 3/4
ARCHITECT, THE (2016, d. Jonathan Parker) *** 1/2
ARCHITECTS OF DENIAL (2017, d. David Lee George) *** 3/4
ARDENNES, THE (2016, Belgium, d. Robin Pront) ***
ARDILLA ROJA, LA (2003, d. Julio Medem 1993) Romantic thriller about a man's fascination with an amnesiac woman. ***
ARE YOU HERE (2014, d. Matthew Weiner) * 3/4
ARETHA: RESPECT (2021 TV series Genius, d. Anthony Hemingway) Entertaining 8-part biopic. Fabu perfs by Cynthia Erivo & Courtney Vance. ***
ARGENTINA, 1985 (2023, Argentina IFF, d. Santiago Mitre) *** 1/4
ARGO (2012, d. Ben Affleck) Superior geopolitical-saga-cum-Hollywood-farce-cum-CIA-spy-thriller which works on all levels. Only flaw is overdramatized climax; but who's counting. *** 3/4
ARIANNA (2016, d. Carlo Lavagna) ***
ARISTOCRATS, THE (2005, d. Paul Provenza) 100 great standup comedians do history's worst dirty in-joke. 90 minutes of constant wracking laughter. *** 3/4
ARMED HANDS (Mains armée) (2013, d. Pierre Jolivet) ** 3/4
ARMIN (2007, d. Ognjen Svilicic) ** 3/4
ARMORED (2010, d. Nimrod Antal) V. Nicely mounted caper film, but clichéd, predictable script spoils some good action direction. ** 1/2
ARMSTRONG LIE, THE (2013, d. Alex Gibney) *** 1/4
ARMY OF CRIME, THE (2010, d. Robert Guédiguian) *** 3/4
ARMY OF SHADOWS (2009, d. Jean-Pierre Melville) Eerily austere depiction of French resistance cell in Lyon, fascinating and strangely moving. *** 1/2
ARO TOLBUKHIN, EN LA MENTE DEL ASESINO (2003, d. Agusti Villaronga etc.) Faux documentary about mass murderer in Guatemala. **
AROUND THE BEND (2004, d. Jordan Roberts) 4 generation of a family's secrets made into a road picture, similar to Last Orders, but rather pedestrian. ** 1/4
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (2004, d. Frank Coraci) A ridiculously overblown remake of a movie which didn't need to be remade. * 1/4
ARRIVAL (2016, d. Denis Villeneuve) *** 1/2
ARRIVAL (2017, d. Denis Villeneuve) + *** 1/2
ARSÈNE LUPIN (2005, d. Jean-Paul Salomé) Big film, bigger mess. Anachronistic narrative, a lead actor without enough gravitas, but gorgeous production design. * 1/2
ART AND COPY (2009, d. Doug Pray) ***
ART AND CRAFT (2014, d. Sam Cullman and Jennifer Grausman) ** 1/2
ART OF CRYING, THE (Kunsten at Graede I Kor) (2006, d. Peter Fog) *** 1/4
ART OF LOVE, THE (2012, d. Emmanuel Mouret) *** 1/4
ART OF NEGATIVE THINKING, THE (Kunsten A Tenke Negativt) (2008, d. Bard Breien) ***
ART OF SELF-DEFENSE, THE (2019, d. Riley Stearns) ** 3/4
ART OF THE STEAL, THE (2010, d. Don Argott) V. Docu about public violating the Barnes Found.trust, looting $25B of art. Fascinating, if one-sided & confrontational. *** 1/4
ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL (2006, d. Terry Zwigoff) Amusing black comedy satire. Broadbent is great; but this is no Ghost World. ***
ARTHUR AND THE INVISIBLES (2006, d. Luc Besson) Luc should stick to live action; predictable, badly acted & animated. * 1/2
ARTHUR MILLER: WRITER (2017, d. Rebecca Miller) *** 1/4
ARTIST AND THE MODEL, THE (2013, d. Fernando Trueba) *** 3/4
ARTIST, THE (2011, d. Michael Hazanavicius) Convincingly authentic take on silent film tropes, but predictable seen-before plot did nothing for me. ** 1/2
ARYAN COUPLE, THE (2004, d. John Daly) Sometimes cheesy melodramas just work, as this well-cast, politically incorrect Holocaust story does for me. Judy Parfitt is wonderful. ***
As Far as They Can Run (2023, doc. short, d. Tanaz Eshaghian) *** 1/2
AS GOD COMMANDS (Come Dio comanda) (2010, d. Gabriele Salvatores) *** 1/2
AS IF I AM NOT THERE (2011, d. Juanita Wilson) *** 1/4
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (2004, d. Kay Pollak) Uplifting & emotionally satisfying drama about an artist who brings enlightenment to his backwater Swedish home town. *** 1/2
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (2005, d. Kay Pollack)+ Watched again; some of the plot manipulations more obvious a 2nd time; but still fine, affecting film. *** 1/4
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT (2012, d. Lorenzo Gabriele) V. Too broadly acted French farce about closeted professor chosen to foster a troubled teen boy. * 3/4
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT (2012, d. Alex de la Iglesia) *** 1/4
AS YOU ARE (2016, d. Miles Joris-Peyrafitte) *** 1/4
ASCENSION (2021, d. Jessica Kingdon) ***
ASCENSION (2014, d. various) TV mini-series *** 1/4
ASH WEDNESDAY (2002, d. Edward Burns) ** 3/4
Ashes to Ashes (2020, short doc, d. Taylor Rees) *** 1/4
ASK DR. RUTH (2019, d. Ryan White) *** 3/4
ASOKA (2002, d. Santosh Sivan) ***
ASSASSIN, THE (Taiwan) (2015, d. Hou Hsiao-Hsien) W/O
ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES (2007, d. Andrew Dominik) Great looking; but the narrator on downers annoyed. ** 3/4
ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON, THE (2004, d. Niels Mueller) Sean Penn is remarkable as a '70s loser who becomes a plane hi-jacker. ***
ASSASSINATION TANGO (2003, d. Robert Duvall) Thriller on valium. Duvall is a fine actor; but lousy writer/director from this film. * 3/4
ASTRONAUT FARMER, THE (2008, d. Michael Polish)V. Subdued Thornton in gentle mode; pretty, feel-good fantasy not typical of Polish Bros. ** 1/2
ASTRONAUTS (2004, d. Santi Amodeo) Slight, wry romantic comedy about an ex-junky and a 16 yr girl. Not as cute as it tries to be. **
ASYLUM (2005, d. David Mackenzie) ** 3/4
AT ETERNITY'S GATE (2019, d. Julian Schnael) *** 1/2
AT MIDDLETON (2013, d. Adam Rodgers) ***
AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR (2008, d. Gilbert & James) Low key docu about former Texas death row chaplin, esp. his remorse over past injustices & the penalty itself. ** 3/4
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL (2017, d. Rodrigo Grande) *** 1/4
AT WEST OF PLUTO (2009, d. Myriam Verreault & Henry Bernadet) ***
ATALANTE, L' (2011, d. Jean Vigo) V. Seminal film gorgeously remastered & recut to original intent. Simple story sort of eliptical narrative, but beautiful. *** 1/4
ATANARJUAT: THE FAST RUNNER (2001, d. Zacharias Kunuk) *** 1/2
ATHLETE, THE (2010, d. Danny Frankel and Rasselas Lakew) ** 3/4
ATLANTIS DOWN (2011 d. Max Bartoli) W/O
ATOMIC BLONDE (2017, d. David Leitch) **
ATOMIC HOMEFRONT (2017, d. Rebecca Cammisa) *** 1/2
ATONEMENT (2007, d. Joe Wright) Wright's direction & McAvoy's acting make this a special tearjerker. Oscar? Maybe. *** 1/2
ATTACK, THE (2013, d. Ziad Doveiri) *** 1/4
ATTENBERG (2011, d. Athina Rachel Tsangari, Greece) W/O
ATTICA (2021, d. Stanley Nelson) *** 1/2
ATTILA MARCEL (2014, d. Sylvain Chomet) *** 1/2
AU REVOIR TAIPEI (2010, d. Arvin Chen) *** 1/4
AUBERGE ESPAGNOLE, L' (2003, France-Spain d. Cedfric Klapisch) Crowd pleasing comedy about a young Frenchman's defining school year in Barcelona. ***
Audible (2021, doc short, d. Matthew Ogens) *** 1/2
AUDITION (2001, d. Takashi Miike) *
AUDRIE & DAISY (2016, d. Bonni Cohen & Jon Shenk) *** 1/4
AUGIE (2017, James Keach) ***
AUGUST RUSH (2007, d. Kirsten Sheridan) As delirious & affecting as Sheridan's Disco Pigs, but too many plot holes. ***
AUGUST (2008, d. Austin Chick) *** 1/4
AUGUST (2011, d. Eldar Rapaport) ** 3/4
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (2013, d. John Wells) *** 1/2
AUGUSTINE (2013, d. Alice Winocour) ** 3/4
AURA, EL (2005, d. Fabián Bielinsky; Argentina) *** 1/4
AURORA (2007, d. Oxana Bayrak; Ukraine) ** 1/2
AUSTRALIA (2008, d. Bazz Luhrmann) Reminiscent of Giant, a gigantic, yet intimate epic focusing on ranching & a country's ethos. Ambitions almost fulfilled. ***
AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY (2016, d. Jeff Feuerzeig) *** 3/4
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL (2007, d. Tricia Regan) Moving, heart-rending docu...nice editing & photog. *** 3/4
AUTO FOCUS (2002, d. Paul Schrader) * 1/2
AUTUMN BALL (2007, d. Veiko Ounpuu ) * 1/2
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK (2000, d. Joan Chen) **
AUTUMN OF THE MAGICIAN (2009, d. Vaheh & Reuben Gevorkyants; Armenia) Fascinating docu about artist screenwriter Tonino Guerra who should be world famous. ***
AUTUMN SPRING (2003, d. Vladimir Michátek) Czech comedy/drama about an old couple. Academy bait...so why did Czechoslavakia nominate another film? ***
Avant que de tout perdre (2013, d. Xavier Legrand) Superbly acted and suspenseful short-film drama about a mother & two kids attempting escape from abusive dad. *** 1/2
AVATAR (2009, d. James Cameron: 3D) The most sense-of-wonder instilling film since 2001:Space Odyssey; a visual triumph with story to match. Bravo! Cameron. ****
AVATAR (2010, d. James Cameron) +++ Extra 9 min. seamlessly integrated. 1st time in IMAX (not much different). Still amazing, unparalleled experience. ****
AVATAR (2010, d. James Cameron) + Still amazing 2nd time around. No other film in memory provided me with such a pleasurable immersive experience. ****
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (2023, d. James Cameron) *** 3/4
Ave Maria (2016, d. Basil Khalil) **
AVELLANEDA'S MOON (2005, d. Juan José Campanella) Long, high-gloss social comedy about an Argentine social club & its member's struggles to survive. ** 1/2
AVENGERS, THE (2012, d. Joss Whedon) Comic universe makes little sense; but film holds together & f/x are nifty. Ruffalo & Evans are particularly effective. ***
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015, d. Joss Whedon) * 3/4
AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019, d. Anthony and Joe Russo) ** 1/2
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2019, d. Joe Russo, Anthony Russo) ** 3/4
AVENUE MONTAIGNE (Fauteuils d'orchestra) (2006, d. Daniele Thompson; France) + *** 1/2
AVIATOR, THE (2004, d. Martin Scorsese) Powerful biopic, visually splendid with great perfs by Di Caprio and Blanchett. Too sprawling, but it worked magic for me. *** 1/2
AWAITING (La Adopción) (2016, d. Daniela Fejerman) ** 3/4
AWAKE (2010, d. Joby Harold) V. Thriller with a truly absurd claptrap plot, but involving, gotta give it that. I like Hayden Christensen, even if he's remarkably wooden. **
AWAKE: THE LIFE OF YOGANANDA (2014, d. Paola di Florio & Lisa Leeman) ***
AWAKENING OF SPRING, THE (2018, d. Arthur Allan Seidelman) * 1/2
AWAY FROM HER (2007, d. Sarah Polley) Julie Christie is aging gorgeously. And her Alzheimer's is totally convincing. *** 1/2
AWAY WE GO (2009, d. Sam Mendes) Wildly variable road flick, social satire. John Krasinski is becoming a major star. ** 3/4
AYKA (2019, d. Sergey Dvortsevoy) *** 1/4
B FOR BOY (2014, d. Chika Anadu) ** 1/2
BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX, THE (2008, d. Uli Edel; Germany) *** 1/4
BAARIA (2009, d. Giuseppi Tornatori; Italy) *** 1/2
BABAI (Kosovo) (2015, d. Visar Morina) ** 3/4
BABEL (2006, d. Alejandro González Iñárritu) Circular script like Before the Rain. Fabulous direction. Gut wrenching tension. Great film. *** 1/2
BABY (A)LONE (Luxemborg) (2015, d. Donato Rotunno) *** 1/2
BABY BOY (2001, d. John Singleton) ***
BABY DRIVER (2018, d. Edgar Wright) + *** 1/2
BABY DRIVER (2017, d. Edgar Wright) *** 1/2
BABY LOVE (2009, d. Vincent Garenq) ***
Baby Sita (2017, d. Ranjit Koka) ** Doc. short, didactic lecture film re: real problem of millions of deserted baby girls in India. Fine cinematography.
BABY STEPS (2015, d. Barney Cheng) *** 1/4
BABYLON (2023, d. Damien Chazelle) ** 1/2
BACK DOOR CHANNELS: THE PRICE OF PEACE (2011, d. Harry Hunkele) V. Fascinating, often moving behind scenes docu of Egypt-Israel negotiations. Important. *** 1/2
BACK IN 1942 (2013, d. Feng Xiaogang, China) *** 1/4
BACK SOON (2007, d. Rob Williams) ** 3/4
BACK TO BURGUNDY (Ce qui nous lit) (2018, d. Cédric Klapisch) *** 1/4
BACK TO YOUR ARMS (2011, d. Kristijonas Vildzunas, Lithuania) ** 1/2
BACKPACK FULL OF CASH (2017, d. Sarah Mondale) *** 3/4
BACKSTAGE (2006, d. Emmanuelle Bercot) ** 3/4
BACK-UP PLAN, THE (2010, d. Alan Poul) J-Lo overacts terribly. Alex O'Loughlin is sexy & wonderful. Film is a clichéd stinker. * 3/4
BACKYARD (2009, d. Carlos Carrera; Mexico) *** 1/4
BAD 25 (2012, d. Spike Lee) V. Shamelessly hagiographic docu celebrating 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's "Bad"; but damn it, despite my personal problems with MJ, this film rocked! *** 1/2
BAD AXE (2022, d. David Siev) *** 1/2
BAD BOYS II (2003, d. Michael Bay) A new morally reprehensible low for the Hollywood mega-violent film. Only Jordi Molla, a kick-ass baddy is worth it. 0*
BAD DAY FOR FISHING (2009, d. Alvaro Brechner;Uruguay) ***
BAD DAY FOR THE CUT (2017, d. Chris Baugh) ** 1/2
BAD EDUCATION (2004, d. Pedro Almodovar) Pedro's gayest film since Law of Desire. Silly noirish plot; but total fun with an extraordinary Gaël Bernal. ***
BAD FAITH (Mauvaise foi) (2007, d. Roschdy Zem) ***
BAD GUY (2003, S. Korea d. Kim Ki-duk) Circular, confusing story: ruthless pimp subjugates a college girl & makes her into a cooperative prostitute. ** 3/4
BAD HAIR (2014, d. Mariana Rondón) **
BAD INFLUENCE (2017, d. Claudia Huaiquimilla) ** 1/4
BAD INTENTIONS, THE (2012, d. Rosario Garcia-Montero, Peru) ** 1/2
BAD KIDS, THE (2016, d. Keith Fulton & Lou Pepe) *** 1/2
BAD SANTA (2003, d. Terry Zwigoff) Funny, profane, wonderfully perverse comedy about group of innately bad losers. Kid who could see no evil was great! ***
BAD SPELLING (2005, d. Jean-Jacques Zilbermann) Fun, homoerotic black comedy, a French boys school where students rebel led by the weird son of the headmasters. ***
BADLAND (2007, d. Francesco Lucente) Except for the overamped score a fine film with a searing perf by Jamie Draven. *** 1/4
BAG OF BONES (2011, d. Mick Garris) V. Instantly forgettable miniseries about ghosts & revenge for old murders in rural Maine. Waste of time. **
BAGHDAD, TX (2009, d. David H. Hickey) * 1/2
BAJARSE AL MORO (2004, d. Fernando Colomo) A low-budget '88 comedy about Madrid druggies. Even a young Antonio Bandares couldn't elevate it. **
BALIBO CONSPIRACY, THE (2010, d. Robert Connolly) *** 1/4
BALL IN THE HOUSE (2005, d. Tanya Wexler) V. ***
BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS (2018, d. Ethan and Joel Coen) *** 1/4
BALLAST (2008, d. Lance Hammer) ** 1/2
BALLET 422 (2014, d. Jody Lee Lipes) *** 1/4
BALSEROS (2004, d. Bosch and Doménech) V. Absorbing doc. which explores the lives of several Cuban raft people who eventually come to the U.S. over 9 years. *** 1/4
BANDE À PART (2003, d. Jean-Luc Goddard) V. A '60s version of the gang who couldn't shoot straight, a cockeyed noir which holds up well. ***
BANDITS (2001, d. Barry Levinson) **
BAND'S VISIT, THE (2007, d. Eran Kolirin) ** 3/4
BANDSLAM (2009, d. Todd Graff) Sweet, fun coming of age/forming a rock band film. Gaelan Connell is LaBeouf lite...very likable. GREAT rock score. Predictable plot. *** 1/4
BANG BANG YOU'RE DEAD (2002, d. Guy Ferland) *** 3/4
BANGER SISTERS, THE (2002, d. Bob Dolman) ** 1/2
BANISHMENT (Izgnamie) (2007, d. Andrey Zvyagintsev) *** 1/4
BANK JOB, THE (2008, d. Roger Donaldson) Surprisingly predictable, I've seen this heist film several times before. ** 1/4
BANLIEU 13 (2005, d. Pierre Morel) Fast paced, superior martial arts action film set in a lawless 2010 Paris. Vivid, realistic characters. *** 1/4
BANQUET AT TETLAPAYAC, A (2001, d. Olivier Debroise) *
BANQUET, THE (2007, d. Feng Xiaogang; Hong Kong) ** 1/4
BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, THE (2023, d. Martin McDonagh) *** 3/4
Bao (2019, d. Domee Shi) Oscar nominated short animated film. ** 1/4
BAR, THE (2017, d. Alex de la Inglesia) * 3/4
BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH (2016, Saudi Arabia, d. Mahmoud Sabbagh) ** 3/4
BARAN (2001, d. Majid Majidi) ***
BARBARA (2012, d. Christian Petzold, Germany) *** 1/4
BARBARIAN INVASIONS, THE (2003, d. Denys Arcand) + Worth a 2nd viewing, just for the philosophy. *** 3/4
BARBARIAN INVASIONS, THE (2003, d. Denys Arcand) Art film about love and dying, literate script, excellent ensemble acting, enormously moving *** 1/2
BARBER OF LITTLE ROCK, THE (2023, Doc. short, d. John Hoffman Christine Turner) ** 3/4
BARBERSHOP (2002, d. Tim Story) ** 1/2
BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS (2023, Mexico IFF, d. Alejandro González Iñárritu) *** 1/4
BAREFOOT ARTIST, THE (2014, d. Daniel Traub and Glenn Holsten) ** 3/4
BAREFOOT DREAM, A (2010, d. Kim Tae-gyun; South Korea) ** 1/4
BARFI! (2012, d. Anurag Basu, India) ***
BARNEY'S VERSION (2010, d. Richard J. Lewis) Grown-up version of Duddy Kravitz with less wit and altogether unpleasant associations. ** 1/4
BARS IN THE MEMORY (2005, d. Manuel Palacios) Dry Spanish docu about the concentration camps and privations during the Franco years. ** 1/2
BARTLEBY (2001, d. Jonathan Parker) ** 1/2
BASAIN (2007, d. Subash Prasad Gajural; Nepal) W/O
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (2005, d. Walter Stokman) Partially successful doc about the "real" story behind Dog Day Afternoon. ** 1/2
BASTARD SON, THE-AND THE DEVIL HIMSELF (2022, tv miniseries, d. various) *** 3/4
BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY (2018, d. Dava Whisenant) *** 3/4
BATKID BEGINS: THE WISH HEARD AROUND THE WORLD (2015. d. Dana Nachman) ** 3/4
BATMAN BEGINNINGS (2005, d. Christopher Nolan) Noisy comic entertainment with a narratively cohesive plot & great design. ***
BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (2016, d. Zack Snyder) *** 1/4
BATMAN, THE (2023, d. Matt Reeves) *** 1/2
BATTERED BASTARDS OF BASEBALL, THE (2014, d. Chapman Way and Maclain Way) *** 1/4
BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN (2011, d. Galinsky & Hawley) V. Slow to start 6-yr. in making docu, gathers power of disgust at the toady political establishment. *** 1/4
BATTLE FOR TERRA (2009, d. Aristomenis Tsirbas) Excellent 3D animation plus superior SF script with subtle issues of loyalties & humanity. *** 1/4
BATTLE IN SEATTLE (2008, d. Stuart Townsend) ** 1/2
BATTLE OF SEVASTOPOL (2016, d. Sergey Mokristky) *** 3/4
BATTLE OF SHAKER HEIGHTS (2003, d. Potelle & Rankin) Indispensible companion to Proj Greenlight. Shia Lebeuf incredible, movie better than expected. ** 3/4
BATTLE OF THE SEXES (2017, d. Valerie Faris & Jonathon Dayton) ***
BATTLE OF WITS (2007, d. Jacob Cheung) ***
BATTLE: LOS ANGELES (2011 d. Jonathan Liebesman) Bombast for days; but this 21st Cent. redo of Independence Day rocks. Convincing, stirring. Am I nuts? *** 1/4
BATTLESHIP (2013, d. Peter Berg) * 1/2
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (2010, d. Michael Rymer)V. 2003 Mini-series. I'm hooked by this serious SF mashup of Star Wars & Star Trek and better than either. *** 1/4
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: BLOOD & CHROME (2013, d. David Eick) * 3/4
BAY OF ANGELS (La Baie des anges) (2013, d. Jacques Demy) *** 1/2
BE CALM AND COUNT TO SEVEN (2009, d. Ramtin Lavafipour) ** 1/2
BE COOL (2005, d. F. Gary Gray) Hipper than thou spoof of gangsta music biz and Hollywood. Enjoyed the settings (around the corner from my apartment). ** 1/4
BE HERE NOW (THE ANDY WHITFIELD STORY) (2016, d. Lilibet Foster) *** 1/4
BE KIND REWIND (2008, d. Michel Gondrey) Gondrey's silly creativity works here. Mos Def surprised me. ***
BE LIKE OTHERS (2009, d. Tanaz Eshaghian) *** 1/4
BE WITH ME (2005, d. Eric Khoo; Singapore) ** 3/4
BEACH RATS (2017, d. Eliza Hittan) *** 1/4
BEACH, THE (2000, d. Danny Boyle) ** 1/2
BEACHES OF AGNES, THE (2009, d. Agnès Varda) What treasures Agnes Varda's mementos are. Her docus are moving & strangely beautiful. Et j'adore Jacques Demi. *** 1/2
BEANPOLE (2019, Russia, d. Kantemir Balagov) *** 1/2 Miserablist post-WWII story of 2 Russian women nurses trying to survive.
BEAR (Ours) (2023, Doc. short, d. Morgane Frund) ** 1/4
BEAR CUB (2004, d. Luis Miguel Albaladejo) An honest, moving, straightforward Spanish film about a gay man thrust into caring for his 9 yr old nephew. ***
Bear Story (2016, d. Gabriel Osorio Vargas) ** 1/4
BEARCITY (2010, d. Doug Langway) **
Beast (Bestia) (2022, anim. short, d. hugo Covarrubias) * 3/4
BEAST STALKER, THE (2009, d. Dante Lam) ***
BEAST (2018, d. Michael Pearce) *** 1/4
BEASTS OF NO NATION (2015, d. Cary Joji Fukunaga) *** 1/4
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (2012, d. Benh Zeitlin) ***
BEAT THAT MY HEART SKIPPED, THE (2005, d. Jacques Audiard) Frenetic drama based on Fingers with a magnetic perf by Romain Duris. ***
BEATLES (2015, d. Peter Flinth) *** 1/4
BEATLES, THE: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK, THE TOURING YEARS (2016, d. Ron Howard) ****
BEATRIZ AT DINNER (2017, d. Miguel Arteta) ** 3/4
BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE (2011, d. Michael Rapaport) V. Rock docu of seminal, troubled hip-hop group "A Tribe Called Quest". Interesting new-to-me stuff, but just ok. ** 1/2
BEAU TRAVAIL (2000, d. Claire Denis) ***
BEAUFORT (2008, d. Joseph Cedar; Isreal) *** 1/2
BEAUTIES AT WAR (La Guerre des miss) (2009, d. Patrice Leconte) **
BEAUTIFUL BEINGS (2022, Iceland IFF, d. Guomundur Arnar Guomundsson) *** 1/4
BEAUTIFUL BOY (2018, d. Felix Van Groeningen) *** 3/4
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, THE (2005, d. Hans Petter Moland) Involving, well acted adventure of a half-American Vietnamese boy's emigration to the US. ***
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES (2014, d. Richard LaGravenese) ** 1/2
BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A (2019, d. Marielle Heller) *** 1/2
BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS (2010, d. Tamoko Kana) V. Intriguing, non-confrontational, pictorial docu of 3 areas where global warming is causing profound life changes. ** 3/4
BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES (Se souvenir des belles choses) (2009, d. Zabou Breitman) *** 1/2
BEAUTIFUL MIND, A (2001, d. Ron Howard) *** 1/4
BEAUTIFUL OHIO (2006, d. Chad Lowe) ** 3/4
BEAUTIFUL PAIN (2016, Malaysia, d. Tunku Mona Riza) *** 1/4
BEAUTIFUL PLANET, A (2016, d. Toni Myers) *** 1/2
BEAUTIFUL SOMETHING (2015, d. Joseph Graham) *** 1/2
BEAUTIFUL (2000, d. Sally Field) **
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017, d. Bill Condon) **
BEAUTY IN TROUBLE (Kraska V Nesnazich) (2007, d. Jan Hrebejk) *** 1/4
BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING (2012, d. Neil Berkeley) V. Fascinating, elevating docu of life & creations of pop artist & designer Wayne White (PeeWee's Playhouse etc.) *** 3/4
BEAUTY REMAINS (2006, d. Ann Hu) ** 1/2
BEAUTY (2011, d. Oliver Hermanus, South Africa) *** 1/4
BECOMING BULLETPROOF (2015, d. Michael Barnett) *** 1/2
BECOMING COUSTEAU (2021, d. Liz Garbus) *** 1/2
BECOMING JANE (2007, d. Julian Jarrold) ** 3/4
BECOMING MIKE NICHOLS (2016, d. Douglas McGrath) *** 1/2
BECOMING TRAVIATA (2013, d. Philippe Béziat) * 3/4
BECOMING WHO I WAS (2017, d. Moon Chang-yong, Jin Jeon) ***
BEDAZZLED (2000, d. Harold Ramis) **
BEE SEASON (2007, d. McGehee and Siegel) V. Involving, well acted family drama with not well defined spiritual mysteries. ***
BEESWAX (2009, d. Andrew Bujalski) Mumblecore madness right up to very (startlingly unsatisfying) ending. Successful character study, in any case. ***
BEFORE FLYING BACK TO EARTH (2006, d. Arunas Matelis; Lithuania) ***
BEFORE I FORGET (Avant que j'oublie) (2008, d. Jacques Nolot) ** 3/4
BEFORE MIDNIGHT (2013, d. Richard Linklater) ****
BEFORE NIGHT FALLS (2000, d. Julian Schnabel) ** 1/4
BEFORE SNOWFALL (2013, d. Hisham Zaman) ** 3/4
BEFORE SUNSET (2004, d. Richard Linklater) Talky sequel to one of my all-time fave films. Satisfying in context; but not as good a film. ***
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD (2007, d. Sidney Lumet) Tight thriller- 2 brothers and the "perfect" robbery. *** 1/2
BEFORE THE FLOOD (2016, d. Fisher Stevens) *** 3/4
BEFORE THE RAINS (2008, d. Santosh Sivan) ** 3/4
BEFORE THE STORM (Före stormen) (2000, d. Reza Parsa) *** 1/2
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT (2014, d. PJ Raval) ***
BEGIN AGAIN (2014, d. John Carney) *** 1/2
BEGINNERS (2011, d. Mike Mills) Finally a truthful film about an elderly gay man, lovingly made, emotionally satisfying. The son's story (film's center) not so well written. Still... *** 1/2
BEHIND BAYONETS & BARBED WIRE (2016, d. Richard L. Anderson, Haofang Shen) *** 1/2
BEHIND ENEMY LINES (2001, d. John Moore) ** 1/2
BEHIND THE CANDELABRA (2013, d. Steven Soderbergh) *** 1/4
BEHIND THE RED DOOR (2003, d. Matia Karrell) (V) Showtime Aids drama. Kyra and Kiefer are 2 of my least favorite actors. * 1/2
BEHIND THE SUN (2001, d. Walter Salles) ** 3/4
BEING 17 (2016, d. André Téchiné) *** 3/4
BEING EVEL (2015, d. Daniel Junge) ** 1/2
BEING FLYNN (2012, d. Paul Weitz) Fabulous acting by DeNero and Dana; but film is such a downer it's hard to love. Crazy, homeless, bad father. Ugh. *** 1/4
BEING JULIA (2004, d. Istvan Szabo) Overwrought, entertaining period melodrama about a monster actress in 1938 London. Benning's performance: Oscar bait tour de force. ***
BEING THE RICARDOS (2022, d. Aaron Sorkin) ***
BEIRUT (2018, d. Brad Anderson) *** 1/4
BEL AMI (2012, d. Declan Donnellan & Nick Ormand) ** 3/4
BELFAST (2022, d. Kenneth Branagh) *** 1/4
BELIEVER, THE (2004, d. Henry Bean) V.+ I appreciated the quality of the filmmaking more the 2nd time around. One hell of a script, well executed. *** 1/2
BELIEVER, THE (2002, d. Henry Bean) *** 1/2
BELLA (2006, d. Alejandro Monteverde) **
BELLE & SÉBASTIEN (2014, d. Nicolas Vanier) *** 1/2
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN, THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES (2016, d. Christian Duguay) ***
BELLE EPINE (2011, d. Rebecca Ziotowski) **
BELLE PERSONNE, LA (2009, d. Chrisophe Honoré) *** 1/4
BELLE TOUJOURS (2007, d. Manoel de Oliveira; Portugal) **
BELLE (2014, d. Amma Asante) *** 1/4
BELLFLOWER (2011, d. Evan Glodel) ** 3/4
BELOVED SISTERS (2014, Germany, d. Dominik Graf) ** 1/4
BELOVED (2012, d. Christophe Honoré) Very Gallic 2 generation bittersweet relationship "musical". Artifice of pedestrian songs didn't work, & too predictable. ** 3/4
BELOVED/FRIEND (2000, d. Ventura Pons) ** 1/2
BELTRACCHI: THE ART OF FORGERY (2015, d. Arne Birkenstock) ** 1/4
BEN IS BACK (2018, d. Peter Hedges) ***
BEN X (2007, d. Nic Balthazar; Belgium) *** 1/2
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2003, d. Gurinder Chadha) Feel good Indian girl's soccer story set in Britain. Predictable script saved by fine direction. ***
BENEATH HER WINDOW (2004, d. Metod Pevec) Screwball Slovenian comedy about a 30ish woman's romantic entanglements whose evident charms escaped me. ** 1/4
BENEATH THE HARVEST SKY (2015, d. Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly) ** 1/4
BENEDICT ARNOLD: QUESTION OF HONOR (2003, d. Mikael Salomon) (V) A&E historical movie. Unwatchably bad. WO
BEN-HUR (2016, d. Timur Bekmambetov) ** 1/2
BEOWULF & GRENDEL (2006, d. Sturla Gunnarsson) ** 1/4
BEREFT (2004, d. Tim Daly, Clark Mathis) + Oops! I forgot I'd seen this grief drama at SIFF and was unimpressed. Here the beauty of the images made up somewhat. ** 3/4
BEREFT (2004, d. Tim Daly, Clark Mathis) Overwrought drama about a young woman driven crazy with grief by the auto accident death of her husband. ** 1/2
BERGA: SOLDIERS OF ANOTHER WAR (2003, d. Charles Guggenheim) (V) docu. on valium about American WWII POWs. ** 1/4
BERLIN IS IN GERMANY (2001, d. Hannes Stohr) *** 1/4
BERNARD AND DORIS (2008, d. Bob Balaban) V. Exquisitely acted (Finnes & Sarandon) but sorta boring biopic. ** 3/4
BERNIE (2012, d. Richard Linklater) Tongue in cheek re-creation docu of a weird Texas murder. The blue-haired lady interviewees are priceless. *** 1/4
BERTIE AND ELIZABETH (2005, d. Giles Foster) Masterpiece Theater schlock. Fine acting, good script. ** 3/4
BESA (2010, d. Srdan Karanovic; Serbia) *** 1/2
BESSIE (2015, d. Dee Rees) ** 1/4
Best Chef in the World, The (2022, doc. short, d. Ben Proudfoot) ****
BEST DAY OF MY LIFE (2004, d. Cristina Comencini) Splendid and moving, complex Italian disfunctional family saga, 2 sisters and gay son & their lives and loves. *** 1/4
BEST DEMOCRACY MONEY CAN BUY, THE (2016, d. Greg Palast & David Ambrose) ****
BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, THE (2012, d. John Madden) Elders do India in this fun dramedy. Dames Judi & Maggie are splendid. *** 1/4
BEST IN SHOW (2000, d. Christopher Guest) ***
BEST INTENTIONS (2012, d. Adrian Sitaru) *** 1/4
BEST KEPT SECRET (2013, d. Samantha Buck) *** 1/4
BEST MAN, WORST FRIEND (2006, d. Stefan Schwartz) V. Guilty pleasure romantic comedy; Stuart Townsend & Seth Green fine. ** 3/4
BEST OF ENEMIES (2015, d. Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville) *** 3/4
BEST OF ENEMIES, THE (2019, d. Robin Bissell) ***
BEST OF TIMES (2010, d. Yongyoot Thongkongtoon; Thailand) **
BEST OF TIMES, THE (2003, d. Chang Tso-Chi) Taiwan AFF. Family drama, kitchen sink style. *** 1/2
BEST OF YOUTH #1 (2004, d. Marco Giordana) Part one of this sprawling family saga propulsively sets up the drama & characters. ***
BEST OF YOUTH #2 (2004, d. Marco Giordana) In part two the emotional rewards so carefully plotted are huge. A totally satisfying 6 hour epic of late 20th Century Italy. ****
BEST OF YOUTH, THE 1 & 2 (2005, d. Marco Tullio Giordana) + Liked part 1 better than originally, and part 2 dragged a little. Still, overall fabulous film. ****
BEST OF YOUTH, THE (2008, d. Marco Giordano) V.+++ Still the most emotionally resonant film I've ever watched. ****
BEST WORST MOVIE (2010, d. Michael Stephenson) V. Docu about cult film TROLL 2; quite entertaining. Apparently NOT a mockumentary, tho it plays like one. ***
BEST WORST THING THAT EVER COULD HAVE HAPPENED (2016, d. Lonny Price) *** 3/4
BET COLLECTOR, THE (2007, d. Jeffrey Jeturian) **
BETHLEHEM (2013, d. Yuval Adler, Israel) ***
BETRAYAL, THE (Nerakhoon) (2008, d. Kuras & Phrasavath) Docu of Laotian family uprooted to U.S. after "secret" war. Moving, but confusingly cut with overdone music. ** 1/2
BETRAYAL, THE (2006, d. Philippe Faucon) ** 1/2
BETTER ANGELS, THE (2014, d. A. J. Edwards) ** 3/4
BETTER DAYS (2021, d. Derek Tsang) *** 1/2
BETTER LIFE, A (2012, d. Cédric Kahn) *** 1/2
BETTER LIFE, A (2011, d. Chris Weitz) An L.A. story of depth & immediacy about illegal Mexican worker & his love for his US born son. Fine perfs, moving and suspenseful. *** 1/4
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW (2003, d. Justin Lin) Well directed, but confusing, Asian-American teenage gang film...only the actors looked too old. ** 1/2
BETTER NATE THAN EVER (2022, d. Tim Federle) *** 1/4
BETTER THAN SEX (2001, d. Jonathan Teplitzky) ***
BETTER THINGS (2008, d. Duane Hopkins) ** 1/2
BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL (2013, d. Mark Mori) ** 3/4
BETWEEN EARTH & SKY (2023, Doc. short, d. Andrew Nadkarni) ** 1/4
BETWEEN LAND AND SKY (2003, d. Guiseppe Feruto ) Italian political satire about media overkill. ** 1/2
BETWEEN LOVE AND GOODBYE (2009, d. Casper Andreas) Gay relationship drama; mediocre direction & acting...but vital, sexy & powerfully realistic. ** 1/2
BETWEEN VALLEYS (2013, d. phillippe Barcinski) ** 1/2
BEVERLY HILLS: 100 YEARS, 100 STORIES (2017, d. Phil Savenick) *** 3/4 ; beautifully edited historical documentary about the city I grew up in!
BEWARE MR. BAKER (2012, d. Jay Bulger) V. One of the better music docus, mostly because Baker is bad crazy, a great jazz drummer; and was at center of rock scene. Film nails it all. *** 1/4
BEYOND HATRED (2006, d. Olivier Meyrou) ** 1/4
BEYOND OUR KEN (2005, d. Pang Ho-Cheung) Frothy, insubstantial girl buddy and revenge (against common boyfriend) comedy from Hong Kong. * 3/4
BEYOND THE CIRCLE (2009, d. Golam Rabbani Biplob; Bangladesh) **
BEYOND THE HILLS (2012, d. Cristian Mungiu, Romania) *** 3/4
BEYOND THE LIGHTS (2015, d. Gina Prince-Bythewood) * 3/4
BEYOND THE MAT (2000, d. Barry W. Blaustein) ***
BEYOND THE SEA (2004, d. Kevin Spacey) The most off the wall musical biopic since Delovely. Spacey makes a better lounge singer than director! ** 1/4
BEYOND THE WALLS (2013, d. David Lambert) *** 1/4
BEYOND UTOPIA (2023, Doc., d. Madeleine Gavin) *** 3/4
BEYOND (2011, d. Pernilla August, Sweden) ** 3/4
BHAJI ON THE BEACH (2003, d. Gurinder Chadha) V. Chadha handles ensembles well; but this Indian woman's lib story was clichéd and obvious. **
B-HAPPY (2004, d. Gonzalo Justiniano) Another periled latina teen girl film, this time a poor girl whose father is in prison. Simple, effective filmmaking. ***
BIBLIOTHÈQUE PASCAL (2010, d. Szabolcs Hajdu; Hungary) W/O
BICKFORD SHMECKLER'S COOL IDEAS (2006, d. Scott Lew) ** 1/2
BICYCLE, SPOON, APPLE (2011, d. Carlos Bosch) *** 1/4
BIDDER 70 (2013, d. Beth Gage & George Gage) ** 1/2
BIG ANIMAL, THE (2000, d. Jerzy Stuhr) * 1/2
BIG BANG LOVE, JUVENILE A (2006, d. Takashi Miike) ***
BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS* (2012, d. Fredrik Gertten) V. Fascinating, heartening David vs. Goliath docu, with the filmmaker as David & Dole Fruit Co. as Goliath. ****
BIG DREAM, THE (2010, d. Michele Placido) ** 1/2
BIG DREAMS, LITTLE TOKYO (2006, d. David Boyle) ***
BIG EDEN (2001, d. Thomas Bezucha) ** 3/4
BIG EMPTY, THE (2003, d. Steve Anderson) Mixed genre. Is it a noir? Alien abduction flick? Black comedy? An honorable failure at all three. **
BIG EYES (2014, d. Tim Burton) ***
BIG FISH (2003, d. Tim Burton) Story of fabulist (convincingly played by Ewan McGregor & Albert Finney). Burton's most appealing and "normal" film. ***
BIG FIX, THE (2011, d. Joshua Tickell) V. Another earnest & vital docu about evil corporations (esp. BP & the recent oil spill's continuing effects.) Nicely structured. *** 1/2
BIG GAY MUSICAL (2010, d. Andreas & Caruso) ***
BIG HERO 6 (2014, d. Don Hall, Chris Williams) ** 3/4
BIG IN JAPAN (2014, d. John Jeffcoat) *** 1/4
BIG KAHUNA, THE (2000, d. John Swanbeck) **
BIG MEN (2013, d. Rachel Boynton) ***
BIG MIRACLE (2012, d. Ken Kwapis) Gripping film based on true story of family of whales trapped under Arctic ice. Fine cast, well directed, predictable. *** 1/4
BIG PICTURE, THE (L'Homme qui voulait vivre sa vie) (2011, d. Eric Lartigau) ***
BIG RIG (2007, d. Doug Pray) ** 1/2
BIG SHORT, THE (2015, d. Adam McKay) *** 1/2
BIG SICK, THE (2017, d. Michael Showalter) *** 1/4
BIGGER SPLASH, A (2016, d. Luca Guadagnino) *** 1/2
BIGGEST LITTLE FARM, THE (2019, d. John Chester) *** 3/4
BIGGIE AND TUPAC (2002, d. Nick Broomfield) ***
BILINGUAL LOVER, THE (El Amante Bilingue) (2007, d. Vicente Aranda) **
BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK (2011, d. Richard Press) V. Entertaining, well made docu of life & times of vivacious old coot street fashion photog. *** 1/2
BILL W. (2012, d. Carracino & Henlon) V. Informative, if dry bio-docu of flawed, human founder of AA, done with much re-created scenes, recordings & interviews. ***
BILL (2007, d. Melisa Wallack, Bernie Goldmann) **
BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY (2021, d. R. J. Cutler) ***
BILLION DOLLAR CODE, THE (2021, d. Robert Thalheim) *** 1/4
BILLION LIVES, A (2016, d. Aaron Biebert) ** 1/4
BILLY ELLIOT (2000, d. Stephen Daldry) *** 3/4
BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK (2016, d. Ang Lee) *** 1/4
BINGO - THE KING OF THE MORNINGS (2017, Brazil, d. Daniel Rezende) * 1/2
BIRDMAN (2014, d. Alejandro G. Iñárritu) *** 3/4
BIRDMAN (2015, d. Alejandro González Iñárritu) + *** 1/2
BIRDS OF PASSAGE (Pájaros de verano) (2018, Colombia, d. Cristina Gallego, Ciro Guerra) *** 1/2
BIRTH OF A NATION, THE (2016, d. Nate Parker) *** 1/2
BIRTH (2004, d. Jonathan Glazer) Heavy duty, eerie psychological drama. Nicole Kiddman fine here, script has a nicely satisfying ambiguity & interesting direction. *** 1/4
BIRTHDAY GIRL (2002, d. Jez Butterworth) ** 1/2
BIRTHDAY, THE (2006, d. Diane Kurys) *** 1/4
BITCH HUG (2013, d. Andreas Öhman) ***
BITTER HONEY (2014, d. Robert Lemelson) ** 3/4
BIUTIFUL (2010, d. Alejandro González Iñárritu) Bardem is all he can be in this depressing slice of Barcelona life film, written & directed with sensitivity. *** 1/2
BLACK AND WHITE (2000, d. James Toback) ** 1/2
BLACK BALLOON, THE (2008, d. Elissa Down) Australian family with autistic son from pov of younger brother. Well observed, tough, truthful. *** 1/4
BLACK BOOK (2007, d. Paul Verhoeven; Netherlands) ***
BLACK BREAD (Pa Negre) (2011 d. Agusti Villaronga) ** 3/4
BLACK CODE (2017, d. Nicholas de Pencier) ** 1/2
BLACK DAHLIA, THE (2006, d. Brian de Palma) Fine cast, terrible script, fake noir. How can such a promising film go so wrong. **
BLACK DOG BARKING (2009, d. Mehmet Bahadir Er & Maryna Gorbach) * 1/2
BLACK FIELD (Mavro Livadi) (2011 d. Vardis Marinakis) **
BLACK GIRLS PLAY: THE STORY OF HAND GAMES (2023, Doc. short, d. Michèle Stephenson) ** 3/4
BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001, d. Ridley Scott) *** 1/2
BLACK ICE (2003, d. Mikhail Brashinsky) Incoherent film about something or other. Jittery camera and unengaging plot were too much to stick around. W/O
BLACK ICE (2022, d. Hubert Davis) ***
BLACK IRISH (2007, d. Brad Gann) *** 1/4
BLACK IRISH (2007, d. Brad Gunn) + *** 1/2
BLACK LEVEL (2017, Ukraine, d. Valentyn Vasyanovich) 1/2*
Black Mambas, The (2018, d. Bruce Donnelly) ***
BLACK MASS (2015, d. Scott Cooper) *** 1/4
BLACK NOTEBOOKS: RONIT (2022, d. Shlomi Elkabetz) ** 1/2
BLACK OR WHITE (2014, d. Mike Binder) *** 1/2
BLACK PANTHER (2018, d. Ryan Coogler) ** 1/4
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (2023, d. Ryan Coogler) ** 1/4
BLACK PANTHERS, THE: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION (2015, d. Stanley Nelson) ** 3/4
BLACK POWER MIX TAPE, THE 1967-1975 (2011, d. Göran Olsson) Interesting Swedish docu with some fine new footage; but also somewhat familiar territory. ** 3/4
BLACK ROBE (2004, d. Bruce Beresford) V. Gut-wrenching '91 film with Lothar Bluteau playing a jesuit priest in New France pre-revolution. ***
Black Sand (2021, Doc. short; d. Sohan Roy) * 1/2
Black Sheep (2018, d. Ed Perkins) *** 1/4
BLACK SNAKE MOAN (2008, d. Craig Brewer)V. Ricci's perf is brave, Jackson is fine, Timberlake less so. Film: clichéd mishmash. ** 3/4
BLACK SUN (2006, d. Gary Tarn) V. Expressionistic docu about a man (writer & narrator) blinded in the '70s. ***
BLACK SWAN (2010, d. Darren Aronofsky) Deliriously over the top. Great camera work, esp. hand-held ballet stuff. Portman superb. But crazed script left me cold. ***
BLACK SWAN (2011 d. Darren Aronofsky) V. + Still hysterical & overwrought. But gorgeous with phenominal acting, camera, design. Even works on small screen. *** 1/4
BLACK TULIP (2011 d. Sonia Nassery Cole; Aphghanistan) ** 3/4
BLACK WHITE + GRAY (2007, d. James Crump) *** 1/4
BLACK, WHITE & BLUES (2011, d. Mario Van Peebles) **
BLACKBIRD (2013, d. Jason Buxton) *** 1/2
BLACKBOARDS (2000, d. Samira Makhmalbaf) **
BLACKFISH (2013, d. Gabriela Cowperthwaite) *** 1/4
BLACKkKLANSMAN (2018, d. Spike Lee) *** 1/4
BLACKMAIL BOY (Oxygono) (2006, d. Papathanasiou & Rappas) Over-the-top melodrama about money corrupting a family with a beautiful bisexual scion. * 3/4
BLACKMAIL BOY (2015, d. Thanisis Papathanasiou, Michalis Reppas) * 1/4
BLACKS, THE (2010, d. Devic & Juric; Croatia) * 1/2
BLACKWATER LIGHTSHIP (2004, d. John Erman) V. An Early Frost, updated...but still a little out of date. I'm too emotionally fragile for AIDS stories like this. *** 1/2
BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017, d. Denis Villeneuve) ***
BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2018, d. Denis Villeneuve) + *** 1/4 2nd viewing the plot was clearer and more interesting.
BLADERUNNER (Final Cut) (2007, d. Ridley Scott) I had forgotten how fabu the production design was! New ending: eh!? *** 1/4
BLADES OF GLORY (2008, d. Gordon & Speck)V. Heder is fine, Ferrell barely ok in this surprisingly funny comedy. Dumb but trenchant. ** 3/4
BLANCANIEVES (2012, d. Pablo Berger, Spain) *** 1/2
BLAZE (2018, d. Ethan Hawke) * 3/4
BLEAK HOUSE (2007, d. various; w. Andrew Davis) Superb adaptation of complex Victorian novel. The Brits do it again. *** 1/2
BLEEDING EDGE, THE (2018, d. Kirby Dick) ** 1/2
BLESSED BY FIRE (2006, d. Tristan Bauer) *** 3/4
BLESSED EVENTS (Glückliche fügung) (2011, d. Isabelle Stever) ** 1/2
BLESSED IS THE MATCH: The Life & Death of Hannah Senesh (2008, d. Roberta Grossman) Enormously moving docu re: Hungarian/Palistinian WWII heroine. *** 3/4
BLESSING BELL, THE (2003, Japan d. Sabu) A formally beautiful, but boring, slow paced day in the life. ***
BLIND DATE (Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglement) (2015, d. Clovis Cornillac) ***
BLIND DATES (2014, d. Levan Koguashvili) ** 1/2
BLIND INTERSECTION (2013, d. Lara Saba, Lebanon) *** 1/2
BLIND LOVES (2008, d. Juraj Lehotsky; Slovakia) *** 1/4
BLIND MOUNTAIN (2007, d. Li Yang) ***
BLIND SIDE, THE (2010, d. John Lee Hancock) Not a bad film, but Oscar calibre? Polar opposite of Precious, in any case, and quite classist. ** 1/2
BLIND SPOT (2013, d. Christophe Wagner, Luxembourg) *** 1/2
BLIND SUNFLOWERS, THE (Los girasoles ciegos) (2008, d. Joeé Luis Cuerda; Spain) ***
Blind Vaysha (2017, d. Theodore Ushev) *** 1/2
BLIND (2007, d. Tamar van den Dop) *** 1/4
BLINDNESS (2008, d. Fernando Meirelles) Unrealistic, but strong catastrophe film (like 28 Days Later) about mystery blindness illness & society throwing victims away. ** 1/2
BLINDSIGHT (2006, d. Lucy Walker) V. Blind children overcoming peril, gorgeous mountain photography, uplift...admirable docu. *** 1/2
BLINDSPOTTING (2018, d. Carlos López Estrada) ***
BLING RING, THE (2013, d. Sofia Coppola) *** 1/4
BLINKY & ME (2012, d. Tomasz Magierski) V. Hopeful 1st person narrative docu of life of Polish/Israeli/Australian Disney-like animator Yoram Gross, Holocaust survivor, artist. *** 1/4
BLISS (2008, d. Abdullah Oguz) *** 1/4
BLIZZARD OF SOULS (2021, Latvia, d. Dzintars Dreibergs) War epic about 16 yr-old Latvian boy witness to brutal battles in WWI. *** 3/4
BLONDE (2023, d. Andrew Dominik) * 1/4
BLOOD AND BONES (2005, d. Yoichi Sai) ** 1/2
BLOOD APPEARS (La Sangre Brota) (2008, d. Pablo Fendik) ** 1/2
BLOOD BROTHER (2013, d. Steve Hoover) *** 3/4
BLOOD BROTHERS (Tiantang Kou) (2008, d. Alexi Tan) * 1/2
BLOOD DIAMOND (2006, d. Edward Zwick) Despite overlength, this is a winner. Prediction: multiple Oscars. *** 1/2
BLOOD OF MY BLOOD (2012, d. João Canijo, Portugal) *** 3/4
BLOOD OF THE LOSERS (Il sangue de vinti) (2008, d. Michele Soavi) *** 1/2
BLOOD RAIN (2006, d. Kim Dae-seung, LeeWon-jae) ** 1/2
BLOOD WORK (2002, d. Clint Eastwood) ** 3/4
BLOODY MILK (2018, d. Hubert Charuel) *** 1/4
BLOODY SUNDAY (2002, d. Paul Greengrass) ***
BLOOM OF YESTERDAY, THE (2017, d. Chris Kraus) *** 1/2
BLOOM (2004, d. Sean Walsh) Earnest adaptation of the unadaptable Ulysses, using lots of voiceovers for interior monologue. Well made; but not my cuppa. ** 1/2
BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS, THE (2006, d. Aureas Solito) ** 1/4
BLOW DRY (2005, d. Paddy Breathnach) V. Funny slice of life (e.g. Full Monty) British comedy about hair contest. Note Bill Nighy & Josh Hartnett as cockney. ** 3/4
BLOW DRY (2001, d. Paddy Breathnach) ***
BLOW (2001, d. Ted Demme) ** 1/2
BLUE CAFTAN, THE (2022, Morocco IFF, d. Maryam Touzani) *** 1/2
BLUE CAR (2003, d. Karen Moncrieff) Viscerally disturbing story-troubled teenage girl and troubled broken family. Understated, with subtle acting. *** 1/2
BLUE CHA CHA (2006, d. Cheng Wen- tang) *** 1/4
BLUE CRUSH (2002, d. John Stockwell) ***
BLUE DINER, THE (2001, d. Jan Egleson) **
BLUE GATE CROSSING (2002, d. Chih-yen Yi) ** 1/2
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR (La vie d'Adèle) (2013, d. Abdellatif Kechiche) ** 3/4
BLUE JASMINE (2013, d. Woody Allen) *** 3/4
BLUE MOON (2003, Austria d. Andrea Maria Dusi) Road picture about a man on a quest to re-find a woman he meets by chance. ** 1/4
BLUE PILLS (Pilules bleues) (2015, d. Jean-Philippe Amar) TV movie *** 3/4
BLUE TOOTH VIRGIN, THE (2009, d. Russell Brown) + *** 1/2
BLUE VALENTINE (2010, d. Derek Cianfrance) Gosling is the finest film actor I've ever seen. Beautiful editing structure, emotionally seering, truthful film. *** 3/4
Blue (2021, short, d. Kyle Lawrence) ** 1/2
BLUEBERRY (2004, d. Jan Kounen ) A psychedelic westen which, though overlong and undiciplined, delivers the goods with fabulous f/x & a superb Vincent Cassell. ***
BLUEBIRD (2005, d. Mijke de Jong) Emotionally shattering, excellent drama about a 12 year old girl who is the brunt of bullies in her jr. high class. *** 1/2
BLUES, THE (2003, d. various) PBS series edited down to 5 ahortened sequences about the blues music. Some sequences worked, some didn't. ** 3/4
BLUETOOTH VIRGIN, THE (2008, d. Russell Brown) *** 1/2
BO BURNHAM: INSIDE (2021, d. Bo Burnham) *** 1/4
BO BURNHAM: THE INSIDE OUTTAKES (2022, d. Bo Burnham) *** 3/4
BOATS OUT OF WATERMELON RINDS (2005, d. Ahmet Uluçay) A Turkish Cinema Paradiso, terrible digital photography, but the 2 boys were charming. ** 1/4
BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD (2012, d. Liz Garbus) V. Illuminating, comprehensive docu about Fischer, whitewashes some aspects, but nicely made. ***
BOBBY (2006, d. Emelio Estevez) ***
BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT (2023, Doc., d. Christopher Sharp, Moses Bwayo) *** 1/4
BODIES (2023, TV limited series, d. Marco Kreuzpaintner, Haolu Wang) *** 1/4
BODY OF LIES (2008, d. Ridley Scott) Entertaining star driven CIA vs. terrorist contempo thriller. Scott is a director in control of the medium. *** 1/4
BODY OF WAR (2007, d. Ellen Spiro & Phil Donahue) Another successful docu: Robert Byrd, such a hero. *** 1/2
Body Team 12 (2015, d. David Darg) ***
BODYGUARDS & ASSASSINS (2010, d. Teddy Chen) *** 3/4
BODYSONG (2004, d. Simon Pummell) V. Hypno-docu, sort of a Family of Man of found film clips to music (cf Koyaanisqatsi). Fascinating and a little boring. ** 1/2
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (2018, d. Bryan Singer) *** 1/2
BOILER ROOM (2000, d. Ben Younger) ***
BOLT (2009, d. Howard & Williams) OK if predictable script. Good vocal acting. But ultimately mediocre. Lousy year for Academy animated features. ** 1/2
BOMB THE SYSTEM (2005, d. Adam Lough) Mark Webber is outstanding in this arty, nicely made indy about radical grafitti artists in NYC. ***
BOMBÓN, EL PERO (2005, d. Carlos Sorin) Like director's Historias Minimas, a fun film without irony about a poor man who is given a show dog. ***
BOMBSHELL (2019, d. Jay Roach) ***
BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY (2017, d. Alexandra Dean) ** 1/2
BON VOYAGE (2003, d. Jean-Paul Rappeneau) Big French WWII melodrama, hugely entertaining & wellmade throwback to old-fashioned classic French cinema. *** 1/4
BONAERENSE, EL (2003, Argentina/Chile d. Pablo Trapero) Naive country bumpkin makes good in the big city police department. ** 3/4
BONES AND ALL (2022, d. Luca Guadagnino) *** 1/4
BONJOUR M. SHLOMI (2004, d. Shemi Zarhin) A superbly observed film about a 16 year old boy whose specialness has been hidden in his disfunctional family. *** 3/4
BONNES FEMMES, LES (2011, d. Claude Chabrol) ** 1/4
BONSAI PEOPLE: VISION OF M. YUNUS (2012, d. Holly Mosher) V. Feel good, do-gooder docu: Nobel Peace prize winner for starting Bangla Desh poor women's bank. ***
BOOK OF ELI, THE (2010, d. Hughes Brothers) Another dystopian future post-war road pic. Denzell is really fine; but Bible thumping message a little much. ** 3/4
BOOK OF HENRY, THE (2017 d. Colin Trevorrow) *** 1/2
BOOK OF LOVE (2006, d. Alan Brown) V. Younger man (Gregory Smith). Older married woman. Clichés; but very nicely acted. ** 3/4
BOOK OF REVELATION, THE (2007, d. Ana Kokkinos) ***
BOOK THIEF, THE (2013, d. Brian Percival) ** 3/4
BOOKER'S PLACE: A MISSISSIPPI STORY (2012, d. Raymond De Felitta) V. B&W, informative, if dry, docu based on 1965 NBC docu which had fatal repercussions. ***
BOOKIES (2005, d. Mark Illsley) V. ** 3/4
BOOKSHOP, THE (2018, d. Isabel Coixet) *** 1/4
BOOM FOR REAL: THE LATE TEENAGE YEARS OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (2018, d. Sara Driver) ** 1/2
BOOM! BOOM! THE WORLD vs. BORIS BECKER (2023, d. Alex Gibney) *** 3/4
BOOTMAN (2000, d. Dien Perry) **
BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM (2021, d. Jason Woliner) ***
BORAT (2006, d. Larry Charles) Cohen is impressive in creating consistent character; funny in a wildly tasteless way. ***
BORDER WAR: THE BATTLE OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION (2006, d. Kevin Knoblock) V. Docu looks great, too polemic. ** 3/4
BORDER (2019, d. Ali Abbasi) *** 1/4
BORDER, THE (2010, d. Jaroslav Vojtek; Slovak Republic) * 3/4
BORED IN BRNO (2004, d. Vladimir Moravek) An earthy Czech multi-character sex comedy which got better as it went along. Too bread for my tastes. ** 1/4
BORGMAN (2013, d. Alex van Warmerdam, Netherlands) ***
BORN AND BRED (2006, d. Pablo Trapero) ** 1/2
BORN IN 68 (2009, d. Olivier Duscastel, Jacques Martineau) *** 1/2
BORN IN CASAL DI PRINCIPE (Nato a Casal di Principe) (2018, d. Bruno Oliviero) * 3/4
BORN INTO BROTHELS (2005, d. Kaufmann & Briski) Kids born in Calcutta brothels get a chance for a life through photography. Interesting & well edited. ***
BORN RICH (2003, d. Jamie Johnson) V. Doc by millionaire heir about his wealthy contemporaries. Mostly talk; but inherently interesting & well made. *** 1/4
BORN ROMANTIC (2001, d. David Kane) ** 1/2
BORN TO BE BLUE (2017, d. Robert Budreau) ** 3/4
BORN TO FLY (2014, d. Catherine Gund) *** 1/2
BORN TO SUFFER (2010, d. Miguel Albaladejo) ** 3/4
BORROWED IDENTITY, A (2015, d. Eran Riklis) *** 1/2
Borrowed Time (2017, d. Andrew Coats & Lou Hamou-Lhadj) *** 1/2
BORSTAL BOY (2001, d. Peter Sheridan) ***
BOSS BABY, THE (2018, d. Tom McGrath) *
BOSS OF IT ALL, THE (2007, d. Lars von Trier) ***
BOSSA NOVA (2000, d. Bruno Barreto) *
BOSTA (2006, d. Philippe Aractingi; Lebanon) * 1/2
BOTHERSOME MAN, THE (Den Brysomme Mannen) (2006, d. Per Schreiner) *** 1/4
BOTSO (2014, d. Tom Walters) *** 3/4
BOTTLE SHOCK (2008, d. Randall Miller) Napa vintage 1976 & wine growing. Looks good; but terrible on the palate. Terrible script. * 1/2
BOUNCE (2000, d. Don Roos) ***
BOUNDARIES (2017, d. Chloé Robichaud) ***
BOUNDARIES (2018, d. Shana Feste) ** 3/4
BOUNDARY, THE (Il confine) (2016, d. Carlo Carlei) *** 3/4
BOURNE IDENTITY, THE (2002, d. Doug Liman) ***
BOURNE LEGACY, THE (2012, d. Tony Gilroy) Re-boot better than original. Renner & Weisz have chemistry & predictable, paranoid plot actually holds together. *** 1/2
BOURNE SUPREMACY, THE (2004, d. Paul Greengrass) Superior thriller, greatest auto chase scene since Ronin. Some plot holes; but editing pace hides them. *** 1/4
BOURNE ULTIMATUM, THE (2007, d. Paul Greengrass) *** 1/2
BOW, THE (2006, d. Kim Ki-duk) ***
BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE (2002, d. Michael Moore) *** 1/2
BOX, THE (2009, d. Richard Kelly) Don't ask me to explain it...but I liked the mood and look of Kelly's film, this one murkier than either of his others. ** 3/4
BoxBallet (2022, anim. short, d. Anton Dyakov) ** 3/4
BOXTROLLS, THE (2015, d. Graham Annable, Anthony Stacchi) ** 3/4
BOY & THE WORLD (O Menino e o Mundo) (2016, d. Alê Abreu) *** 1/2
BOY (2009, d. Aureaus Solito) ***
BOY 23: THE FORGOTTEN BOYS OF BRAZIL (2106, d. Belisario Franca) ** 1/4
BOY A (2007, d. John Crowley) *** 3/4
BOY A (2008, d. John Crowley) *** 3/4
BOY CHOIR (2015, d. François Girard) *** 1/2
BOY CULTURE (2006, d. Q. Allen Brocka) ** 3/4
BOY EATING THE BIRD'S FOOD (2013, d. Ektoras Lygizos, Greece) *** 1/4
BOY ERASED (2018, d. Joel Edgerton) *** 1/4
BOY FROM HEAVEN (Cairo Conspiracy) (2023, Sweden IFF, d. Tarik Saleh) *** 1/4
BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS, THE (2008, d. Mark Herman) Emotionally affecting, well acted (Farmiga and the two boys especially). Too pat. ***
BOY INTERRUPTED (2009, d. Dana Perry) V. Filmmaking parents make exhaustive study of their depressed, 15 year old suicide son. Moving & insightful. *** 1/2
BOY MEETS BOY (Shorts) (2011, d. various) *** 1/4 (on average)
BOY TROUBLE (shorts) (2017, d. various) 6-shorts ranging from * to ***
Boy Who Never Came Home Again, The (2018, doc short d. Ranjeet S. Marwa) ** 1/4
BOY (2010, d. Taika Waititi) ***
Boy, The, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2023, anim. short, d. Peter Baynton, Charlie Mackesy) ** 1/2
BOYFRIEND FOR MY WIFE, A (Un novio para mi mujer) (2008, d. Juan Taratuto) ** 3/4
BOYHOOD (2014, d. Richard Linklater) + ****
BOYHOOD (2014, d. Richard Linklater) ****
BOYNTON BEACH BEREAVEMENT CLUB (2006, d. Susan Seidelman) ** 3/4
BOYS (Jongens) (2016, d. Mischa Kamp) + ** 3/4
BOYS AND GIRLS (2000, d. Robert Iscove) ***
BOYS ARE BACK, THE (2009, d. Scott Hicks) Clive Owens is remarkable as a lost father (of 2 boys) after his wife dies. Predictable plot, but emotionally powerful. *** 1/4
BOYS FROM COUNTY CLARE (2004, d. John Irvin) Predictable, clichéd Irish trifle about dueling traditional Irish bands. * 3/4
BOYS LIFE 3 (2000, d. David Fourier/Bradley Rust Gray/Jason Gould/Lane Janger/Gregory Cooke) **
BOYS OF BARAKA, THE (2005, d. Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady; docu) V. *** 3/4
BOYS STATE (2021, d. Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine) *** 1/2
BOYS (2004, d. Stacy Cochran)V. A TiVo loser. Mysterious Winona Ryder ends up in a boys boarding school dorm tempting rebellious Lucas Haas. No chemistry. * 1/2
BOYS (2014, d. Micha Kemp) *** 1/4
BOYSTOWN (2008, d. Juan Flahn) ** 3/4
BPM (Beats Per Minute) (2017, d. Robin Campillo) *** 3/4
BRAD'S STATUS (2017, d. Mike White) *** 1/2
BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD, THE (2016, d. Jen Senko) *** 3/4
BRAN NUE DAE (2010, d. Rachel Perkins) ** 1/2
BRAND NEW LIFE, A (2010, d. Ounie Lecomte) ***
BRAND NEW TESTAMENT, THE (Belgium) (2015, d. Jaco Van Dormael) ** 3/4
BRAVE MISS WORLD (2013, d. Cecilia Peck) ** 3/4
BRAVE ONE, THE (2007, d. Neil Jordan) *** 1/4
BRAVE (2013, d. Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell et al) ** 1/2
BREACH (2007, d. Billy Ray) Well acted (esp. Chris Cooper) true story of bringing down a spy. Also Ryan Phillippe's best work in ages. ***
BREAD & TULIPS (2001, d. Silvio Soldini) *** 1/4
BREAD AND ROSES (2001, d. Ken Loach) *** 1/4
BREADWINNER, THE (2018, d. Nora Twomey) ** 1/2
BREAKFAST ON PLUTO (2005, d. Neil Jordan) ***
BREAKFAST WITH SCOT (2007, d. Laurie Lynd) ** 3/4
BREAKING AND ENTERING (2006, d. Anthony Minghella) I loved this film despite flaws, became emotionally involved with characters. ***
BREAKING SILENCE (2023, Doc short, d. Amy Bench, Annie Silverstein) *** 1/4
BREAKING THE SILENCE (2000, d. Zhou Sun) ***
BREAKTHROUGH (2020, d. Roxann Dawson) ** 1/2
BREAK-UP, THE (2006, d. Peyton Reed) Fairly clever by-the-numbers romantic dramady. No chemistry between leads. ** 1/2
BREATH MADE VISIBLE (2010, d. Ruedi Gerber) V. New Agey docu about octogenarian Marin danseuse Anna Halprin. Lovely sequences of artistic expression & bio. *** 1/4
BREATH (2018, d. Simon Baker) *** 1/4
BREATHE IN (2014, d. Drake Doremus) ** 1/4
BREATHE (2017, d. Andy Serkis) ***
BREATHING (ATMEN) (2011, d. Karl Markovics, Austria) *** 1/2
BREATHLESS (2009, d. Yang Ik-june) ** 1/4
BRICK LANE (2008, d. Sarah Gavron) ***
BRICK (2006, d. Rian Johnson) Overly complex, familiar noirish plot; but topflight young cast and zingy script really work. ***
BRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2004, d. Gurinder Chadha) Hollywood meets Bollywood, and I suspect becomes a surprising hit. It works after a fashion. ***
BRIDE FLIGHT (2010, d. Ben Sombogaart) *** 3/4
BRIDE OF THE WIND (2001, d. Bruce Beresford) ** 3/4
BRIDE, THE (La novia) (2016, d. Paula Ortiz) ** 1/2
BRIDEGROOM (2013, d. Linda Bloodworth-Thomason) ****
BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (2008, d. Julian Jarrold) Over-amped but curiously passionless & unnecessary redo of a definitive miniseries. ** 1/4
BRIDESMAIDS (2011, d. Paul Feig) Almost too transgressive and female humor oriented for me; yet I laughed and Chris O'Dowd is quite good. ** 3/4
BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO SHORES, A (Un pont entre deux rives) (2000, d. Gerard Dépardieu & Frédéric Auburtin) *** 3/4
BRIDGE OF SPIES (2015, d. Steven Spielberg) *** 1/4
BRIDGE TO TARABITHIA (2007, d. Gabor Csupo) Xtian propaganda in a totally wonderful disguise. Moving, grounded fantasy. Hurrah! *** 1/2
BRIDGET JONES: EDGE OF REASON (2004, d. Beeban Kidron) Dreadful film. Poor Renée Zellweger wasted all that weighty effort. Horrendous script, no romantic chemistry. **
BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY (2001, d. Sharon Maguire) *** 1/4
BRIDGING THE GAP (2013, d. Curt M. Faudon) ** 1/4
BRIGHT FUTURE (2004, d. Kiyoshi Kurosawa) A straightforward (for this director) slacker story about disaffected youths in Japan. ** 1/4
BRIGHT LEAVES (2004, d. Ross McElwee) V. Personal docu about McElwee's family connection to tobacco. Slowly paced, but interesting & beautifully shot. ***
BRIGHT LIGHTS: STARRING CARRIE FISHER & DEBBIE REYNOLDS (2016, d. Alexis Bloom & Fisher Stevens) *** 1/2
BRIGHT STAR (2009, d. Jane Campion) Weepy, authentic costume romance with an amazingly affecting perf by Ben Winshaw as John Keats. *** 1/4
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS (2004, d. Stephen Fry) Fast paced story of the mad upperclass in England just pre-WWII. Gorgeous period stuff, well played. ***
BRIGHTON ROCK (2011, d. Rowan Joffe) Stylish, noirish remake of '47 flick set in '64. Riley is convincingly twitchy, Riseborough a find! Disappointing climax. ***
BRILLIANT YOUNG MIND, A (aka X+Y) (2017, d. Morgan Matthews) + *** 1/2
Brillo Box (3¢ Off) (2016, short, d. Lisanne Skyler) *** 1/4
BRIMSTONE & GLORY (2017, d. Viktor Jakovleski) *** 1/2
BRIMSTONE (2017, d. Martin Koolhoven) ***
BRING IT ON (2000, d. Peyton Reed) ***
BRINK, THE (2019, d. Alison Klayman) ** 3/4
BRITNEY BABY, ONE MORE TIME! (2002, d. Ludi Boeken) ** 3/4
BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON (2019, d. Paul Downs Colaizzo) *** 1/4
BRITZ (2008, d. Peter Kominsky) V. Shattering, scary story of Pakistani/Brit brother & sister caught up in modern terrorism on opposite sides. *** 1/2
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005, d. Ang Lee) *** 1/2
BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN, THE (2013, d. Felix van Groeningen, Belgium) *** 3/4
BROKEN EMBRACES (2009, d. Pedro Almodovar) Typical Almodovar. Over plotted, gorgeous, a little long. Some breathtakingly original shots, but ultimately disappointing ** 3/4
BROKEN ENGLISH (2007, d. Zoe Cassavetes) *** 1/2
BROKEN FLOWERS (2005, d. Jim Jarmusch) *** 1/2
BROKEN HEARTS CLUB, THE: A ROMANTIC COMEDY (2000, d. Greg Berlanti) ** 1/4
Broken House, A (2021, doc short, d. Jimmy Goldblum) *** 1/4
BROKEN PROMISE (2009, d. Jill Chlumský; Slovakia) *** 1/2
BROKEN SKY (El Cielo Dividido) (2006, d. Julián Hernández) Gorgeously photographed and scored gay art film of gestures. *** 1/4
BROKEN WINGS (2003, d. Nir Bergman) Israel AFF. Drama about family riven by grief after father's death. *** 1/4
BROKEN (2006, d. Alan White) ** 1/4
BRONSON (2009, d. Nicolas Winding Refn) ***
BRONTË SISTERS, THE (Les Soeurs Brontë) (2013, d. André Téchiné) W/O
BRONZE SCREEN, THE (2001, d. Alberto Dominguez, Nancy de los Angeles) ** 1/4
BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST (2012, d. Ryan O'Nan) *** 1/4
BROOKLYN CASTLE (2012, d. Katie Dellamaggiore) V. Uplifting docu...NYC middle school's chess team brings excellence to inner city. Great kids chosen. Superbly made. ****
BROOKLYN (2015, d. John Crowley) *** 3/4
BROOKLYN (2015, d. Pascal Tessaud) * 3/4
BROOKLYN (2016, d. John Crowley) + ****
BROS (2022, d. Nicholas Stoller) ***
BROTHER BEAR (2003, d. Blaise, Walker) Traditional Disney animation with overly simplistic amerind legend theme. Still, I was move. Good kid film. ** 3/4
BROTHER (2001, d. Takeshi Kitano) ** 3/4
BROTHER (2002, d. Yan Yan Mak)
BROTHERHOOD (2010, d. Nicolo Donato) ** 3/4
Brotherhood (2020, live short, d. Meryam Joobeur) *** 1/4
BROTHERS (2009, d. Jim Sheridan) Superb adaptation to a truthful American war story, changing emphasis of original, maybe for the better. Maguire is great! *** 1/2
BROTHERS (Bratia) (2023, Czech Republic, d. Tomás Masín) *** 1/4
BROTHERS AT WAR (2009, d. Jake Rademacher) V. Affecting and illuminating documentary by one filmmaker brother embedded in Iraq while 2 other brothers are serving. *** 1/4
BROTHERS BLOOM, THE (2008, d. Rian Johnson) Silly, slapsticky, anachronistic fantasy which wastes a good cast. A strange comedown for the director of Brick. * 1/4
BROTHERS GRIMM, THE (2005, d. Terry Gilliam) * 3/4
BROTHERS OF THE HEAD (2006, d. Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe) ***1/4
BROTHERS (2005, d. Susanne Bier) Shattering drama about a good man who commits an act beyond redemption. Incredible acting and fine direction. *** 3/4
BRÜNO (2009, d. Larry Charles) Über confrontationalist Cohen manages ütter tastelessness. Funny in a transgressive way, but sort of a mess. * 3/4
BRUNO (2003, d. Shirley MacLaine) V. Limp, soppy comedy - 8 year old spelling genius boy (phenom kid actor Alex Linz) who needs to compete in a dress. * 3/4
BUBBA HO-TEP (2003, d. Don Coscarelli) Horror comedy in an old-folks home: Elvis & JFK take on an Egyptian mummy. Silly fun. ** 3/4
BUBBLE BOY (2001, d. Blair Hayes) * 3/4
BUBBLE, THE (2006, d. Eytan Fox) *** 1/4
BUCK (2011, d. Cindy Meehl) *** 1/4
BUCKET LIST, THE (2007, d. Rob Reiner)V. Only for old folks; but a great travelogue. ** 3/4
BUDDENBROOKS (2009, d. Heinrich Breloer) *** 1/4
BUDDHA COLLAPSED OUT OF SHAME (2008, d. Hana Makmalbaf) *** 1/4
BUDDY (2003, d. Marten Tyldum) Young guy turns his & 2 eccentric roommates liver into a commercially successful video journal. Touching, fun comedy. ***
BUFFALO BOY (2005, d. Minh Nguyen-Vo; Vietnam) ***
BUFFALO GIRLS (2012, d. Todd Kellstein) V. Hard to watch docu of 2 tiny & adorable pre-teen Thai girl kick-boxers who do bouts for money...exploited by family & promoters. Ugh. **
BUFFALO SOLDIERS (2004, US d. Gregor Jordan) Glossy, high-budget, somewhat over-the-top satire about army corruption in German occupation in '89. *** 1/2
BUGS (2016, d. Andreas Johnsen) ** 1/4
BUKOWSKI: BORN INTO THIS (2004, d. John Dullighan) V. I've never much been into Bukowski; but this compelling docu presents him well. ** 3/4
BULGARIAN LOVERS (2003, d. Eloy de la Iglesia) Tongue in cheek drama about a straight Bulgarian expat in Madrid taking advantage of a gay Spaniard. ** 1/4
BULGARIAN RHAPSODY (2014, Bulgaria, d. Ivan Nitchev) *** 1/2
BULLHEAD (Rundskop) (2012, d. Michaël R. Roskam, Belgium) *** 1/4
BULLY (2012, d. Lee Hirsch) V. Important docu following bullied kids (and parents of suicided bullied kids). Invisible camera? Pretty amazing, shocking & moving stuff. *** 3/4
BULLY (2001, d. Larry Clark) *** 1/2
BUM'S NAME, THE (Civico 0) (2008, d. Citto Maselli) ***
BUNGALOW (2002, d. Ulrich Kohler) ***
BUNOHAN: RETURN TO MURDER (2012, d. Dain Said) W/O
BUOYANCY (2019, Australia, d. Rodd Rethjen) ** 3/4 A 14 yr. old Cambodian boy runs away to work as a slave on a Thai fishing trawler.
BURDENED, THE (2023, Yemen, d. Amr Gamal) *** 1/4
BURIED (2010, d. Rodrigo Cortés) Uncompromising, difficult to watch, uncommercial tour de force. Reynolds is spectacularly right. Is there an audience? *** 1/4
BURLESK KING (2000, d. Mel Chionglo) *
BURLESQUE (2011 d. Steve Antin) Fab costumes & production. Less than fab script (clichés abound). Aguilera is great. Gigandet to die for. Cher is mummified. Loved it. ** 3/4
BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY (2009, d. Anders Ostergaard) V. Astonishing docu footage of government repression of populace. *** 1/2
BURN (2012, d. Putnam & Sanchez) V. Dispiriting yet hopeful docu of Detroit fire department, most fires, least money, 80,000 abandoned buildings. Some exciting footage, good characters. *** 1/4
BURN AFTER READING (2008, d. Joel & Ethan Coen) Silly, but quite entertaining farce about CIA snafu involving a computer disk & some greedy Washingtonians. ***
BURN BURN BURN (2016, d. Chanya Button) *** 1/2
BURN YOUR MAPS (2019, d. Jordan Roberts) *** 1/2
BURNING BUSH (2014, d. Agnieszka Holland) *** 1/2
BURNING IN THE WIND (2003, d. Silvio Soldini) Bleak but well acted story of East Euro life transported into France along with ill-fated love ***.
BURNING PLAIN, THE (2009, d. Guillermo Arriaga) *** 1/4
BURNING (2018, Korea, d. Lee Chang-dong) *** 1/2
BURNT BY THE SUN 2: THE CITADEL (2011, d. Nikita Mikhalkov, Russia) ** 3/4
BURNT MONEY (2001, d. Marcelo Piñeyro) *** 1/2
BURNT OUT (2006, d. Fabienne Godet) ***
BURNT (2015, d. Steven Knight) *** 1/2
Burrow (2021, d. Madeline Sharafian) A rabbit tries to build an underground home & encounters myriad neighbor problems. Frenetic fun. ***
BURZYNSKI (2010, d. Eric Merola) V. Combative, fascinating one-sided (but effectively so) docu about pharma & FDA conspiracy against effective cancer cure. *** 3/4
BUS 174 (2004, d. José Padilha) V. Brazilian doc which examines thoroughly the background of a publically televised bus hijacking and relives the tragic events. ***
BUS PALLADIUM (2010, d. Christopher Thompson) *** 1/4
BUSINESS OF STRANGERS, THE (2001, d. Patrick Stettner) ***
BUT FOREVER ON MY MIND (Come te nessuno mai) (2000, d. Gabriele Muccino) *** 1/2
BUT FOREVER ON MY MIND (2005, d. Gabriele Muccino) V. Finally this 1999 coming of age masterpiece about youthful exhuberance is out on DVD! *** 3/4
BUTA (2012, d. Ilgar Najaf, Azerbaijan) ** 1/4
BUTLER, THE (2013, d. Lee Daniels) ** 3/4
BUTTERFLY (Lea legua de las mariposas) (2000, d. Jose Luis Cuerda) ** 1/2
BUTTERFLY SMILE (2002, d. He Jianjun) * 1/2
BUTTERFLY, THE (2004, France d. Philippe Muyl) Sappy, Kolya type drama about old butterfly collector & the little girl who runs away with him. ** 1/2
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM, THE (2014, d. Yilmaz Erdogan) *** 1/4
BÜYÜK ADAM KÚÇÜK ASK (2001, d. Handan Ipekçi) ** 3/4
BY SIDNEY LUMET (2016, d. Nancy Buirski) *** 3/4
BY THE SEA (2015, Angeline Joli) *
BYPASS (2013, d. Aitor Mazo, Patxo Telleria) *** 1/2
BYRON (2005, d. Julian Farino) V. ** 3/4
BYZANTIUM (2013, d. Neil Jordan) ** 3/4
C.O.G. (2013, d. Kyle Patrick Alvarez) *** 1/4
C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005, d. Jean-Marc Vallée; Canada) *** 3/4
C.R.A.Z.Y. (2006, d. Jean-Marc Vallée) V. 2nd time around this time on video. Why is this masterpiece not getting released in the U.S.? *** 3/4
C.R.A.Z.Y. (2007, d. Jean-Marc Vallée) V.+++ Still one of the best coming-of-age gay films ever made. *** 3/4
CAB FOR THREE, A (2001, d. Orlando Lübbert) **
CABALLERO DON QUIXOTE, EL (2003, d. Manuel Gutierrez Aragon) Boring sequel to Don Quixote. * 3/4
CA-BAU-KAN (2003, d. Nia Dinata) Indonesia AFF. Historical drama about a beautiful pleasure girl who marries a shady businessman. * 1/2
CABBIE, THE (2001, d. Yiwen Chen and Huakun Zhang) ** 1/2
CADILLAC RECORDS (2008, d. Darnell Martin) Interesting biopic of Chess recording artists. Nice musical numbers, esp. Beyoncé's Etta James. ** 3/4
CADO DALLE NUBI (2011 d. Gennaro Nunziante) ***
CAESAR MUST DIE (2012, d. Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Italy) ***
CAESAR (2005, d. Uli Edel) V. ** 3/4
CAFÉ DE FLORE (2012, d. Jean-Marc Vallée) Vallée is a stylish auteur whose take on a fateful couple's relationship through past lives is ambitious, difficult to grasp and rewarding. *** 1/4
CAFÉ SOCIETY (2016, d. Woody Allen) *** 1/2
CAIRO TIME (2010, d. Ruba Nadda) ** 1/2
CAJA 507, LA (2003, d. Enrique Urbizu) Thriller about a meek bank director who gets involved in a huge Mafia inspired international conspiracy. ** 3/4
CAKE EATERS, THE (2009, d. Mary Stuart Masterson) Quirky, realistic contemporary heart tugger with some really wonderful perfs & assured direction. *** 1/4
CAKEMAKER, THE (2018, Israel, d. Raul Graizer) *** 1/4
CALENDAR GIRLS (2004, d. Nigel Cole) Mediocre female version of The Full Monty. **
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' (ENDLESS) (2008, d. Cristian Nemescu) *** 1/4
CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER (2017, d. Doug Nichol) ***
Call Center Blues (2021, Doc Short, d. Geeta Gandbhir) Banished to Tijuana, displaced Americans serve to help others in the same boat. ** 3/4
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2017, d. Luca Guadagnino) *** 3/4
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2017, d. Luca Guadagnino) + *** 3/4
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2018, d. Luca Guadagnino) ++ ****
CALL ME KUCHU (2013, d. Katherine Fairfax Wright & Malika Zouhali-Worrall) *** 3/4
CALL ME LUCKY (2015, d. Bobcat Goldthwait) *** 1/2
CALL ME THIEF (2016, South Africa, d. Daryne Joshua) *** 1/2
CALL ME TROY (2008, d. Scott Bloom) ***
CALL, THE (2013, d. Brad Anderson) ** 1/4
CALVARY (2014, d. John Michael McDonagh) *** 1/4
CAMARATE (2001, d. Luis Filipe Rocha) *** 1/4
CAMERAPERSON (2016, d. Kirsten Johnson) *** 3/4
CAMILLA DICKENSON (2012, d. Cornelia Duryée Moore) ** 1/2
CAMILLE (2008, d. Gregory Mackenzie) * 3/4
CAMION (2013, d. Rafaël Ouellet) *** 1/4
Camp Confidential: America's Secret Nazis (2021, doc short, d. Mor Loushy, Daniel Sivan) ***
CAMP COURAGE (2023, Doc. short, d. Max Lowe) *** 3/4
CAMP HOLLYWOOD (2005, d. Steve Markle)V. Superb personal DV docu about a nearby hotel & its denizens, many trying to make it in Hollywood. *** 1/2
CAMP (2003, d. Todd Graff) + Just hits me squarely in my wheelhouse. 2nd viewing confirms its cleverness & skills of the cast despite inherent clichés. ***
CAMP (2003, US d. Todd Graff) Aimiable, but predictable (we've seen it before), musical comedy about a summer camp for budding entertainers. ** 1/2
CAMP (2007, d. Todd Graff) V.++ Still more entertaining than American Idol! Guilty pleasure; but very much a pleasure. ***
CAMPAIGN, THE (2012, d. Jay Roach) Funny enough political comedy with a wonderfully prissy perf. by Galifianakis. Humor too broad; but occasionally trenchant. ** 3/4
CAMPFIRE (2012, d. Bavo Defume) V. 4 short Belgian films of youthful male longing. Combine Fassbinder & Todd Haynes & no overt content & you have this. **
CAMPFIRE (2004, d. Joseph Cedar) Involving family drama about a woman with 2 daughters coping with social and relational problems. Nicely acted. ***
CAN GO THROUGH SKIN (2009, d. Esther Rots) ** 1/2
CAN MR. SMITH GET TO WASHINGTON ANY MORE? (2006, d. Frank Popper) V. Absorbing docu of empassioned run for Congress. *** 1/2
CAN YOU BRING IT: BILL T. JONES AND D-MAN IN THE WATERS (2021, d. Tom Hurwitz, Rosalynde LeBlanc) *** 1/2
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? (2018, d. Marielle Heller) *** 1/4
CAN (2012, d. Rasit Çelikezer) *** 1/4
CANARY (2023, Doc, d. Danny O'Malley, Alex Rivest) *** 1/2
CANONE INVERSO ("Making Love") (2001, d. Ricky Tognazzi) ** 1/4
CANOPY (2014, d. Aaron Wilson) ** 1/2
CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP: A BAD BOY STORY (2017, d. Daniel Kaufman) * 1/2
CAPE NO. 7 (2008, d. Te-Sheng Wei; Taiwan) **
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (2005, d. Mark Bamford) Harmless S.African ecuminical romantic comedy, sort of predictable. ** 1/2
CAPERNAUM (2018, Lebanon, d. Nadine Labaki) *** 1/2
CAPITAL (2013, d. Costa-Gavras) ** 3/4
CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY (2009, d. Michael Moore) In your face docu, always interesting even though Moore's opinions often rankle this time around. ** 3/4
CAPITOL CRIMES (p. Bill Moyers) V. Surgical dissection of the Jack Abramoff/Tom de Lay scandals. Great tv journalism. *** 1/4
CAPONE (2004, d. Jean Marc Brandolo) Buddy road trip film...two lost souls taking a race horse from Paris to Finland. Good film, but I dozed. ** 3/4
CAPOTE (2005, d. Bennett Miller) *** 1/4
CAPTAIN ABU RAED (2008, d. Amin Matalqa) ***
CAPTAIN AHAB (Captaine Achab) (2008, d. Philippe Ramos) ** 1/4
CAPTAIN AMERICA: 1ST AVENGER (2011, d. Joe Johnston) At last a movie from the comics that's well plotted & directed by a guy who knows what to do with 3D. ***
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016, d. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo) * 3/4
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014, d. Joe Russo) ** 3/4
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC (2016, d. Matt Ross) ****
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC (2017, d. Michael Ross) + ****
CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019, d. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck) * 1/2
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (2013, d. Paul Greengrass) *** 1/4
CAPTAIN, THE (2018, d. Robert Schwentke) *** 1/2
CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER, THE (2001, d. Alexander Proshkin) ***
CAPTIVATED: THE TRIALS OF PAMELA SMART (2014, d. Jeremiah Zagar) *** 1/2
CAPTIVE (2004, d. Gastón Biraben) Moving & beautifully acted film about an Argentine teenage girl who discovers her parents are not her real parents. *** 1/4
CAPTIVE (2009, d. Aleksei Uchitel) ** 3/4
CAPTURE OF THE GREEN RIVER KILLER, THE (2008, d. Norma Bailey) V. Zodiac lite. Very well made & acted. ***
CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS (2003, US doc. d. Andrew Jarecki) A great documentary which peels the layers off of a family's secrets & justice mislaid. ****
CARAMEL (2007, d. Nadine Labaki; Lebanon) ** 1/2
CARANCHO (2010, d. Pablo Trapero; Argentina) ** 1/4
CARANDIRU (2004, d. Hector Babenco) A Brazilian prison worse than Oz, from doctor's pov. Involving, occasionally wrenching, well acted, nicely put together. *** 1/4
CARD PLAYER, THE (2004, d. Dario Argento) Ludicrous, but well directed Italian policier about a maniac serial woman killer using the internet to play games with police. * 1/2
Caregiver: a Love Story (2021, Doc. short; d. Kevin Gordon, Jessica Zitter) *** 1/4
CARGO (2010, d. Ivan Engler) ***
CARLOS (2010, d. Olivier Assayas) V. 3-part miniseries, so complex, lucid & excitingly written & directed. Ramirez also excellent. Very impressive achievement. *** 3/4
CARMEN IN KHAYELITSHA (2006, d. Mark Dornford-May) ** 1/2
CARMO HIT THE ROAD (2009, d. Murillo Pasta) ** 1/4
CARNAGE (2004, d. Delphine Gleize) V. Visually stunning film about, well, bull. And how all is connected in the world. Or something. ***
CARNAGE (2011, d. Roman Polanski) Best 4-actor filmed play since V. Woolf, actors eat up the screen & each other. f/x of the year: Polanski's Brooklyn. *** 1/2
Carne y Arena (Flesh and Sand) (2018, d. Alejandro G. Iñárritu) ****
CAROL (2015, d. Todd Haynes) *** 3/4
CAROL (2016, d. Todd Haynes) + *** 1/2
CARRIER, THE (2011, d. Maggie Betts) V. Slowly developing, gorgeous, moving docu of polygamous Zambian family suffering effects of AIDS & still having babies. *** 1/4
CARS (2007, d. John Lassiter) Inventive animation, got better as it went along, but just not up to its rep. ** 3/4
CARTEL LAND (2015, d. Matthew Heineman)) ***
CASA DE LOS BABYS (2003, d. John Sayles) Intermittently interesting Mexican baby mill story, unexpectedly flawed by a poorly structured script. **
CASA DE MI PADRE (2012, d. Matt Piedmont) Spoof on mexi-narco western genre. Purposely shoddy; but still really shoddy and incredibly unfunny. * 1/2
CASANEGRA (2009, d. Nour Eddine Lakhmari; Morocco) ** 1/4
CASANOVA (2005, d. Lasse Hallström) ***
CASE AGAINST 8, THE (2014, d. Ben Cotner, Ryan White) *** 3/4
CASH TRUCK (2004, d. Nicolas Boukhrief) Effective, beautifully shot film noir, violent and unpredictable. ***
CASHBACK (2006, d. Sean Ellis) ***
CASINO JACK AND THE UNTIED STATES OF MONEY (2010, d. Alex Gibney) Fast paced, scattered & unfocused docu about Jack Abramoff & govt. corruption. ** 1/4
CASINO JACK (2010, d. George Hickenlooper) Spacey is convincing as out-of-control real-life lobbyist; but fiction, even imaginatively structured doesn't match fact. ** 3/4
CASINO ROYALE (2006, d. Martin Campbell) Nice new Bond; nice physical action stunts. But the film is as ridiculous as ever. ** 1/4
CASSANDRA'S DREAM (2007, d. Woody Allen) Hitchcockian film with a little Purple Noon thrown in. ** 3/4
CAST AWAY (2000, d. Robert Zemeckis) *** ri
CASTING BY (2013, d. Tom Donahue) *** 1/4
CASUAL VACANCY, THE (2015, d. Jonny Campbell) 1/2*
CAT IN PARIS, A (2012, d. Felicioli & Gagnol) Stylish, French style 2D animation with a rather ordinary "cat burglar" plot à la To Catch a Thief. ** 1/2
CATCH A FIRE (2006, d. Phillip Noyce) Excellent "making of a terrorist/freedom fighter" film from So. Africa. Derek Luke fine. *** 1/4
CATCH AND RELEASE (2007, d. Susannah Grant) Predictable but well acted chick flick which involved me. ** 3/4
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (2002, d. Steven Spielberg) ***
CATCH THE DREAM (Tarok) (2014, d. Anne-Grethe Bjarup Riis) ** 1/2
CATFISH (2010, d. Schulman & Joost) Somewhat overhyped docu. Interesting and sad human nature vs. internet account - but nothing remarkable. ***
CATHEDRAL, THE (2022, d. Denis Dobrovoda) *** 1/2
CAUCASIA (2008, d. Farid Gumbatov; Azerbaijan) * 1/4
CAUGHT IN THE WEB (2012, d. Chen Kaige, China) *** 1/4
CAUSEWAY (2023, d. Lila Neugebauer) ** 3/4
CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG, THE (2006, d. Byambasuren Davaa; Mongolia)
CAVE, THE (2019, d. Feras Fayyad) *** 1/4
Cavedigger (2013, d. Jeffrey Karoff) Doc short: Ra Paulette, elderly man who digs enormous embellished caves from sandstone in N.M. Amazing. *** 1/4
CAVEDWELLER (2004, d. Lisa Cholodenko) Sometimes annoying but satisfying drama about woman who ran away with a rock band returning home to Georgia. ** 3/4
CAYO (2006, d. Vincente Juarbe; Puerto Rico) * 3/4
CECIL B. DEMENTED (2000, d. John Waters) ** 1/4
CECILIE (2007, d. Hans Fabian Wullenweber) ** 3/4
CEDAR RAPIDS (2011 d. Miguel Arteta) OK funny mashup of Hangover & any Alex Payne joint about prairie rubery. Arteta's good with actors, not prod. design. ** 3/4
CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER (2014, d. Lee Toland Krieger) + *** 1/2
CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER (2012, d. Lee Lee Toland Krieger) Bittersweet indie rom-com with killer script & genuine chemistry between all the actors. Loved it! *** 1/2
CELESTE IN THE CITY (2004, d. Larry Shaw) V. Queer Eye for Straight Girl makeover ABC Family film abounding with simplistic stereotypes. Another great Ethan Embry role. **
CELESTIAL WIVES OF MEADOW MARI (2013, d. Aleksey Fedorchenko) * 1/4
CELL 211 (2010, d. Daniel Monzón) *** 1/2
CELL, THE (2000, d. Tarsem Singh) ** 1/2
CELLULAR (2004, d. David Ellis) More plot holes than Swiss cheese in this silly variant on Phone Booth; but Chris Evans is going to be a star. * 3/4
CENTER STAGE (2000, d. Nicholas Hytner) ** 3/4
CENTRAL PARK FIVE, THE (2012, d. Ken Burns et.al.) V. Another hard-hitting docu: horrendous miscarriage of justice, the "Wilding" rape, '89 NYC. Important; I've seen better. *** 1/2
CENTURION (2010, d. Neil Marshall) ** 3/4
CEREMONY (2011 d. Max Winkler) ** 1/4
CERTAIN PREY (2011, d. Chris Gerolmo) V. TV movie of a pretty good book; entertaining, comic policing with a little more grit than "Psych" also on USA. ** 1/2
CERTIFIED COPY (2011, d. Abbas Kiarostami) Enigmatic, talky, strangely involving film about 2 people wandering a Tuscan town who may or may not be married. ***
CESAR'S LAST FAST (2014, d. Richard Ray Parez & Lorena Parlee) ** 3/4
C'EST LA VIE! (2018, d. Olivier Nakache, Eric Teledana) ** 1/4
CÉZANNE AFFAIR, THE (L'uomo nero) (2010, d. Sergio Rubini) ** 1/4
CHACUN SA NUIT (2006, d. Jean-Marc Barr, Pascal Arnold) *** 1/4
CHAMBERMAID, THE (2019, Mexico, d. Lila Avilés) Daily life of chambermaid who works in hi-rise hotel in Mex. City. ***
CHAMELEON (Kaméleon) (2009, d. Kristzina Goda; Hungary) *** 1/4
CHAMP, THE (2018, d. Franco Zeffirelli) + ** 1/2
CHAMPAGNE SPY, THE (2007, d. Nadav Schirman) ***
CHAMPS (2015, d. Bert Marcus) ** 3/4
CHANGE OF ADDRESS (Changement d'adresse) (2007, d. Emmanuel Mouret) ** 1/2
CHANGE OF PLANS (2010, d. Danièle Thompson) Uninvolving French dinner party/relationship film about events a year apart. Talky script not saved by good cast. ** 1/4
CHANGELING, THE (2008, d. Clint Eastwood) Schocking true story resonates emotionally. Jolie's over-the-top perf. is Oscar bait; but Eastwood's clear vision holds. ***
CHANGE-UP, THE (2011, d. David Dobkin) Very unpleasant raunchy, adult, identity change story. Reynolds and esp. Bateman were good, but the film? Ugh! * 1/2
CHANGING DESTINY (2005, d. Daniele Gaglianone) Jagged, cutty, edgy story of 3 teenage northern Italian boys who drop out and get into various kinds of trouble. ***
CHANGING LANES (2002, d. Roger Michell) ** 1/2
CHANGING TIMES (Les Temps qui changent) (2006, d. André Téchiné) *** 1/4
CHANTRAPAS (2012, d. Otar Iosseliani, Georgia) * 1/2
CHAOS AND DESIRE (2002, d. Manon Briand) ** 3/4
CHAOS (2011, d. Tony Giglio) V. Time to waste on a watchable, if cliched STV heist thriller with Stratham & Phillippe. Too labyrinthine for its own good. ** 1/2
CHAOTIC ANA (Caótica Ana) (2007, d. Julio Medem) *** 3/4
CHAPITEAU-SHOW (2012, d. Sergey Loban) ** 3/4
CHAPPAQUIDDICK (2018, d. John Curran) ** 3/4
CHAPPIE (2015, d. Neill Blomkamp) * 3/4
CHARITON'S CHOIR (2007, d. Grigoris Karantinakis; Greece) * 3/4
CHARLATAN (2021, Czech Republic, d. Agnieszka Holland) Famed herbalist faith healer, in love with assistant & framed by the govt. *** 3/4
CHARLEY AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2006, d. Tim Burton) V. Amusing with impressive effects. ***
CHARLIE BARTLETT (2007, d. Jon Poll) Anton Yelchin great as a preppy Ferris Bueller type undermining public school authority. ***
CHARLIE ST. CLOUD (2010, d. Burr Steers) Ludicrous plot, predictable & insulting; but Zac can act and has film magnitism. Where is the Burr Steers of Igby?! * 1/2
CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR (2007, d. Mike Nichols) Simplistic demonizing of enemy turned me off. ** 3/4
CHARLIE: THE LIFE & ART OF CHARLES CHAPLIN (2004, d. Richard Schickel) V. Fascinating, if facile doc about the great film artist. *** 1/4
CHARLIE'S ANGELS FULL THROTTLE (2003, d. McG) Some inventive stuff, though the CGI was cheesy; but ultimately tedius and familiar action thriller. ** 1/4
CHARLIE'S ANGELS (2000, d. McG) *
CHARLOTTE GRAY (2001, d. Gillian Armstrong) ***
CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES (2003, d. Eric Byler) 4 Asian-American characters and their tangled relationships. Haunting, eliptical, subtle, well played. *** 1/4
CHARLOTTE'S WEB (2006, d. Gary Winick) Nice voice acting, good f/x and a moving story make for a pleasant film. ***
CHARM CITY (2018, d. Marilyn Ness) ** 3/4
CHASER, THE (2008, d. Na Hong-jin) *** 1/2
CHASING CORAL (2017, d. Jeff Orlowsi) *** 3/4
CHASING ICE (2012, d. Jeff Orlowski) V.+ Fascinating docu with extremely convincing time lapse footage of effects of global warming on glaciers. But a slight lack of focus mars. *** 1/4
CHASING ICE (2012, d. Jeff Orlowski) Only watched half of this docu in order to make next film, so unrated.
CHASING MAVERICKS (2012, d. Curtis Hanson) True life film about young surfer who conquers the big waves as a teenager. Clichés abound; the ocean is powerful, even if the acting isn't. ** 1/4
CHASING TRANE: THE JOHN COLTRANE DOCUMENTARY (2017, D. John Scheinfeld) *** 3/4
CHÂTEAU, THE (2002, d. Jesse Peretz) **
Chau, beyond the lines (aka War Within the Walls) (2015, d. Courtney Marsh) *** 3/4
CHAVELA (2017, d. Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi) ***
CHE BELLA GIORNATA (2011 d. Gennaro Nunziante) incomplete due to broken digital projector
CHE Part 1 (2008, d. Steven Soderbergh) Light on exposition, too many characters to keep straight, still interesting as docudrama. ** 3/4
CHE Part 2 (2008, d. Steven Soderbergh) Same problesm; but it just works better as futility and defeat is just more interesting than victory. ***
CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (2004, d. Shawn Levy) I expected to hate it; but instead I was enchanted by the story & actors. Funny and emotionally satisfying. ***
CHECK MATE (Jaque Mate) (2012, d. José María Cabral, Dominican Republic) ** 3/4
CHECKOUT GIRL'S BIG ADVENTURE, A (2012, d. Pierre Rambaldi) ** 1/2
CHEF OF SOUTH POLAR, THE (2010, d. Shuichi Okita) *** 1/4
CHEF (2014, d. Jon Favreau) ** 3/4
CHEF, THE (2014, d. Daniel Cohen) ** 1/4
Chefs (Ep. 1 & 2) (2015, d. Arnaud Malherbe) Fascinating, French TV series staring handsome and charismatic Hugo Becker. *** 1/2
CHEF'S SPECIAL (2009, d. Nacho Velilla) ** 1/4
CHELSEA WALLS (2002, d. Ethan Hawke) **
CHÉRI (2009, d. Stephen Frears) Outstanding, lavish evocation of Belle Epoque; Pfeiffer is radient, Rupert Friend fabulously epicene. Literate script. *** 1/2
CHERISH (2002, d. Finn Taylor) ** 1/2
CHERNOBYL (2019, d. Johan Renck) *** 3/4
CHERRY BLOSSOMS - HANAMI (2008, d. Dorris Dorrie) *** 1/4
CHERRY (2010, d. Jeffrey Fine) *** 1/2
CHIAVI DI CASA, LE (2007, d. Gianni Amelio) V.+ Wonderful, moving film with sublime performances by Rampling, Stuart & Rossi. *** 1/2
CHICAGO hicago (2002, d. Rob Marshall) *** 3/4
CHICKEN PEOPLE (2016, d. Nicole Lucas Haimes) ** 1/4
CHICKEN RUN (2000, d. Peter Lord & Nick Park) ** 1/2
CHICKEN UNDERGROUND (2001, d. Edet Belzberg) ** 1/2
CHICKEN WITH PLUMS (2012, d. Satrapi & Paronnaud) Overly designed & precious fable about an Iranian (Mathieu Amalric) and his adored violin. Pretty, but boring. ** 1/4
CHICO & RITA (2012, d. Errando, Mariscal, Trueba) Moving, involving, wonderful tribute to Cuban music & jazz with a sassy love story. Animation for adults!! *** 1/2
CHIHWASEON (2002, d. Im Kwon-taek) *** 1/4
CHILD 44 (2015, d. Daniel Espinosa) ***
CHILD PRODIGY, THE (L'enfant prodige) (2011 d. Luc Dionne) *** 1/2
CHILD, THE (L'enfant) (2005, d. Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne) *** 1/4
CHILDHOOD OF MAXIM GORKY (2005, d. Mark Donskoy) Classic Russian film from the writer's memoire of his peasant Volga family. ***
CHILDHOOD'S END (2015, d. Nick Hurran) ** 1/2
CHILDREN ACT, THE (2018, d. Richard Eyre) *** 1/2
CHILDREN OF DIYARBAKIR, THE (2010, d. Miraz Bezar) ***
CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI, THE (2008, d. Roger Spottswoode) ** 3/4
CHILDREN OF MEN (2006, d. Alfonso Cuaron) Masterpiece of Gazaian dystopia, Nativity allegory & Time of the Wolf rolled into one. *** 1/2
CHILDREN OF SARAJEVO (2012, d. Aida Begic, Bosnia & Herzegovina) **
CHILDREN OF THE CENTURY (2002, d. Diane Kurys) [1999] ***
CHILDREN OF THE MIST (2022, d. Diem Ha Le) *** 1/4
CHILDREN OF WAR (2007, d. Alexandre Fuchs) ** 1/4
CHILDREN (2007, d. Ragnar Bragason; Iceland) *** 1/2
CHILD'S POSE (2013, d. Calin Peter Netzer, Romania) *** 1/2
CHILDSTAR (2005, d. Don McKellar) Funny, trenchant and occasionally silly satire about a 12 yr. old movie star & his kooky mom. ***
CHILL OUT (2001, d. Andreas Struk) ** 1/2
CHIMP, THE (2001, d. Aktan Abdykalykov) ** 1/4
CHIMPANZEE (2012, d. Fothergill & Linfield) V. A true achievement Disney nature docu, fabulous footage. Marred by over-obvious slick narration & pop soundtrack. ** 3/4
CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT (2012, d. Yung Chang) V. Slowly developing docu of 3 Chinese boxers, young & mid-age. Boring, uneven start; but by end riveting & insightful. ***
CHINAMAN (Kinamand) (2006, d. Henruk Ruben Genz) Wry Danish comedy. Plumber divorced by wife marries younger Chinese woman. ***
CHINESE ODYSSEY: 2002 (2003, Hong Kong d. Jeff Lau) Funny and assured satire of a martial arts, Chinese Emperor's court film. *** 1/4
CHINESE PUZZLE (2014, d. Cédric Klapisch) *** 1/4
CHI-RAQ (2015, d. Spike Lee) ** 3/4
CHLOE (2010, d. Atom Egoyan) Julianne Moore better than ever in.remake of Nathalie with more psychologically sound script. Lesbionics not my thing; but Max Thieriot is! ***
CHOCOLAT (2000, d. Lasse Hallström) ***
CHOCOLATE WAR, THE (2012, d. Keith Gordon) V. YA book about war of nerves among students at a private school: starkly shot with fine acting & adaptation. ***
CHOK-DEE (2005, d. Xavier Durrenger) The French Rocky, a French street criminal becomes a world champ Thai boxer...written & acted by the guy himself. ** 1/2
CHOKE (2008, d. Clark Gregg) * 1/2
CHOP SHOP (2007, d. Ramin Bahrani) ***
CHOP SUEY (2001, d. Bruce Weber) ** 3/4
CHOPPER (2001, d. Andrew Dominik) ***
CHORISTES, LES (2004, d. Christophe Barratier) Franch AFF: moving drama of a teacher who tames the boys in a reform school through music. *** 1/2
CHOSEN AND EXCLUDED - JEW HATRED IN EUROPE (2017, d. Joachim Schroeder, Sophie Hafner) ***
CHRIS & DON: A LOVE STORY (2008, d. Guido Sante) *** 1/2
CHRISTMAS TALE, A (Un conte de Noël) (2008, d. Arnaud Desplechin) *** 1/4
CHRISTMAS TREE UPSIDE DOWN (2007, d. Ivan Cherkelov and Vassil Jivkov) ***
CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS (2004, d. Joe Roth) Horrendous, embarrassing, utterly offensive (to this Jewish observer), silly, unfunny. Did I love it? 1/2*
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (2018, d. Marc Forster) ** 1/4
CHROMIUM (2016 Albania, d. Bujar Alimani) *** 1/4
CHRONICAL OF AN ESCAPE (2006, d. Israel Adrián Cactano) ** 3/4
CHRONICALLY UNFEASIBLE (2001, d. Sergio Bianchi) W/O
CHRONICALS OF NARNIA (2005, d. Andrew Adamson) **
CHRONICALS (2004, d. Sebastian Cordero) Equador's Acad. entry is a superb psychological thriller about a child serial killer's manipulation of tv pop news. *** 1/4
CHRONICLE (2012, d. Josh Trank) Loved it! Wish fulfillment fantasy+Greek tragedy+mysterious superpowers+very talented young director+ Dane DeHaan *** 1/2
CHRONICLE (2014, d. Josh Trank) + *** 3/4
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, THE: VOYAGE (2010, d. Michael Apted) Often annoying, but better than similar Last Airbender, which is damning with faint praise. ** 1/2
CHRYSALIS (2007, d. Julien Leclercq) ** 1/2
CHRYSTAL (2004, d. Ray McKinnon) Southern gothic story of the effects of an auto accident on a couple after 20 years of the husband in prison. ** 3/4
CHUCK AND BUCK (2000, d. Miguel Arteta) ***
CHUCKS (2016, d. Sabine Hiebler, Gerhard Ertl) **
CHUMSCRUBBER, THE (2005, d. Arie Posin) Wonderful suburban satire cult-type film in Donnie Darko mode. Jamie Bell: #1 actor of his generation. *** 1/2
CHUNHYANG (2000, d. Im Kwon-taek) *** 1/2
Church and the Fourth Estate (2021, Doc short, d. Brian Knappenberger) Years of child abuse in the Mormon led Idaho Boy Scouts. *** 1/2
CIAO (2008, d. Yen Tan) Touching, arty (in a good way) American indie gay film...Italian man meets friend on net. ***
CIGAN (GYPSY) (2011, d. Martin Sulik, Slovak Republic) ***
CINDERELLA MAN (2005, d. Ron Howard) Moving story of James Braddock with a searingly honest portrayal by Russell Crowe. *** 1/2
CINDERELLA (2015, d. Kenneth Branagh) ** 3/4
CINÉASTES DE NOTRE TEMPS (2011, d. Jacques Rozier) V. Informative 98 minute docu made for tv in the '60s interviewing people involved with Vigo. ***
CINEMA VERITÉ (2011, d. Berman & Pulcini) V. Superbly acted re-creation of the behind the scenes of An American Family. 40 years ago never seemed so fresh. *** 1/2
CINEMA, ASPIRIN & VULTURES (Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus) (2006, d. Marcelo Gomes) ** 1/4
CINEMABILITY (2013, d. Jenni Gold) *** 1/2
CIRCLE ROUGE, LE (2003, d. Jean-Pierre Melville) 1970 noir, typical Melville which means lean and taut. Montand & Delon great. *** 1/4
CIRCLE, THE (2014, d. Stefan Haupt) *** 1/4
CIRCLE, THE (2001, d. Jafar Panahi) *** 1/2
CIRCLES (2013, d. Srdan Golubovic) *** 1/2
CIRCO (2011, d. Aaron Schlock) V. Docu about a Mexican circus family & their heartbreaking problems in the 21st century. Nicely constructed to involve the audience. *** 1/4
CIRCUIT (2002, d. Dirk Shafer) **
CIRCUIT (2001, d. Dirk Shafer) * 1/2
CIRCUS OF BOOKS (2020, d. Rachel Mason) *** 1/4
CIRKUS COLUMBIA (2010, d. Danis Tanovic; Bosnia) *** 1/2
CITIZEN DUANE (2006, d. Michael Mabbott) ** 3/4
CITIZEN KOCH (2014, d. Carl Deal & Tia Lessin) *** 1/4
CITIZEN SOLDIER (2016, d. Christian Tureaud & David Salzberg) ** 3/4
CITIZENFOUR (2014, d. Laura Poitras) ****
CITIZENFOUR (2015, d. Laura Poitras) + ****
CITY BY THE SEA (2002, d. Michael Caton-Jones) *** 1/2
CITY ISLAND (2010, d. Raymond De Felitta) Family dramedy where everybody lies. Original idea, great script, wonderful acting ensemble. *** 1/2
CITY OF BORDERS (2009, d. Yun Suh) ***
CITY OF EMBER (2008, d. Gil Kenan) Superb dystopian heroic fantasy, a live action WallE with the visual panache of Brazil. ** 1/2
CITY OF GHOSTS (2003, d. Matt Dillon) Pseudo Graham Greene. Stifling atmosphere well done, as were characterizations. Story falls down. Good try. ** 1/4
CITY OF GHOSTS (2017, d. Matthew Heineman) *** 3/4
CITY OF GOD (2002, d. Fernando Meirelles) ***
CITY OF GOLD (2016, d. Laura Gabbert) *** 1/4
CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH (2009, d.Lu Chuan) *** 1/4
CITY OF MEN (2008, d. Paolo Morelli) Much better than City of God, imho. Emotionally affecting, driving narrative. *** 1/4
CITY OF NO LIMITS (2002, d. Antonio Hernandez) *** 1/4
CITY OF THE SUN, THE (Slunecný Stát) (2006, d. Martin Sulík; Slovak Republic) **
CITY OF WIND (2023, Mongolia, d. Lkhagvadulam Purev-Oochir) *** 1/4
CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION, THE (2010, d. James Ivory) Well made & acted, if old fashioned romantic melodrama; but plot just meanders & doesn't resolve. ** 3/4
CLAIM, THE (2001, d. Michael Winterbottom) *** 1/2
CLAIRE IN MOTION (2016, d. Lisa Robinson, Annie J. Howell) ***
CLAN, THE (Argentina) (2015, d. Pablo Trapero) *** 1/2
CLANDESTINE CHILDHOOD (2012, d. Benjamín Ávila, Argentina) ***
CLAPHAM JUNCTION (2012, d. Adrian Shergold) V.+ Involving & depressing drama of one full moon night of sex, lies & gay bashings in London. *** 1/4
CLAPHAM JUNCTION (2008, d. Adrian Shergold) Terrific British TV movie about contrasts in modern society (marriage & bashing). *** 1/2
CLASH OF THE TITANS (2010, d. Louis Leterrier) Post-prod. 3D better than expected. Film even worse: repetitive turgid battle scenes, wooden acting. Ugh. * 1/2
CLASH (2016, Egypt, d. Mohamed Diab) *** 1/2
CLÁSICO, EL (2016, Iraq, d. Halkawt Mustafa) ** 3/4
CLASS ENEMY (2013, d. Rok Bicek, Slovenia) ***
CLASS OF '09 (2023, mini-series, d. various) *** 1/4
CLASS TRIP (2012, d. Claude Miller) V. Creepy, expressionistic, even Gothic 1998 film of troubled young boy on class ski vacation, away from controlling dad. *** 1/4
CLASS, THE (Entre les murs) (2008, d. Laurent Cantet; France) *** 3/4
CLASS, THE (2008, d. Ilmar Raag; Estonia) *** 1/2
CLASSE TOUS RISQUE (2006, d. Claude Sautet) A terrific classic noir with a star-making Belmondo perf (if Breathless hadn't hit first). *** 1/2
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah (2015, d. Adam Benzine) ***
CLAY BIRD, THE (2003, d. Tareque Masud) Bangladesh AFF. A family uprooted by political upheaval in '68. ** 3/4
CLEAN (2005, d. Olivier Assayas) Maggie Chung is superb as a junkie trying to go clean to reclaim her son from her inlaws in this wonderful drama. *** 1/2
CLEANER, THE (2013, d. Adrian Saba, Peru) W/O
CLEAR HISTORY (2014, d. Greg Mottola) ** 3/4
CLEARING, THE (2004, d. Pieter Jan Brugge) Hi-gloss kidnap film, Redford victim, Mirren the suffering wife. "Without a Trace" does it better. **
CLEMENCY (2019, d. Chinonye Chukwu) *** 1/4
CLICK (2006, d. Frank Coraci) Good F/X, lousy script, sort of an It Might Have Been a Wonderful Life. Not Sandler's finest. * 3/4
CLIENT 9 - RISE & FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER (2010, d. Alex Gibney) V. Informative docu about hubris, almost a whitewash; but Spitzer's cooperation telling. ***
CLIMATE FIX (2023, Doc. short, d. James Nguyen) * 1/4
CLIMAX (2019, d. Gaspar Noé) *** 1/2
CLINK OF ICE, THE (Le Bruit des glaçons) (2011, d. Bertrand Blier) ** 1/2
CLOCKSTOPPERS (2002, d. Jonathan Frakes) ** 3/4
CLOSE (2022, Belgium IFF, d. Lukas Dhont) *** 1/2
Close Ties (2016, short, d. Zotia Kowalewska) **
CLOSE TO LEO (2012, d. Christophe Honoré) V. Emotional, well-acted 2002 drama of 4-tight knit Breton brothers, from pov of 12-yo youngest, whose oldest bro has AIDS. ***
CLOSE TO VERMEER (2023, Doc. d. Suzanne Raes) *** 3/4
CLOSED CIRCUIT (2013, d. John Crowley) ** 1/2
CLOSER (2004, d. Mike Nichols) Four loathsome characters well acted and beautifully photographed (cf similar Carnal Knowledge!) Portman & Owen never better. ** 3/4
CLOSET MONSTER (2016, d. Stephen Dunn) *** 1/4
CLOSET MONSTER (2017, d. Stephen Dunn) + *** 1/2 (improved a quarter pt. 2nd viewing)
CLOSET, THE (2001, d. Le Placard) (2001, d. Francis Veber) ** 1/2
CLOUD 9 (2009, d. Andreas Dresan) German septuagenarians screw like rabbits in an attack on filmic taboo against showing wizened bods. VERY true to life, though. ** 3/4
CLOUD ATLAS (2012, d. Wachowskis & Tykwer) 1 viewing is insufficent to follow complex 6-story narrative. But production (esp. make-up & f/x) is fabulous, perfect acting ensemble. *** 1/4
CLOUD, THE (2007, d. Gregor Schnitzler) ** 3/4
CLOUDBURST (2012, d. Thom Fitzgerald) *** 1/4
CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (2014, d. Olivier Assayas) *** 1/4
CLOWN, THE (2012, d. Selton Mello, Brazil) ** 1/2
CLOWNWISE (2014, d. Viktor Taus) ** 1/4
CLUB SANDWICH (2014, d. Fernando Eimbcke) ** 3/4
CLUB, THE (Chile) (2015, d. Pablo Larrain) ** 1/2
C'MON C'MON (2022, d. Mike Mills) *** 1/2
COAL COUNTRY (2009, d. Mari-Lynn Evans & Phylis Geller) V. Alarming and reasonably even-handed docu about dangers & destruction of coal industry In Appalachia. ** 3/4
COAST GUARD, THE (2003, d. Kim Ki-duk) Overwrought drama about the soldiers who guard the Korean coastline from spy incursions. Way over the top. * 3/4
COAST TO COAST (2004, d. Paul Mazursky) V. Judy Davis & Richard Dreyfuss are excellent in this moving, adult drama about a couple devastated by their son's death. *** 1/2
COCHOCHI (2008, d. Israel Cárdenas & Laura Amelia Guzmán) *** 1/4
COCK COLLEGE (short films) (2009, d. various)
COCKETTES, THE (2002, d. Bill Weber and David Weissman) ** 3/4
COCO BEFORE CHANEL (2009, d. Anne Fontaine) Tatou has matured into a superb actress. Great costumes & sets; but a tad overlong and just didn't involve me. ***
COCO (2018, d. Lee Unkrich) *** 3/4
COCONUT HERO (2016, d. Florian Cossen) *** 1/2
CODA (2022, d. Sian Heder) ***
CODE 46 (2004, d. Michael Winterbottom) One, of the greatest examples of cyberpunk ever put on film. Winterbottom's future imagery is amazing. *** 3/4
CODE BLACK (2014, d. Ryan McGarry, M.D.) ****
CODE UNKNOWN (2001, d. Michael Haneke) ** 3/4
Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker (2021, doc short, d. Ryan White) *** 1/2
COFFEE DATE (2006, d. Stewart Wade) Amusing comedy about sexual confusions, really well written script. ***
COLD CUTS (Buffet froid) (2011, d. Bertrand Blier) **
COLD LIGHT (2004, d. Hilmar Oddsson) Iceland's AFF is a dour tragedy about a 40ish man finally facing a tragedy of his youth. ***
COLD MOUNTAIN (2003, d. Anthony Minghella) Fine production, good acting, but the "well made" story was too predictable. Jude Law is a bonafide star. ***
COLD SHOWERS (Douches froides) (2006, d. Antony Cordier) ***
COLD SOULS (2009, d. Sophie Barthes) ** 1/2
COLD WAR (2013, d. Longman Leung, Sunny Luk) **
COLD WAR (2018, Poland, d. Pawel Pawlikowski) *** 1/2
COLDEST DAY, THE (2004, d. Xie Dong) A somewhat boring film about mutual infidelity in a modern Chinese marriage. **
Colette (2021, Doc short, d. Anthony Giacchino) *** 1/2
COLETTE (2018, d. Wash Westmoreland) *** 3/4
COLLATERAL (2004, d. Michael Mann) L.A. is the star here; and Mann doesn't cheat the geography. Mann's best film in a while. ***
COLLECTIVE ( 2021, Romania, d. Alexander Nanau) *** 1/2
COLLECTOR, THE (Komornik) (2005, d. Feliks Falk; Poland) ** 1/4
COLLIDING DREAMS (2016, d. Joseph Dorman & Oren Rudavsky) *** 1/4
COLLISION (2010, d. Marc Evans) V. Intriguing, fairly predictable Brit tv serial of a police investigation into a multi-car hiway accident with twists & turns. ** 3/4
COLMA: THE MUSICAL (2006, d. Richard Wong) Strictly amateurville musical, but charming, simple story. ** 1/2
COLOR OF FAME, THE (2008, d.Alesandro Bellame Palacios; Venezuela) ***
COLOR OF PARADISE, THE (2000, d. Majid Majidi) *** 1/4
COLORS OF THE MOUNTAINS, THE (2011, d. Carlos César Arbeláez, Colombia) ***
COLUMBUS (2017, d. Kogonada) ** 1/4
COMANCHE MOON (2008, d. Simon Wincer) V. Nicely played, if choppy, miniseries. Val Kilmer? weird. ** 3/4
COMBAT (2006, d. Patrick Carpentier) *
COME AND SEE (2012, d. Elem Klimov) V. Russian WWII intimate epic of orphaned 14 yr. old boy's battles in partisan group. Too histrionic for my tastes. W/O
COME EARLY MORNING (2006, d. Joey Lauren Adams) ***
COME INTO THE LIGHT (Alla Luce Del Sol) (2005, d. Roberto Faenza) ** 1/2
COME UNDONE (Presque rien) (2001, d. Sébastien Lifshitz) **
COME UNDONE (2010, d. Silvio Soldini) ***
COME WHAT MAY (En mai, fais ce qu'il te plaît) (2016, d. Christian Carion) *** 1/2
COME, TOGETHER (2017, d. Dong-il Shin) ***
COMEDIAN, THE (2017, d. Taylor Hackford) *** 1/4
COMEDY OF POWER, A (2006, d. Claud Chabrol) ** 3/4
COMIC CON EPISODE IV: A FAN'S HOPE (2012, d. Morgan Spurlock) V. Amusing docu with Spurlock's gift for finding the right cast & story line without narration. *** 1/2
COMIC EVANGELISTS (2006, d. Daniel Jones, Dann Sytsma) ***
COMING 2 AMERICA (2022, d. Craig Brewer) ***
COMING HOME (À moi seule) (2012, d. Frédéric Videau) ** 3/4
COMING HOME (2015, d. Viko Nikci) *** 3/4
COMING HOME (2015, d. Zhang Yimou) *** 1/2
COMMAND AND CONTROL (2016, d. Robert Kenner) *** 3/4
COMMITTED (2000, d. Lisa Krueger) **
COMMUNION (Komunia) (2018, d. Anna Zamecka) ** 1/4
COMPANY MEN, THE (2010, d. John Wells) Leave it to Wells to make the first truthful, if predictable, film about Depression II. Superbly cast and timely. *** 1/4
COMPANY YOU KEEP, THE (2013, d. Robert Redford) *** 1/4
COMPANY, THE (2003, d. Robert Altman) Little narrative, lots of good dancing. Neve impresses, and James Franco underplays to splendid effect. *** 1/4
COMPANY, THE (2007, d. Mikael Salomon) V. *** 1/2
COMPARED TO WHAT: THE IMPROBABLE JOURNEY OF BARNEY FRANK (2016, Canavan & Chandler) *** 3/4
COMPARTMENT NO. 6 (2021, Finland, d. Juho Kuosmanen) *** 1/4
COMPUTER CHESS (2013, d. Andrew Bujalski) *** 1/4
COMRADE KIM GOES FLYING (2013, d. Anja Daelemans, Nicholas Bonner, Kim Gwang-hun) ** 1/2
CONCERNING VIOLENCE (2014, d. Goran Olsson) ** 3/4
CONCERT, THE (2010, d. Radu Mihaileanu) *** 1/2
CONCERTO - A BEETHOVEN JOURNEY (2016, d. Phil Grabsky) ***
Concerto is a Conversation, A (2021, Doc short, d. Kris Bowers, Ben Proudfoot) ***
CONCRETE NIGHT (2014, Finland, d. Pirjo Honkasalo) *** 1/4
CONCRETE UTOPIA (2023, S. Korea, d. Um Tae-hwa) *** 1/4
CONCUSSION (2013, d. Stacie Passon) ***
CONCUSSION (2015, d. Peter Landesman) ** 3/4
CONDOR: AXIS OF EVIL (2003, d. Rodrigo Vasquez) A doc linking the U.S. to South American dictators and disappearances of the '70s. Too unstructured. ** 1/4
CONFESSIONS (2010, d. Tetsuya Nakashima; Japan) *** 1/2
CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND (2002, d. George Clooney) ***
CONFESSIONS OF PAIN (2007, d. Andrew Lau & Alan Mak) *** 1/4
CONFIDENCE (2003, d. James Foley) Foley has style to burn. Too bad he didn't burn this derivative script. Why I like Ed Burns is the question. ** 1/2
CONFUSION DES GENRES, LA (2001, d. Ilan Duran Cohen) ***
CONGORAMA (2006, d. Philippe Falardeau) ** 3/4
CONGRESS, THE (2014, d. Ari Folman) * 1/2
Connected (2019, doc. short, d. Aleksandra Maciejczyk) ***
CONNECTION, THE (La French) (2015, d. Cédric Jimenez) ***
CONNIE AND CARLA (2004, d. Michael Lembeck) Silly, if intermittantly funny, script. I liked the music; but the film is excessivly clichéd. * 3/4
CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE (2003, d. John Deery) Ernest, polemic drama: celebacy and the Catholic church. Nice production, but too on-point for good drama. **
CONSPIRATOR, THE (2011, d. Robert Redford) Somber history of injustice, great cast, the Civil War still resonates. Robin Wright & James McAvoy stand out. *** 1/2
CONSTANT GARDNER, THE (2005, d. Fernando Meirelles) ***
Constant (2022, doc. short, d. Sasha Litvintseva, Beny Wagner) * 1/4
CONSTANTINE (2006, d. Francis Lawrence) V. Looks good with graphic novel feel, nice f/x, absurd plot. ** 1/4
CONTAGION (2011, d. Steven Soderbergh) Suspenseful, realistic, well acted and directed. Only a too pat, unrealistic resolution mars an excellent effort. *** 1/4
CONTAINER (2006, d. Lukas Moodysson) * 3/4
CONTENDER, THE (2000, d. Rod Lurie) ***
CONTINENTAL, A FILM WITHOUT GUNS (2008, d. Stéphane Lafleur) ** 1/2
CONTROL ALT DELETE (2008, d. Cameron Labine) ** 3/4
CONTROL ROOM (2004, d. Jehane Noujaim) Doc. about Al-Jezeera's coverage of the current Iraq War. Good footage, though repetitive. ** 3/4
CONTROL (2007, d. Anton Corbijn) ***
CONVERSATIONS ON SERIOUS TOPICS (2013, d. Giedrè Beinoriutè, Lithuania) * 1/2
CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER WOMEN (2006, d. Hans Canosa) *** 1/4
CONVICTION (2010, d. Tony Goldwyn) Totally predictable (even more obviously than Secretariat), earnest bleeding heart flick. Rockwell & Juliette Lewis esp. fine. ** 1/2
CONVOY, THE (2012, d. Alexy Mizgirev) * 3/4
COOK UP A STORM (2017, d. Raymond Yip Wai Man) ** 3/4
COOL MONEY (2005, d. Gary Burns ) V. Modestly involving TV caper film about some losers knocking off N.Y. hotels. ** 1/2
COOL PEOPLE (La gente che sta bene) (2014, d. Francesco Patierno) Italian dramedy about an executive falling apart publicly. Not worth reviewing. **
COOLER, THE (2003, d. Wayne Kramer) The acting's pretty good, especially Alec Baldwin; but the plot, direction & cinematography pretty well suck. **
COOPER AND HEMINGWAY: THE TRUE GEN (2013, d. John Mulholland) *** 1/2
COPACABANA (2011, d. Marc Fitoussi) ***
COPYING BEETHOVEN (2006, d. Agnieszka Holland) Overwrought, overacted. Sublime music (though weirdly edited). **
CORALINE (2009, d. Henry Selick) Incredible 3D animation. Fantasmagorical plot not my cuppa; but the imagery is superb & expands the art of cinema. *** 1/4
CORE, THE (2003, d. Jon Amiel) F/x end-of-world flick fun enough to overcome implausibilities. First hour great & then film degrades to clichés. ** 3/4
CORIOLANUS (2011, d. Ralph Fiennes) Fabulous concept, great acting; but Shakespeare's language doesn't work for me in this context. ** 1/2
CORN ISLAND (2014, Georgia, d. Giorgi Ovashvili) *** 1/4
CORONATION (2000, d. Silvio Caiozzi) ***
CORPORATION, THE (2004, d. Achbar & Abbott) Overlong but fascinating Canadian documentary about "corporations" as psychotic people. *** 1/2
CORPUS CHRISTI (2019, Poland, d. Jan Komasa) *** 1/2 A boy in juvenile detention is released; and convincingly serves a mourning village as a fake priest.
CORRECTION (Diorthosi) (2008, d. Thanos Anastopoulos, Greece) ** 1/4
CORSAGE (2022, Austria IFF, d. Marie Kreutzer) ***
CORTEX (2008, d. Nicolas Boukhrief) ***
Cosmic Beauty (2019, d. James Nguyen) ** 1/4
COST OF LIVING (2004, d. Phillippe Le Guay) Vivid, beautifully realized multi-character story connected by the theme money for love. *** 1/4
COTE D'AZURE (2005, d. Ducastel & Martineau) Entertaining French farce about an family on vacation whose sexuality is mutable & evolving. ** 3/4
COTEAU ROUGH (2012, d. André Forcier) ** 3/4
COUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (2009, d. Lord & Miller) Clever, fun 3-D animated kids film with enough in-humor to amuse adults. ***
COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE (2002, d. Kevin Reynolds) ***
COUNTDOWN TO ZERO (2010, d. Lucy Walker) ***
COUNTDOWN (2012, d. Huh Jong-ho) ***
COUNTDOWN (2013, d. Nattawut Poonpiriya, Thailand) * 1/2
COUNTER INVESTIGATION (Contre-enquête) (2007, d. Franck Mancusco) *** 1/2
COUNTERFEITERS, THE (Die Falscher) (2007, d. Stefan Ruzowitzky; Austria) *** 1/2
COUNTRY STRONG (2011 d. Shana Feste) Weak script (seen it before). Can't blame actors...Paltrow really fine & Hedlund has charisma to burn. Music a plus. ** 1/2
COUNTRY TEACHER, THE (2008, d. Bohdan Sláma) *** 3/4
COUNTRY WEDDING (2009, d. Vladis Öskarsdóttir) ***
COUPERET, LE (2005, d. Costa-Gavras) More black comedy than the usual Costa-Gavras, entertaining film which takes Time Out to a higher level. ***
COURAGE (2021, d. Aliaksei Paluyan) ** 1/4
COUSINHOOD (2012, d. Daniel Sánchez Arévalo) **
COVE, THE (2009, d. Louie Psihoyos) ** 3/4
COVERBOY (2009, d. Carmine Amoroso) ***
COWBOYS & ALIENS (2011, d. Jon Favreau) Liked the Western, hated the Aliens...Well cast; but silly plotting ruined any chance of not disappointing. **
COWBOYS AND ANGELS (2004, d. David Gleeson) Beautifully written & acted Irish coming-of-age gay/straight romantic comedy. Michael Legge is wonderful. *** 1/4
COWBOYS AND ANGELS (2005, d. David Gleeson)V.+ ***
COWBOYS AND ANGELS (2015, d. David Gleeson) *** 1/4
COWBOYS (2014, Croatia, d. Tomislav Mrsic) A comic satire (?) where a group of amateurs rehearse & put on a play. I lost interest. W/O
COYOTE UNLY (2000, d. David McNally) * 3/4
CQ (2002, d. Roman Coppola) *
CRAB TRAP (2010, d. Oscar Ruiz Navia; Columbia) * 3/4
CRACKER: A NEW TERROR (2006, d. Antonia Bird) V. Excellent tv film about a killer British cop driven crazy in the "troubles". ***
CRACKS IN THE SHELL (2012, d. Christian Schwochow) ***
CRANE WORLD (2005, d. Pablo Trapero) Slow, Argentine neo-realist B&W film about a 49 yr. old construction worker ex-rock guitarist. ** 1/2
CRANFORD (2008, d. Simon Curtis) V. Superb British early Victorian mini-series which just got better & better. The final part blew me away. *** 1/2
CRASH REEL, THE (2013, d. Lucy Walker) ***
CRASH (2005, d. Paul Haggis) Superb Short Cuts type multi-character, roundabout drama...modern day L.A. as racial dystopia. I need to leave L.A.! *** 1/2
CRAWL (2013, d. Herve Lasgouttes) ** 3/4
CRAYFISH (2010, d. Ivan Cherkelov) * 1/4
CRAZIES, THE (2010, d. Breck Eisner) Convincing bio-eco-disaster flick with one wonderful perf by Joe Anderson and some effectively directed horror tropes. ***
CRAZY HEART (2009, d. Scott Cooper) Almost makes me love country music. Bridges is great, iconic. Nicely realized love story plus the music...winning como. *** 1/4
CRAZY HORSE (2012, d. Frederick Wiseman) V. Formless, overlong docu of Parisian nightclub; behind scene stuff alternate with naked girl + gorgeous lit dance numbers. ** 1/2
CRAZY LOVE (2007, d. Dan Klores & Fisher Stevens) *** 1/4
CRAZY RICH ASIANS (2018, d. Jon M. Chu) *** 3/4
CRAZY (2001, d. Hans-Christian Schmid) *** 1/4
CRAZY, STUPID LOVE (2011, d. Ficarra & Requa) Diverting rom-com with Carel's best perf to date; I wanted to love it...but predictable plot twists just not funny enough. ** 3/4
crazy/beautiful (2001, d. John Stockwell) *** 1/4
CREATION (2009, d. Jon Amiel) Earnest, boring costumer biofilm...Bettany is good as Darwin; but I never believed the film was true to the real characters. ** 1/2
CREATIVE NATURE (2008, d. John Andres) ** 1/4
CREED (2015, d. Ryan Coogler) *** 3/4
CREW, THE (2000, d. Michael Dinner) ** 1/2
CRIES FROM SYRIA (2017, d. Evgeny Afineevsky) ****
CRIME + PUNISHMENT IN SUBERBIA (2000, d. Rob Schmidt) ** 1/2
CRIME + PUNISHMENT (2018, d. Stephen T. Maing) *** 1/4
CRIME NOVEL (2006, d. Michele Placido) *** 1/4
CRIMEN DEL PADRE AMARO, EL (2003, d. Carlos Carrera) Mexico AFF. Anti-clerical satiric melodrama in small Mexican parish. *** 1/4
CRIMES OF MONSIEUR LANGE, THE (2018, d. Jean Renoir) ** 1/2
CRIMINAL LOVERS (2000, d. Francois Ozon) *** 1/2
CRIMINAL (2004, d. Gregory Jacobs) A faithful remake of Nine Queens, which means a good, if familiar script. A sympathetic cast, still this one doesn't quite jell. ** 1/2
CRIMSON RIVERS (2001, d. Mathieu Kassowitz) ***
CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION (2021, d. Nichole Newnham, James Lebrecht) ****
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 (2014, d. Ellen Goosenberg Kent) doc short *** 1/4
CRISTO REY (2014, Dominican Republic, d. Leticia Tonos) ** 1/4
CROODS, THE (2014, d. Kirk De Mico, Chris Sanders) ***
CROOKED E, THE (2003, d. Penelope Spheeris) V. CBS film docudrama about fall of Enron. Predictable script, Christian Kane actor to watch. **
CROSSING A SHADOW (2007, d. Augusto Tamayo; Peru) ** 1/2
CROSSING BORDERS (2008, d. Arnd Wächter) Hopeful, moving docu feels like "Real World Morocco", 4 American & 4 Moroccan students live together for a week and keep it real. *** 1/4
CROSSING HENNESSY (2010, d. Ivy Ho) ** 1/2
CROSSING OVER (2009, d. Wayne Kramer) Like Crash, only better, this is an involving ensemble drama about distressed immigrants in L.A. *** 1/4
CROSSING THE BORDER (Un Franco 14 Pesetas) (2007, d. Carlos Iglesias) ***
CROSSING THE BRIDGE: THE SOUND OF ISTANBUL (2006, d. Fatih Aiken) V. Music docu, sporadically good music, nice photog. ** 1/2
CROSSING (2009, d. Kim Tae-kyun; Republic of Korea) ** 3/4
CROSSING, THE (Bocu no ojison) (2000, d. Yoichi Higashi) **
Crossing, The (2021, Doc. short; d. Juliana Peñaranda-Loftus) *** 1/4
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000, d. Ang Lee) *** 3/4
CROUPIER (2000, d. Mike Hodges) *** 1/4
Crown Candy (2018, d. Kamau Bilal, David Wilson) *** 3/4
CROWN JEWELS, THE (2012, d. Ella Lemhagen) ** 1/4
CROWN, THE (2017, d. Stephen Daldry) Superb mini-series of the reign of Elizabeth II. ****
CRUDE (2003, Turkey d. Paxton Winters) Road film about 2 young American guys and their travels through Turkey looking for fame & fortune. ** 3/4
CRUEL BUT NECESSARY (2005, d. Saul Rubinek) Innovative video about a woman secretly recording her life for 2 years on a hidden camera. ** 3/4
CRUEL JOYS (2003, d. Juraj Nvota) Slovakia AFF. Relationship drama in pre-war small Slovak town. ** 3/4
CRUELLA (2022, d. Craig Gillespie) ***
CRUSH (2002, d. John McKay) **
CRYING LADIES (2005, d. Mark Meily) Three Philippine women hired as cryers for a Chinese funeral. I was uninvolved; but the film wasn't that bad. W/O
CRYING OUT (2011, d. Robin Aubert) ***
CRYSTAL FAIRY (2013, d. Sebastián Silva) ** 3/4
CSI: GRAVE DANGER 1 & 2 (2005, d. Quentin Tarantino) V. ** 3/4
CUBA AND THE CAMERAMAN (2017, d. Jon Alpert) *** 3/4
CUBA LIBRA (2004, d. Juan Gerard) Nostalgic, but too pat, reminiscence of an 11 yr. old boy coming of age in '58 small town Cuba prior to revolution. **
CUBE OF SUGAR, A (2012, d. Reza Mirkarimi) ** 3/4
CUCKOO, THE (2002, d. Alexander Rogozhkin) ***
CULTURE HIGH, THE (2014, d. Brett Harvey) *** 3/4
CUP, THE (2000, d. Khyentse Norbu) ***
CUPCAKES (2014, d. Eytan Fox) * 1/2
CURE (2001, d. Kiyoshi Kurosawa) [1997] ***
CURIOSITY OF CHANCE, THE (2012, d. Russell Marleau) V. Pleasant, eccentric, slick '06 coming of age American hi-school in Belgium indie. Gay clique vs. bullies. ** 3/4
CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, THE (2009, d. David Fincher) + Even more moving 2nd time around. Epic, emotional, great film. *** 3/4
CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, THE (2008, d. David Fincher) Moving, epic filmmaking which works at all levels. Nearly a masterpiece. *** 1/2
CURRENT WAR, THE: DIRECTOR'S CUT (2019, d. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon) *** 1/4
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (2007, d. Zhang Yimou; China) ***
CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION, THE (2001, d. Woody Allen) **
CURSED (2009, d. Wes Craven) V. Campy parody of werewolf stories with a great cast (Jesse Eisenberg & Milo Ventimiglia are wonderful). Ridiculous; but clever & fun. ***
CUT BANK (2014, d. Matt Shakman) *** 1/2
CUT SLEEVE BOYS (2007, d. Ray Yeung) ** 3/4
Cut, The (2014, d. Gianluca Minucci) Short film without dialogue about a young barber dramatically cutting his father's hair. Nicely designed, but slender premise. ** 1/2
CUTIE AND THE BOXER (2013, d. Zachary Heinzerling) ** 3/4
CUTTING EDGE 3, THE (2008, d. Stuart Gillard) V. Surprisingly not bad, although predictable. Matt Lanter is good! ** 1/2
CUTTING EDGE, THE (2008, d. Paul Michael Glaser) V. Moira Kelly & D.B. Sweeney have good chemistry. Otherwise clichéd. ** 1/2
CYBER-SENIORS (2014, d. Saffron Cassaday) ***
CYCLES (2009, d. Cyril Gelblat) *** 1/2
CYCLING WITH MOLIÈRE (Alceste à bicyclette) (2013, d. Philippe Le Guay) ** 1/2
CYRANO (2022, d. Joe Wright) **
CYRUS (2010, d. Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass) ** 3/4
DA 5 BLOODS (2021, d. Spike Lee) Too stressed out over Nam revisit plot to finish. N/A
DA VINCI CODE, THE (2006, d. Ron Howard) The con of film. Turgid, overlong...nice historical f/x, though. ** 1/4
DAAS (2012, d. Adrian Panek) **
DADDY & PAPA (2002, d. Johnny Symons) *** 1/2
DADDY (2020, Christian Coppola) *** 1/2
DADS, THE (2023, Doc. short, d. Luchina Fisher) *** 1/4
DALECARLIANS, THE (2005, d. Maria Blom) Involving family drama about 3 sisters and the small Swedish town that the youngest returns to. ***
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013, d. Jean-Marc Vallée) *** 1/2
DAMNATION (2014, d. Ben Knight, Travis Rummel) *** 1/4
DAMNED UNITED, THE (2009, d. Tom Hooper) Good script & fine perfs (especially Michael Sheen) in a sports biopic more about people than sports. *** 1/4
DAMNED, THE (2010, d. Isaki Lacuesta) *
DAMSELS IN DISTRESS (2012, d. Whit Stillman) Smart comedy about college doufuses. Whimsical and slight; but Stillman's style still appeals to me. ***
DAN IN REAL LIFE (2007, d. Peter Hedges) Emotionally satisfying, breakthru film for Hedges (and for me, Carell). *** 1/4
DANCE TOWN (2011, d. Jeon Kyu-hwan) ** 3/4
DANCER AND THE THIEF, THE (2009, d. Fernando Trueba; Spain *** 1/4)
DANCER IN THE DARK (2000, d. Lars von Trier) *** 1/2
DANCER UPSTAIRS, THE (2002, d. John Malkovich) ** 3/4
DANCERS (2009, d. Pemille Fischer Christensen) ** 1/2
DANCING ACROSS BORDERS (2009, d. Anne H. Bass) ***
DANCING IN JAFFA (2014, d. Hilla Medalia) *** 1/2
DANDELION (2004, d. Mark Milgard) Well acted, somewhat pointless coming of age story of boy who sacrifices much for his dysfunctional family. ** 3/4
DANDELIONS, THE (Du Vent dans mes mollets) (2013, d. Carine Tardieu) ** 1/4
DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS, THE (2002, d. Peter Care) **
DANGEROUS METHOD, A (2011, d. David Cronenberg) Talky, even stagey ultra-smart film about Jung & Freud falling out. Knightley is spectacularly good. ** 3/4
DANIEL DERONDA (2011 d. Tom Hooper) V. Nicely mounted costumer: love thwarted & Jewish identity found. Stolidly underplayed by good cast. Hooper? hmmm. ** 3/4
DANIKA (2006, d. Ariel Vromen) * 1/2
DANISH GIRL, THE (2015, d. Tom Hooper) **
DANS PARIS (2007, d. Christophe Honoré) ** 1/2
DARE (2009, d. Adam Salky) High school sexual angst film which nails situation & characterizations (though actors are too old). Zach Gilford has genuine star qualities. *** 1/4
DAREDEVIL (2003, d. Mark Steven Johnson) Better stunts than Spiderman; but rather wan story. I enjoyed it, especially Affleck. ** 3/4
DARJEELING LIMITED, THE (2007, d. Wes Anderson) Better than his last one; but I need more than a train & exotica. ** 3/4
DARK AGES, THE (2007, d. Chris Cassel) V. Standard issue History channel docu. Lots of info well presented. ** 3/4
DARK BLUE WORLD (2001, d. Jan Sverak) *** 1/4
DARK HARBOR (2009, d. Naito Takasugu) ***
DARK HORSE (2012, d. Todd Solondz). Bittersweet satire of man-child's delusional life. Ironies abound, aided by perfect casting. Grown-up Dollhouse, funny & sad. ***
DARK HORSE (Voksne Mennesker) (2005, d. Dagur Kári) **
DARK HORSE, THE (2015, d. James Napier Robertson) *** 1/2
DARK KNIGHT RISES, THE (2012, d. Christopher Nolan) I respect Nolan's vision, even if his plot machinations have me rolling my eyes in disbelief. Zimmer's bombastic score worked. ** 3/4
DARK KNIGHT, THE (2008, d. Christopher Nolan) Surprisingly dark and dense, some narrative glitches, but Ledger is as good as the hype. *** 1/4
DARK MONEY (2018, d. Kimberly Reed) ** 1/2
DARK RIVER (2018, d. Clio Barnard) *** 1/4
DARK STREETS (2008, d. Rachel Samuels) Rarely has so much stylishness been put in aid of such a lame story. Only singers & prod. designers come out ok. **
DARK VALLEY, THE (2014, Austria, d. Andreas Prochaska) *** 1/4
DARK WATER (2002, d. Hideo Nakata) ***
DARK WATERS (2019, d. Todd Haynes) ***
DARKBLUEALMOSTBLACK (2006, d. Daniel Sánchez Arévalo) *** 1/2
DARKER THAN MIDNIGHT (2015, d. Sebastiano Riso) *** 1/4
DARKEST HOUR (2017, d. Joe Wright) *** 1/2
DARKEST MATTER, THE (2011, d. James Fox) 1/2*
DARKEST MINDS, THE (2018, d. Jennifer Yuh Nelson) * 1/4
DARWIN'S NIGHTMARE (2005, d. Hubert Sauper; docu) V. ***
DASEPO NAUGHTY GIRLS (Dasepo Sonyo) (2007, d. E J-yong) *
DATE AND SWITCH (2014, d. Chris Nelson) *** 1/4
DATE NIGHT (2010, d. Shawn Levy) Sporadically funny couple-in-jeopardy farce, but just too ridiculous & unlikely for my tastes, Marky Mark's pecs excepted. ** 1/4
Daughter (Dcera) (2020, anim. short, d. Daria Kashcheeva) * 1/2
DAUGHTER FROM DANANG (2003, d. Dolgen and Franco) (V) docu. Mixed race Viet Nam war child sent to US at 7 meets her mom. *** 1/4
DAUGHTER, THE (Doch) (2013, d. Aleksandr Kasatkin, Natalia Nazarova) ***
DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION (2018, d. Dana Adam Shapiro) ** 3/4
DAVID COPPERFIELD (2009, d. Simon Curtis) V. The first half, Daniel Radcliffe as young Copperfield, is fine. Then it all turns to treacle and sentiment. ** 1/2
DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME (2019, d. A. J. Eaton) *** 1/2
DAVID'S BIRTHDAY (2012, d. Marco Filiberti) V. Overwrought story of married man yearning for gay affair with friend's son. Massimo Poggio one to watch. **
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2014, d. Matt Reeves) ** 3/4
DAWN WALL, THE (2018, d. Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer) *** 1/4
DAWSON CITY: FROZEN TIME (2017, d. Bill Morrison) ****
DAWSON, ISLA 10 (2009, d. Miguel Littin; Chile) ***
DAY A PIG FELL INTO THE WELL, THE (2003, S. Korea d. Hong Sang-soo) Muddled story of multiple affairs going nowhere. Film does too. 1/2*
DAY AFTER TOMORROW, THE (2004, d. Roland Emmerich) Cliché story (though involving & well done), fantastically realistic special f/x. ** 3/4
DAY AT THE MUSEUM, A (Musée haut, musée bas) (2009, d. Jean-Michel Ribes) ** 1/4
Day of Rage (2021, doc short, d. Nancy Gauss) ****
Day One (2016, d. Henry Hughes) *** 1/2
DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, THE (2008, d. Scott Derrickson) Good f/x; but sappy, incredulous script a million times inferior to original.* 1/2
DAY WATCH (2007, d. Timur Bekmambetov) ***
DAYBREAK (2011 d. Michael Rymer) V. Final ep. of Battlestar Galactica as a 2 1/2 hr. film on DVD. Lovely blue & green ending to a fascinating series. *** 1/2
DAYBREAK (2004, d. Bjorn Runge) Three cleverly interwoven stories of strange relationship angst in Sweden. I couldn't relate to the stories. ** 3/4
DAYDREAM NATION (2011 d. Mike Goldbach) ***
DAYS AND CLOUDS (2008, d. Silvio Soldini) ***
DAYS AND HOURS (2005, d. Ademir Kenovic) Talky, slow paced slice of life story about family coping with consequences of Bosnian war 7 years earlier. * 3/4
DAYS AND NIGHTS (2014, d. Christian Camargo) ** 1/2
DAYS OF BEING WILD (2004, d. Wong Kar-wei) I was carried away by the plot, actors & especially the cinematography. Now I must reassess In The Mood For Love. *** 1/2
DAYS OF DARKNESS (2007, d. Denys Arcand; Canada) ***
DAYS OF GLORY (2006, d. Rachid Bouchareb; Algeria) ***
DAYS OF HEAVEN (2016, d. Terrence Malick) ++ *** 1/2
DEAD GIRL, THE (2006, d. Karen Moncrieff) *** 1/4
DEAD MAN'S HAND (2003, d. Boon & Brandenbourger) Luxembourg AFF. High gloss consumerist satire. ** 3/4
DEAD MAN'S SHOES (2005, d. Shane Meadows) Paddy Considine is the nemesis of group of guys who tortured his brother. Violent and bloody. ** 1/2
DEAD SILENCE (2008, d. James Wan)V. Stylish horror flick with ridiculous seen-before "dummy" plot. Looks great, less filling. ** 1/4
DEADGIRL (2009, d. Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel) ** 1/2
DEADLIEST DISEASE IN AMERICA, THE (2021, d. Crystal Emery) ** 3/4
DEADPOOL 2 (2018, d. David Leitch) **
DEADPOOL (2016, d. Tim Miller) ** 3/4
DEADWOOD: THE MOVIE (2019, d. Daniel Minahan) ** 1/2
DEAL (2008, d. Gil Cates, Jr.) Predictable, but the poker was realistic & Bret Harrison is a winning actor. ** 3/4
DEAL, THE (2004, d. Harvey Kahn) Wall Street shenanigans in the oil patch in the near future. Slickly made, good cast, but probably straight to video. ** 1/2
DEAL, THE (2007, d. Stephen Frears) V. British political true story, Labour deal to share power. Too parochial for U.S. ** 1/2
DEAN (2017, d. Demetri Martin) ** 3/4
Dear Basketball (2018, d. Glen Keane) ** 3/4
DEAR COMRADES! (2021, Russia, d. Andrei Konchalovsky) ***
DEAR EVAN HANSEN (2022, d. Stephen Chbosky) *** 1/2
DEAR FRANKIE (2004, d. Shona Aurbach) Tender and moving drama of deaf boy's bonding with a surrogate father. *** 1/4
DEAR JOHN (2010, d. Lasse Hallström) A little sappy; but Hallström does a good job with Tatum, nice chemistry between leads & good enough romance, if barely. ***
DEAR SON (2019, Tunisia, d. Mohamed Ben Attia) *** 1/4 A father's life is shattered when his favored son sneaks off to join ISIS.
DEAR WENDY (2005, d. Thomas Vinterberg) ***
DEAR WHITE PEOPLE (2014, d. Justin Simien) *** 1/4
DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON (2017, d. David France) *** 1/2
DEATH AND TEXAS (2004, d. Kevin DiNovis) Satiric, pointed but understated mockumentary about a famed football player on death row in Texas. *** 1/4
DEATH AT A FUNERAL (2007, d. Frank Oz) ***
DEATH BY CHINA (2012, d. Peter Navarro) V. Slick docu of China trade disaster for US jobs. Well presented, frightening. I bought 2 things today, both "Made in China". Ugh. *** 1/2
DEATH DEFYING ACTS (2008, d. Gillian Armstrong) Excellent period piece; strong acting by Guy Pierce & Zeta-Jones! *** 1/4
DEATH FOR SALE (2012, d. Faouzi Bensaldi, Morocco) **
DEATH IN LOVE (2009, d. Boaz Yakin) Good cast mostly wasted on incoherent effects-of-Holocaust-on-2nd-generation-family sexually explicit melodrama. ** 1/4
DEATH IN SARAJEVO (2017, d. Danis Tanovic) *** 1/2
DEATH IN VENICE (2007, d. Luchino Visconti) ** 3/4
DEATH METAL ANGOLA (2014, d. Jeremy Xido) ** 1/4
DEATH OF A PRESIDENT (2006, d. Gabriel Range) *** 1/2
DEATH OF MR. LAZARESCU, THE (Moartea domului Lazarescu) (2005, d. Cristi Puiu; Romania) *** 1/2
DEATH OF STALIN, THE (2018, d. Armondo Iannucci) ** 3/4
DEATH SENTENCE (2007, d. James Wan) **
DEATH TO SMOOCHY (2002, d. Danny De Vito) ** 1/2
DEBT, THE (2011, d. John Madden) Dual stories of consequences of past. Both sets of actors convincing. *** 1/4
DEBUTANTES, LOS (2004, d. Andres Waissbluth) Strong, multi-POV, sexy drama about 2 naive brothers who become involved with a porn boss and his mistress. ***
DECEMBER BOYS (2007, d. Rod Hardy) Good performances, but a predictable clichéd script. ** 1/2
DECEMBER HEAT (Detsembrikuumus) (2009, d. Asko Kase; Estonia) ***
DECENDANTS, THE (2011, d. Alexander Payne) A nice script, interesting characters & Hawaiian beauty make for an enjoyable, but minor, entertainment. *** 1/4
DECENT ONE, THE (2014, d. Vanessa Lapa) ****
DECEPTIVE PRACTICE: THE MYSTERIES & MENTORS OF RICKY JAY (2013, d. Molly Bernstein) *** 1/4
DECIDING VOTE (2023, Doc. short, d. Jeremy Workman, Robert Lyons) *** 3/4
DECISION TO LEAVE (2023, South Korea IFF, d. Park Chan-wook) ***
DECLARATION OF WAR (2011, d. Valérie Donzelli, France) *** 1/2
DECODING DEEPAK (2012, d. Gotham Chopra) V. I have no spiritual component; but a well made docu by a son about his famous father is always interesting & worth watching. *** 1/4
DEEP BLUE SEA, THE (2012, d. Terence Davies) Ponderous, dark adaptation of Rattigan play. I felt no connection to story of obsessive, destructive love. ** 1/2
DEEP BREATH (2004, d. Parviz Shahbazi) Iran's AFF is a road picture about disaffected college students, amazingly secular for an official submission. ** 1/2
DEEP END, THE (2001, d. Scott McGehee & David Siegel) ** 1/2
DEEP SEA CHALLENGE 3D (2014, d. John Bruno, Andrew Wight, Raymond Quint) ***
DEEP WATER (2007, d. Osmond & Rothwell) Disquieting, excellent docu: 1969 around world boat race. *** 1/2
DEEP, THE (2012, d. Baltasar Kormákur, Iceland) *** 1/2
DEEPWATER HORIZON (2016, d. Peter Berg) *** 1/4
DEEPWATER (2005, d. David Marfield) A superior psychological thriller disguised as a gothic noir. Great performance by Lucas Black. *** 1/4
DEFENDERS OF RIGA (Rigas Sargi) (2008, d. Algars Grauba; Latvia) ** 1/2
DEFIANCE (2008, d. Edward Zwick) Involving, well directed...but somewhat clichéd and old fashioned. ***
DEFIANT ONES, THE (2017, d. Allen Hughes) *** 1/2
DEFIANT REQUIEM (2012, d. Doug Shultz) V. Another Terezin docu, featuring defiant production of Verdi's Requium by inmates before Auchwitz. Superbly well crafted. Glorious. *** 3/4
DÉFICIT (2007, d. Gael García Bernal) *** 1/4
DEFINITELY, MAYBE (2009, d. Adam Brooks) V. Fine romcom with intriguing premise & a remarkable perf by Ryan Reynolds, whom I am coming to appreciate! *** 1/4
DEFYING THE NAZIS: THE SHARPS' WAR (2016, d. Ken Burns & Artemis Joukowsky) *** 1/2
DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD (2009, d. Stefen Brogren) V. The nextgen Degrassi kids grown up & unrealistically placed in a Jason Mews directed film. Bizarrely fun. ** 1/2
DÉJÀ VU (2006, d. Tony Scott) A superior, timebending thriller which, while totally absurd, amazingly almost holds together! *** 1/4
DEKADA '70 (2004, d. Chito Rono) Melodramatic saga of 15 years of a Philippine family, 5 boys & Ozzie & Harriet parents. Too long and overamped. **
Dekalb Elementary (2018, d. Reed Van Dyk) *** 1/2
DELI MAN (2015, d. Erik Greenberg Anjou) *** 1/2
DELICASY (2012, d. D. & S. Foenkinos) Affecting, perceptive office based rom-com...can a C-grade man make it with an A-grade grieving widow? *** 1/4
DELIRIOUS (2007, d. Tom Dicillo) ***
DELIVER US FROM EVIL (2006, d. Amy Berg) V. Gripping docu about Catholic church coverup of pederast priest. *** 1/2
DE-LOVELY (2004, d. Irwin Winkler) Massively over-written Cole Porter biopic. Good music and singer cameos; but otherwise bloated and pretentious. ** 1/4
DEMON (2016, d. Marcin Wrona) ** 3/4
DEMONLOVER (2003, France d. Olivier Assayas) Stylish, mysterious business scullduggery among the rich and successful international cyber-crowd. *** 1/4
DENIAL (2016, d. Mick Jackson) ** 3/4
DENIAS, SINGING ON THE CLOUD (2007, d. John de Rantau; Indonesia) ** 1/2
DEPARTED, THE (2006, d. Martin Scorsese) Fabulously cast, but script too eliptical...Infernal Affaires made more sense. *** 1/4
DEPARTURE (2022, d. Andrew Steggall) *** 1/4
DEPARTURES (Okuribito) (2008, d. Yojiro Takita; Japan) *** 3/4
DEPENDENCIA SEXUAL (2003, d. Rodrigo Bellott) Sexual adventures of youths in Bolivia & U.S. done in split screen. Wildlly uneven, but also a turn-on. ***
DESCENDANT (2022, d. Margaret Brown) ***
DESERT RUNNERS (2014, d. Jennifer Steinman) *** 1/4
DESIERTO (2016, Mexico, d. Jonás Cuarón) *** 1/4
DESPERATE SOULS, DARK CITY & THE LEGEND OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY (2023, Doc., d. Nancy Buirski) *** 1/4
DESPICABLE ME 2 (2013, d. Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin) ** 1/2
DESPICABLE ME (2010, d. C. Renaud, P. Coffin) Hip doesn't always translate to good family oriented animation; but here it plays wonderfully. Pixar watch your back. *** 3/4
DESTINÉES, LES (2001, d. Olivier Assayas) *** 1/2
DESTINY OF LESSER ANIMALS (2011, d. Daron Albright) * 1/2
DESTROYER (2018, d. Karyn Kusama) *** 1/4
DETAILS, THE (2012, d. Jacob Aaron Estes) *** 1/4
Detainment (2019, d. Vincent Lambe) Oscar nominated fiction short film. *** 1/4
DETECTIVE DEE & THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME (2011, d. Tsui Hark) *** 1/4
DETENTION (2011, d. Joseph Kahn) ** 1/4
DETROIT (2017, d. Kathryn Bigelow) *** 3/4
DETROPIA (2012, d. Ewing & Grady) V. Companion docu to Death by China, showing destruction of moving US manufacturing to China with decay in Detroit. Well shot & edited. *** 1/2
DEUCES WILD (2002, d. Scott Kalvert) **
DEVDAS (2003, d. Sanjay Leela Bhansali) India AFF. Bollywood musical: overblown tragic love story. * 3/4
DEVDAS (2002, d. Sanjay Leela Bhansali) **
DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON, THE (2005, d. Jeff Feuerzeig) V. ***
DEVIL WEARS PRADA, THE (2006, d. David Frankel) Well acted (Hathaway finally grows up, Streep perfect), funny. ***
DEVIL'S BACKBONE, THE (2001, d. Guillermo Del Toro) *** 1/4
DEVIL'S TEARDROP, THE (2010, d. Norma Bailey)V.Lifetime movie watched for Tom Everett Scott, who was fine. Predictable, poorly written thriller with no bite at all. * 1/2
DEVIL'S TOWN (2010, d. Vladimir Paskaljevic) ***
DEVOTEE (2008, d. Rémi Lange) French drama about a thalidomide 40-ish gay man (no limbs) used as a fetish object. ** 1/2
DEVS (2020, d. Alex Garland) *** 3/4
DEXTER: Season 1 (2006, d. various) V. Sympathetic serial killer sociopath...stylish, Michael C. Hall is simply amazing. *** 3/4
DHAMMA BROTHERS, THE (2008, d. Jenny Phillips) Hopeful, thoughtful docu of Alabaman prisoners who find peace thru Buddhist meditation. ***
DIABLES, LES (2003, d. Christophe Ruggia) Harrowing story of 2 abandoned children, incredible acting. Hard to do this one justice in a line. *** 1/2
DIAMANTINO (Tristes Monroes) (2019, d. Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt) ***
DIAMOND 13 (2010, d. Gilles Béat) *** 1/4
DIAMOND MEN (2001, d. Daniel M. Cohen) *** 1/2
DIAMONDS (2009, d. Andy Wilson) V. Sprawling TV mini-series melodrama of world of diamonds, wastes Judy Davis and a scowling James Purefoy. ** 1/4
DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL (2012, d. Lisa Vreeland) V. Fast moving hagiographic docu of fashion maven with great interviews; interesting but not illuminating. *** 1/4
DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID (2016, d. Benoît Jacquot) ** 1/4
DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID (2001, d. Luis Buñiel) ** 3/4
DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, THE (2015, d. Marielle Heller) ***
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (2010, d. Thor Freudenthal) Zach Gordon is fine, if not very wimpy. Amusing enough, good animation, just not very original. ** 3/4
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES (2011, d. David Bowers) OK for what it is, 7th grader adventures. I was mildly amused; but I'm not the right audience. ** 1/4
DIAS DE SANTIAGO (2006, d. Josué Méndez; Peru) ** 1/4
DIAZ - DON'T CLEAN UP THIS BLOOD (2012, d. Daniele Vicari) *** 1/4
DICKIE ROBERTS: FORMER CHILD STAR (2003, d. Sam Weisman) Infantile, arrested-development story, occasionally funny, very meta, embarrassing to watch. *
DIE WELT (2013, d. Alex Pitstra) ** 1/2
DIE, MOMMIE, DIE (2003, d. Mark Rucker) Camp take-off on Mommy Dearest, a showcase for tranny Charles Busch, which just didn't cut it. ** 1/4
DIFFERENT FROM WHOM (2010, d. Umberto Carteni) ***
DIFRET (2014, Ethiopia, d. Zeresenay Berhane Mehari) *** 1/2
DIG! (2004, d. Ondi Timoner) Extraordinary video documentary about two current retro 60's underground bands. Fabulous footage well edited. *** 1/4
DIGGERS (2006, d. Katherine Dieckmann) ** 1/2
DIGITAL DHARMA: ONE MAN'S MISSION TO SAVE A CULTURE (2012, d. Dafna Yachin)V. Well made docu of Gene Smith who toiled endlessly to save Tibetan Buddhist tomes. ** 3/4
DINA (2017, d. Dan Sickles & Antonio Santini) W/O; Doc about an Asperger couple. I'm sure it was fine; just not in the mood after 20 min.
DINNER, THE (2017, Oren Moverman) ** 1/2
DINOSAUR 13 (2014, d. Todd Douglas Miller) ** 3/4
DINOSAUR (2000, d. Ralph Zondag & Eric Leighton) ** 1/2
DIOR AND I (2014, d. Frédéric Tcheng) ***
DIPLOMAT, THE (2015, d. David Holbrooke) *** 1/2
DIRT BOY (2001, d. Jay Frasco) * 3/4
DIRT (2003, US d. Nancy Savoca) Entertaining humanist drama about an undocumented Salvadorian family...mother a cleaning woman. *** 1/4
DIRTY DANCING: HAVANA NIGHTS (2004, d. Guy Ferland) Pretty much cookie cutter plot, but fun. Diego Luna: Latin lover for the 2000's. ** 1/4
DIRTY DEEDS (2006, d. David Kendall) V. Stupid high school caper film. Watched for Milo Ventimiglia, who is worth watching. *
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS (2003, Great Britain d. Stephen Frears) Excellent romantic drama about refugees living and being exploited in London. *** 1/4
DIRTY SHAME, A (2004, d. John Waters) Utterly transgressive sex farce which takes Waters' anarchic style to its untoppable culmination. Still, never boring. ** 3/4
DIRTY WAR (2005, d. Daniel Percival) V. Dirty bomb terrorist attack on central London. BBC film, a good suspenser and scary as hell, though nothing special filmwise. ** 3/4.
DIRTY WARS (2013, d. Rick Rowley) *** 1/2
DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED, THE (2010, d. J Blakeson) Clever & original plot, fine 3-character kidnapping caper which spares nobody & resolves unpredictably. *** 1/2
DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM, THE (2014, d. Ned Benson) ** 1/4
DISAPPEARANCES (2006, d. Jay Craven) ** 1/4
DISASTER ARTIST, THE (2017, d. James Franco) *** 1/2
DISCIPLE, THE (2013, d. Ulrika Bengts, Finland) *** 3/4
DISCO PIGS (2001, d. Kirsten Sheridan) *** 1/4
DISCONNECT (2013, d. Henry Alex Rubin) *** 1/4
DISCOVERY, THE (2017, d. Charlie McDowell) **
DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2009, d. Robert Zemeckis) The 3D f/x & motion capture wonderful, seminal. Story too familiar & over ripe. Best as a theme park ride. ** 1/2
DISNEY'S THE KID (2000, d. Jon Turteltaub) **
DISOBEDIENCE (2018, d. Sebastián Lelio) ** 1/2
DISORDER (2016, d. Alice Winocour) *** 1/2
DISTANT BARKING OF DOGS, THE (2018, d. Simon Lereng Wilmont) *** 1/2
DISTANT LIGHTS (2003, Germany d. Hans-Christian Schmidt) Hand held, documentary feel: about refugees trying to get to Germany. *** 1/4
DISTANT (2003, d. Nuri Bilge Ceylan) Arty Turkish film about alienating effects of big city on two men, one older & established, other new to town. *** 1/4
DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM (2010, d. Patrick Alessandrin) Boy, does Philippe Torreton class up an action flick? This is a more than worthy sequel with great parkour. *** 1/4
DISTRICT 9 (2009, d. Neill Blomkamp) Smart, inventive alien invasion actioner, subtly moving & lacking Hollywood bombast. *** 1/4
DISTURBIA (2007, d. D.J. Caruso) Despite a star making turn by Shia LaBeouf this Rear Window update is ridiculously over the top. ** 1/4
DISTURBING BEHAVIOR (2004, d. David Nutter) V. Mind control '98 horror flick, a teenage Stepford High, good cast, well directed, but way over the top. **
DIVERGENT (2014, d. Neil Burger) *** 1/4
DIVIDE AND CONQUOR: THE STORY OF ROGER AILES (2018, d. Alexis Bloom) *** 3/4
DIVIDED WE FALL (2000, d. Jan Hrebejk) *** 1/2
DIVINE DIVAS (2017, d. Leandra Leal) ** 3/4
DIVINE INTERVENTION (2003, d. Elia Suleiman) Palestine's AFF nomination is an unfunny absurdist comedy which didn't work for me. **
DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, THE (2007, d. Julian Schnabel) Most expressive eye in film history. Amalric amazing! *** 3/4
DIVING SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD (2002, d. Callie Khouri) **
DIVORCE, LE (2003, d. James Ivory) Something between glowing romantic comedy and lame farce re: culture clash between France & America. Guilty pleasure. ***
DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012, d. Quentin Tarantino) *
Do I Have to Take Care of Everything (Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa) (2014, d. Selma Vilhunen) ** 3/4
DO NOT DISTURB (Une heure de tranquillité) (2015, d. Patrice Leconte) ** 1/4
DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD (2023, Romania, d. Radu Jude) *
DO NOT GO GENTLE (2001, d. Emlyn Williams) ***
DO NOT RESIST (2016, d. Craig Atkinson) *** 1/2
Do Not Split ( 2021, Doc short, d. Anders Hammer) *** 1/2
DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY NAME IS? (2014, d. Naomi Kazama, Shigeru Ota) *** 1/2
DO YOU SEE COLORS WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES? (2011, d. Caleb & Joshua Young) *** 1/2
DOCTOR STRANGE (2016, d. Scott Derrickson) ***
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (2005, d. Giacomo Campiotti) V. Why the David Lean film needed a remake is questionable; but this one is well made, intimate & emotional. ** 3/4
DOCUMENTED (2014, d. Jose Antonio Vargas) *** 1/4
DO-DECA-PENTATHELON, THE (2012, d. Jay & Mark Duplass) ** 1/2
DODGEBALL (2004, d. Rawson M. Thurber) Silly, amiable entertainment. I didn't find it funny; but it sure tries hard enough. Stiller still has "it". ** 1/2
DOG EAT DOG (2009, d. Carlos Moreno; Columbia) * 3/4
DOG POUND (2006, d. Manuel Nieto Zas) W/O
DOG TAGS (2012, d. Damon Dietz) V. Dysfunctional family drama, young man enlists in marines & has crisis of sexual identity. Slow & ponderous, yet pretty. ** 3/4
DOG, THE (2014, d. Allison Berg & François Keraudren) ** 3/4
DOGHEAD (2007, d. Santi Amodeo) *** 1/4
DOGHEAD (2007, d. Santi Amodeo) + *** 1/4
DOGTOOTH (2010, d. Yorgos Lanthimos; Greece) ***
DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS (2001, d. Stacy Peralta) *** 1/2
DOGVILLE (2004, d. Lars von Trier) A malevolent Our Town, more tv throwback than film, Kidman and Bettany are really good. ***
DOING TIME ON MAPLE DR. (2005, d. Ken Olen) V. *** 1/4
DOING TIME (2003, Japan d. Sai Yoichi) Intelligent comedy about regimented life in a modern Japanese prison. ***
DOL (2007, d. Hiner Saleem) ** 3/4
Doll, The (2021, doc short, d. Elahe Esmaili) ** 1/2
DOLLS (2003, d. Takeshi Kitano) Gorgeously photographed, metaphorically opaque. Three stories of regret that I regret that went over my head. **
DOLORES (2017, d. Peter Bratt) *** 1/4
DOM HEMINGWAY (2014, d. Richard Shepard) ***
DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE (2001, d. Harold Becker) ** 1/2
DON JON (2013, d. Joseph Gordon-Levitt) *** 1/2
DONAU, DUNA, DUNAJ, DUNAV, DUNAREA (2004, d. Goren Rebic) Beautiful;y done story of a "ship of fools" and romantics heading down the Danube. ***
DONKEY (2009, d. Antonia Nuic; Croatia) ** 1/2
DONKEY SKIN (2004, d. Jacques Demy) A gentle fairy tale. Demy has style to spare; but other than the costumes I wasn't blown away. ** 1/2
DONNIE DARKO (2001, d. Richard Kelly) + Worth a 2nd watch. *** 1/2
DONNIE DARKO (2001, d. Richard Kelly) *** 1/4
DONNIE DARKO: DIRECTOR'S CUT (2004, d. Richard Kelly) Improved comprehensibility; but I really missed some scenes. Still a fantastic film. *** 1/2
DON'S PLUM (2005, d. R.D. Robb) V. B&W indie near masterpiece, a 20-something My Dinner With André with a hard edge. Why is it banned? *** 1/2
DONSOL (2007, d. Adolfo Alix, Jr.; Philippines) ** 1/2
DON'T BE BAD (Non essere cattivo) (2016, d. Claudio Caligari) + *** 1/4
DON'T BE BAD (Italy) (2015, d. Claudio Caligari) *** 1/4
DON'T BLINK- ROBERT FRANK (2016, d. Laura Israel) *** 1/4
DON'T BURN IT (2010, d. Dang Nhat Minh; Vietnam) ** 1/2
DON'T LET ME DOWN (2009, d. Cruz Angeles) ***
DON'T LOOK UP (2022, d. Adam McKay) *** 1/4
DON'T MOVE (2005, d. Sergio Castellitto) Obsessive adultry-romance with a superb perf by Penelope Cruz. Involving and interestingly structured. ***
DON'T SAY A WORD (2001, d. Gary Fleder) * 3/4
DON'T STOP BELIEVIN': EVERYMAN'S JOURNEY (2013, d. Ramona S. Diaz) *** 1/4
DON'T TELL (La bestia nel cuore) (2006, d. Cristina Comencini; Italy) *** 1/2
DON'T TELL ME THE BOY WAS MAD (Une histoire de fou) (2016, d. Robert Guédiguian) *** 1/2
DON'T THINK I'VE FORGOTTEN: CAMBODIA'S LOST ROCK AND ROLL (2015, d. John Pirozzi) *** 1/4
DON'T THINK TWICE (2016, d. Mike Birbiglia) *** 1/4
DON'T WORRY, HE WON'T GET FAR ON FOOT (2018, d. Gus Van Sant) *** 1/2
DOOMED LOVE (Um Amor de Perição) (2009, d. Mário Baroso; Portugal) ***
DOOR IN THE FLOOR, THE (2004, d. Tod Williams) Superbly acted drama of a family's corrosive grief & a boy's (the promising Jon Foster) coming of age. *** 1/2
DOOR TO DOOR (2002, d. Stephen Schachter) ***
DOPAMINE (2010, d. Mark Decena) V. + I knew immediately that I'd already seen this quietly touching, romantic, truthful 2003 film; but got hooked again. *** 1/4
DOPAMINE (2003, d. Mark Decina) Indie romantic comedy; 3geeky programmers in S.F. Genuine characters, well written, actors have real chemistry. *** 1/4
DOPE (2015, d. Rick Famuyiwa) ** 1/4
DOPESICK (2021, miniseries, d. various) *** 1/2
DORA-HEITA (2001, d. Kon Ichikawa) ** 1/4
DORIAN BLUES (2004, d. Tennyson Bardwell) A genuinely funny coming out comedy, a crowd pleaser with a brilliant script and assured acting & direction. *** 1/4
DORMANT BEAUTY (2013, d. Marco Bellocchio) ** 1/2
DOS TIPOS DUROS (2004, d. Juan Moreno) A Guy Richie type bloody, gang-who-couldn't-shoot-straight comedy, only totally diverting. Jordi Vilches wonderful. ***
DOSSIER K. (2010, d. Jan Verheyen) Convoluted Belgian thriller about Albanian Mafia and honor killings. Atmospheric noir; but somewhat confusing. ***
DOT THE I (2005, d. Matthew Parkhill) Clever script with double & triple crosses galore a la Nine Queens. Bernal is a star in English, too. *** 1/4
DOUBLE, THE (2014 d. Richard Ayoade) ***
DOUBT (2008, d. John Patrick Shanley) Major acting kudos (esp. Viola Davis), but film's ambiguity and murky central thesis a problem for me. ** 3/4
DOUBTFUL (2018, d. Eliran Elia) ** 3/4
DOWN BY LOVE (2003, d. Tomás Sas) Weird, annoying one-actor monologue of effects of child sexual abuse. Ultimately pays off. Patricia Kovács amazing. ** 3/4
DOWN IN THE VALLEY (2006, d. David Jacobson) Weird, wonderful; Ed Norton his usual amazing. E.R.Wood more beautiful than ever. *** 1/4
DOWN TO THE BONE (2004, d. Debra Granik) Bare bones video verité of a woman drug addict that spares nothing. Some incredible acting here. ***
DOWN TO YOU (2000, d. Kris Isacsson) **
DOWN WITH LOVE (2003, d. Peyton Reed) Retro, ironic '60s sex comedy, gorgeous production design, often ridiculous script but fun and truly hip. *** 1/4
DOWNFALL (2005, d. Oliver Herschbiegel) Well made drama of last days of 3rd Reich in Hitler's bunker. Bruno Ganz is amazing. Authentic, gripping. *** 1/4
DOWNLOADED (2013, d. Alex Winter) ***
DOWNSIZING (2017, d. Alexander Payne) ***
DOWNTON ABBEY (2011 d. Percival, Bolt & Kelly) V. Julian Fellowes has written a superb Edwardian costumer. Maggie Smith is fabu; but so is everybody. *** 3/4
DOWNTON ABBEY (2019, d. Michael Engler) *** 1/2
DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA (2022, d. Dimon Curtis) *** 1/4
DOWNWIND (2023, Doc., d. Mark Shapiro, Douglas Brian Miller) *** 3/4
DR. BRONNER'S MAGIC SOAPBOX (2007, d. Sara Lamm) V. ** 1/4
DR. T AND THE WOMEN (2000, d. Robert Altman) ***
DRAFT DAY (2014, d. Ivan Reitman) *** 1/4
DRAFT DODGERS (Réfractaire) (2010, d. Nicolas Steil; Luxembourg) ** 3/4
DRAGON ARRIVES!, A (2017, d. Mani Haghighi) ** 1/2
DRAGON (2012, d. Peter Ho-Sun Chan) *** 1/4
DRAMA/MEX (2007, d. Gerardo Naranjo) *** 1/2
Draw With Me (2021, Doc short, d. Constantine Venetopoulos) *** 1/2
DREAM BIG: ENGINEERING OUR WORLD (2017, d. Greg MacGillivray) ** 3/4
DREAM BOY (2008, d. James Bolton) ** 1/2
DREAM WEAVERS (2009, d. Jun Gu; China) ** 1/2
DREAMCATCHER (2003, d. Lawrence Kasdan) Absurd Stephen King story, 4 boys/men against familiar movie aliens. Scary, funny, overwrought. ** 1/4
DREAMCATCHER (2015, d. Kim Longinotto) ** 1/4
DREAMERS, THE (2004, d. Bernardo Bertolucci) I just about lived this movie 5 years earlier...and this excellent film couldn't be more true to life. *** 3/4
DREAMGIRLS (2006, d. Bill Condon) Better than average musical with fantastic casting. ***
DREAMIN' WILD (2023, d. Bill Pohlad) *** 1/4
DREAMING OF SPACE (2006, d. Alexei Uchitel) ** 3/4
DREAMLAND (2006, d. Jason Matzner) ***
DRESDEN (2012, d. Roland Suso Richter) V. Soapy, romantic, horrifying, involving German 3+ hr. mini-series of Dresden fire-storm bombing raid as disaster flick. ***
Dress, The (2022, short, d. Tadeusz Lysiak) ***
DRESSMAKER, THE (2016, d. Jocelyn Moorhouse) *** 1/4
DRIFTERS (2004, d. Wang Xiaoshuai) Slow drama about a Chinese guy who had a kid as an illegal in the U.S. and then is kept from his son when he's deported. **
DRIFTING (2010, d. Ventura Pons) ** 1/2
DRINKING BUDDIES (2013, d. Joe Swanberg) **
DRIVE (2012, d. Nicolas Winding Refn) + Few movies worth 2nd view; but Refn's direction is so stylish & Gosling so interesting + great music, had to see again. *** 1/2
DRIVE MY CAR (2022, Japan, d. Ryusuke Hamaguchi) *** 1/4
DRIVE (2011, d. Nicholas Winding Refn) Nobody does stylized violence as good as Refn. Until disappointingly curtailed anti-climax great film; but ending disappointed. *** 1/4
DRIVING LESSONS (2006, d. Jeremy Brock) Bad coming-of-age film with over-the-top Julie Walters & a pretty good Rupert Grint. * 3/4
DROP, THE (2014, d. Michael R. Roskam) *** 1/4
DROUGHT (2012, d. Everardo González) V. Slice of life doc of small, rural, agrarian Central Mexican community forced out by drought. Earthy, simple & affecting. ***
DROWN (2015, d. Dean Francis) **
DRUG WAR (2013, d. Johnny To) **
DRUMLINE (2002, d. Charles Stone III) *** 1/4
DRUMMER, THE (2009, d. Kenneth Bi) *** 1/4
DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: The Story of the National Lampoon (2015, d. Douglas Tirole) *** 1/4
DRY LAND, THE (2010, d. Ryan Piers Williams) *** 1/4
DUCHESS OF LANGEAIS, THE (Ne toucher pas la hache) (2007, d. Jacques Rivette) ** 1/2
DUCHESS, THE (2008, d. Saul Dibb) Excellently made, authentic seeming, gorgeous and even moving historical epic with great perfs by Keira and Ralph. *** 1/2
DUCK SEASON (2004, d. Fernando Eimbcke) Two 14 year old boys left alone in an apartment on a Sunday get into trouble. Wonderfully observent and affecting. *** 1/4
DUETS (2000, d. Bruce Paltrow) ** 1/4
DUKE OF BURGUNDY, THE (2015, d. Peter Strickland) ** 1/4
DUMA (2006, d. Carroll Ballard) V. Predictably beautiful but predictable. ** 3/4
DUMBO (2019, d. Time Burton) ** 3/4
DUMMY (2003, U.S. d. Greg Pritikin 90 min.) Adrien Brody is incredible as a shy ventriloquist in this touching, truly funny romantic comedy. *** 1/2
DUNBASS (2018, Ukraine, d. Sergei Loznitsa) ** 1/4
DUNE (2021, d. Denis Villeneuve) *** 3/4
DUNE, THE (2014, d. Yossi Aviram) *** 1/2
DUNKIRK (2017, d. Christopher Nolan) ***
DUNKIRK (2018, d. Christopher Nolan) + *** 1/4
DUNYA & DESIE (2008, d.Dana Nechushtan; Netherlands) ** 3/4
DUPLICITY (2009, d. Tony Gilroy) Script double crosses itself once too many times, but stars have chemistry & it's slick. ** 3/4
DUSK (Schemer) (2011 d. Hanro Smitsman) ***
DUSKA (2007, d. Jos Stelling) The Netherlands foreign film submission. * 3/4
DUST TO GLORY (2005, d. Dana Brown )V. ** 1/2
DYING GAUL, THE (2005, d. Craig Lucas) Until a very unsatisfying ending this was an extraordinary noir with fabulous acting (Sarsgaard! Scott! Clarkson!) *** 1/4
DZI CROQUETTES (2011, d. Alvarez & Issa) V. Entertaining docu of Brazillian 70's transgendered group modeled on Cocquettes. Haphazard editing, but fine perfs. ***
EAGER BODIES (2004, d. Xavier Giannoli) Love Story with a particularly French twist. Great acting. *** 1/2
EAGLE EYE (2008, d. D.J. Caruso) Absurd script well executed. Raises paranoia quotient and chase sequence destruction derby games to new, ridiculous high. Shia is fine. ** 1/2
EAGLE HUNTRESS (2016, d. Otto Bell) *** 1/2
EAGLE VS. SHARK (2007, d. Taika Waititi) ** 3/4
EAGLE, THE (2011 d. Kevin Macdonald) Interesting historical plot marred by inauthentic details. Battles are horrendously edited & shot, acting wildly varied. ** 1/2
Eagles (Aguilas) (2021, doc short, d. Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, Maite Zubiaurre) ***
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL: NOS AMIS (2017, d. Colin Hanks) ***
EAMON (2010, d. Margaret Corkery ) *** 1/4
EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM, THE (Il mattino ha l'oro in bocca) (2012, d. Francesco Patierno) *** 1/4
EARLY IN THE MORNING (2006, d. Gahité Fofana) * 3/4
EARLY ONE MORNING (2012, d. Jean-Marc Moutout) ** 3/4
EARTH AND ASHES (2005, d. Atiq Rahimi) Wide screen Afghanistan AFF plays like a despairing Irani film: old man & young boy war victims wandering desert. ***
Earth is Humming, The (2018, doc short d. Garrett Bradley) **
EARTH: ONE AMAZING DAY (2017, d. Richard Dale et al.) *** 1/4
EARTHBOUND (2012, d. Alan Brennan) ** 1/4
EARTHLING (2005, d. Tristan & Wolfgang Bayer) Stunning, fascinating docu about family of nature photogs on a 7 year adventure journey. *** 3/4
EARTHLINGS (2006, d. Shaun Monson) V. Hard to watch docu about human speciesism: abuse of animals for food, clothing, science etc.. *** 3/4
EARTHSEA (2004, d. Robert Lieberman) V. Surprisingly together, if hokey, sf miniseries, mediocre acting...but the f/x are fine and the project works. ** 1/2
EASIER WITH PRACTICE (2009, d. Kyle Patrick Alvarez) ***
EAST IS EAST (2000, d. Damien O'Donnell) ** 1/2
EAST, THE (2013, d. Zal Batmanglij) *** 1/2
EAST, WEST, EAST (2010, d. Gjergj Xhuvani; Albania) ** 3/4
EAST/WEST (L'est/ouest) (2000, d. Régis Wargnier) *** 1/2
EASTERN BOYS (2014, d. Robin Campillo) *** 1/4
EASTERN PLAYS (2010, d. Kamen Kalev; Bulgaria) + ***
EASTERN PLAYS (2010, d. Kamen Kalev) ** 3/4
EASTERN PROMISES (2007, d. David Cronenberg) Stylized violence...best Mortensen tattoos since Indian Runner. *** 1/4
EASTON'S ARTICLE (2012, d. Tim Connery) ** 1/2
EASY A (2010, d. Will Gluck) Silly, unrealistic story of high school girl's self-sullied reputation. Moments of forced mirth with a couple of good perfs. Not enough. **
EASY MONEY (2012, d. Daniel Espinosa) Kinnaman is winning playing a handsome young student on the make; but film is a confusing & suspiciously unmotivated thriller ** 1/2
EASY MONEY (2011 d. Daniel Espinosa) ***
EASY VIRTUE (2008, d. Stephan Elliott) ***
EAT PRAY LOVE (2010, d. Ryan Murphy) Romantic & spiritual travelogue. Overlong; but the hot men, and Julia Roberts' charisma & emotional resonance work. ** 3/4
EAT SLEEP DIE (2013, d. Gabriela Pichler, Sweden) ** 1/4
EAT THAT QUESTION: FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS (2016, d. Thorsten Schütte) *** 1/2
EAT THIS NEW YORK (2004, d. Novack and Rossi) V. Pre-The Restaurant docu about building a neighborhood bistro in Brooklyn & the viscissitudes of the big NYC chefs. ***
EATING OUT 2: SLOPPY SECONDS (2006, d. Phillip Bartell) Funny gay farce, well acted with a fairly novel script. ** 3/4
EATING OUT (2004, d. Q. Allan Brocka) Sparkling, well cast lo-budget gay/straight sex farce. Emily Stiles' clever faghag steals the movie from some good looking guys. ** 3/4
EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT (2009, d. Glenn Gaylord) Clichéd gay romantic comedy; but sweet and sexy, albeit with mediocre, if attractive, actors. ** 1/2
EBAN AND CHARLIE (2002, d. James Bolton) ** 3/4
ECLIPSE, THE (2010, d. Conor McPherson) ** 1/2
ECUPID (2011, d. JC Calciano) A gay romcom about a failing 7-year relationship of breathtaking banality and technical incompetence. Attractive cast, anyway. 1/2*
EDEN IS WEST (Eden à l'ouest) (2009, d. Costa-Gavras) ** 3/4
EDEN (2008, d. Declan Recks) Intimate, disturbing, well played drama of a marriage troubled by the 10 year itch. ***
EDEN (2012, d. Megan Griffiths) *** 1/2
EDEN (2015, d. Mia Hansen-Love) *** 1/4
EDEN'S CURVE (2005, d. Anne Misawa) V. 1/2*
EDGE OF DEMOCRACY, THE (2019, d. Petra Costa) *** 1/2
EDGE OF HEAVEN, THE (2007, d. Fatih Akin; Germany) *** 3/4
EDGE OF LOVE, THE (2009, d. John Maybury) Fine cast, nice evocation of blitz England and arty circle doings; but turgid drama doesn't spark. ** 1/2
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN. THE (2017, d. Kelly Fremon Craig) *** 1/4
EDGE OF TOMORROW (2014, d. Doug Liman) *** 1/4
EDGE, THE (2010, d. Alexei Uchitel; Russia) ***
EDI (2003, d. Piotr Trzaskalski) Poland AFF Drama about a down and outer in present day Poland. ***
Edith+Eddie (2017, d. Laura Checkoway) *** 3/4
EDUART (2007, d. Angeliki Antoniou; Greece) *** 1/4
EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS, THE (2009, d. Fred Durst) Fascinating character study of nerd vs. charismatic sociopath (and Jason Ritter is amazing.) *** 1/4
EDUCATION OF GORE VIDAL, THE (2003, US doc. d. Deborah Dickson) Fine, intelligent documentary about Vidal through his words & work. *** 1/2
EDUCATION, AN (2009, d. Lone Scherfig) Superb '60s character study of a 16 yr. old English girl & her family who are seduced by an older, romantic roué. *** 3/4
EDUKATORS, THE (2005, d. Hans Weingartner) Gripping drama of 3 foolish young German revolutionaries & their caper gone wrong. *** 1/2
EDY (2006, d. Stephan Guérin-Tillié) Cool, noirish film about killer insurance scammers. ** 3/4
EFECTO IGUAZÚ, EL (2004, d. Pere Joan Ventura) Doc. about 1800 striking Spaniards who camped out in a Madrid shanty town for 6 months in 2001. *** 1/4
EFFIE GRAY (2015, d. Richard Laxton) ** 1/2
EGOISTE: LOTTI LATROUS (2007, d. Stephan Anspichler) Harrowing docu: Swiss nurse's AIDS hospice in Ivory Coast. ** 3/4
EIGHT BELOW (2006, d. Frank Marshall) Deserted dogs in the Antarctic winter do their thing. Pretty (Paul Walker especially), but vapid. ** 1/4
EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY (1) (2018, d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder) ** 3/4
EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY (2) (2018, d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder) *** 1/4
EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY (3) (2018, d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder) ***
EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY (4) (2018, d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder) *** 3/4
EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY (5) (2018, d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder) *** 1/2
EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER (18 anni dopo) (2010, d. Edoardo Leo) W/O
EIGHTH GRADE (2018, d. Bo Burnham) *** 1/2
EISENSTEIN IN GUANAJUATO (2015, d. Peter Greenaway) ** 3/4
EKLAVYA (2007, d. Vidhu Vinod Chopra; India) ***
EL ALAMEIN (2004, d. Enzo Monteleone) Spare and powerful story of Italian platoon on the losing side at the battle of El Alamein. ***
EL ÁNGEL (2018, Argentina, d. Luis Ortega) *** 1/2
EL BENNY (2007, d. Jorge Luis Sanchez) ** 3/4
EL BOLA (2012, d. Achero Mañas) V.+ Ultimate child physical abuse film, an important film, Spain's version of 400 Blows, with superb acting by the great Juan Ballesta.. *** 1/2
EL BOLA (2002, d. Achero Mañas) *** 1/2
EL CANTANTE (2007, d. Leon Ichaso) ** 3/4
ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME (2014, d. Chiemi Karasawa) ***
ELDORADO (2009, d. Bouli Lanners; Belgium) ** 3/4
ELDORADO (2018, d. Markus Imhoof) * 3/4
ELDRA (2003, d. Tim Lyn) UK AFF. Charming story about a young gypsy girl's coming of age. ***
ELECTION 2 (2006, d. Johnny To) ***
ELECTION (2006, d. Johnny To) ***
ELECTORAL DYSFUNCTION (2012, d. Deschamps, Farrell, Singer) V. POV docu lamenting voting system (incl. electoral college). Effective, tongue-in-cheek on-screen narration. *** 1/4
ELEGY (2008, d. Isabel Coixet) Superb acting by entire company, lovely, moving adult plot. Cruz should win actress Oscar. *** 3/4
ELELWANI (2014, South Africa, d. Ntshavheni wa Luruli) * 1/4
ELENA (2012, d. Andrey Zvyagintsev) ***
ELENA (2014, d. Petra Costa) W/O
ELEPHANT AND THE SEA, THE (2007, d. Woo Ming Jin) * 1/2
Elephant Whisperers, The (2022, doc. short, d. Kartiki Gonsalves) *** 3/4
ELEPHANT (2003, d. Gus Van Sant) I'm still reeling from the cumulative effect of this ephebiphile's dream. Shot amazingly like Le Fils, stomach churning ***
ELEVEN MEN OUT (2006, d. Róbert Douglas) Predictable troubles for Iceland gay soccer team. ** 1/4
Eleven O'Clock, The (2018, d. Derin Seale) ***
ELIÁN (2017, d. Tim Golden, Ross McDonnell) *** 3/4
ELINA (2004, d. Klaus Haro) Like Evil, a story of schooling in Sweden in the '50's, only this time a stubborn little girl vs. a stubborn teacher. Academy bait left me cold. ** 3/4
ELITE SQUAD 2: THE ENEMY WITHIN (2011, d. José Padilha, Brazil) ** 1/2
ELITE SQUAD (2008, d. José Padhila) *** 3/4
ELIZABETH I (2006, d. Tom Hooper) V. Historical epic, good but histrionic perf by Helen Mirren. Drama over historicity. ***
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE (2007, d. Shekhar Kapur) Bombastic, overdone, disappointing bodice ripper. ** 1/4
ELIZABETHTOWN (2005, d. Cameron Crowe) ** 3/4
ELLE S'APPELLE SABINE (2008, d. Sandrine Bonnaire) ***
ELLE (2016, d. Paul Verhoeven) *** 1/4
ELLE (2017, d. Paul Verhoeven) + ***
ELLIE PARKER (2005, d. Scott Coffey) Home movie quality video with a stupendous performance by Naomi Watts which lifts the film to watchability. ***
ELLING (2001, d. Petter Næss) *** 1/2
ELLIOT LOVES (2012, d. Terracino) Latino coming of age...9 yr. old Elliot & his single mother struggle; gay 21 yr. old Elliot searches for love. Fun, insightful, unstructured. ***
ELSA & FRED (2006, d. Marcos Carnevale) *** 3/4
ELSA & FRED (2014, d. Michael Radford) ** 3/4
ELVIS (2022, d. Baz Luhrmann) *** 1/4
ELYSIUM (2013, d. Neil Blomkamp) ** 1/4
EM (2008, d. Tony Barbieri) ** 3/4
EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT (Colombia) (2015, d. Ciro Guerra) ***
EMBRUJO DE SHANGHAI, EL (2003, d. Fernando Trueba) Drama of post-WWII in Barcelona from a teenage boy's pov. Pretty but confusing. **
EMMA (2009, d. Diamuid Lawrence, 1996) V. The Kate Beckinsale/BBC version. Not my favorite Austin story, but Andrew Davies' scenario quite good. ***
EMMA (2010, d. Jim O'Hanlon) V. Nicely done...yet another Austen adaptation; but ideal casting & gorgeous production got me involved. *** 1/4
EMMA (2021, d. Autumn de Wilde) ** 1/4
EMMANUEL JAL: WAR CHILD (2008, d. C. Karim Chrobog) ***
EMMA'S BLISS (2007, d. Sven Taddicken) *** 1/4
EMPEROR (2013, d. Peter Webber) ** 3/4
EMPEROR'S CLUB, THE (2002, d. Michael Hoffman) ** 1/2
EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, THE (2002, d. Alan Taylor) ** 1/4
EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE, THE (2000, d. Mark Dindal) **
EMPEROR'S WIFE, THE (2004, d. Julian Vrebos) Stylized modern dress story of court intrigue. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers charismatic as chancellor to Max Beesley's emperor. ** 1/2
EMPIRE (2002, d. Franc Reyes) ** 1/2
EMPIRE FALLS (2005, d. Fred Schepisi) V. HBO family saga of small town New England doings. Fine cast, sprawling, unfocused script. ** 3/4
EMPIRE OF LIGHT (2023, d. Sam Mendes) *** 1/4
EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE, THE (2022, Uruguay IFF, d. Manolo Nieto) *** 1/4
EMPTIES (2008, d. Jan Sverak) ***
EMPTY HOME, THE (2012, d. Nurbek Egen) ***
EMPTY HOME, THE (2012, d. Nurbek Egen, Kyrgyzstan) ***
EMPTY NEST (El Nido Vacio) (2008, d. Daniel Burman) ***
EN LA CAMA (2006, d. Matías Bize; Chile) *** 1/4
ENCANTO (2022, d. Byron Howard, Jared Bush) *** 1/4
ENCARNATION (2008, d. Anahi Berneri) ** 1/4
ENCHANTED (2007, d. Kevin Lima) Fun script, flaccid direction. Too bad Julie Taymore didn't get a chance with this script. ** 3/4
ENCLAVE (Serbia) (2015, d. Goran Radovanović) *** 1/2
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD (2009, d. Werner Herzog) + Fascinating docu footage of Antarctica & modern scientific explorers. *** 1/2
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD (2008, d. Werner Herzog) Fascinating footage of Antarctica & modern scientific explorers. *** 1/2
End Game (2018, d. Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman) ****
END OF LOVE, THE (2009, d. Simon Chung; Hong Kong) Mediocre digital film: story of young gay hustler/druggie involved with Christian sect. Nicely acted. ** 1/2
END OF THE CENTURY (2004, d. Fields & Gramaglia) V. The Ramone's were never my cuppa musicwise; but this informative, of uninspired docu about group digs deep. ***
END OF THE TOUR, THE (2015, d. James Ponsoldt) *** 1/2
END OF WATCH (2012, d. David Ayer) Superb revisit to the mean streets of S. Central L.A. by writer of Training Day. 2 cops, fabulous chemistry, best editing of the year. *** 3/4
ENDER'S GAME (2015, d. Gavin Hood) ++ ****
ENDER'S GAME (2013, d. Gavin Hood) ****
ENDER'S GAME (2014, d. Gavin Hood) + ****
ENDGAME (2010, d. Pete Travis) V. Fine, if very low key, historical semi-thriller about negotiations leading to end of Apartheid. Miller & Hurt are especially good. ***
ENDLESS POETRY (2017, d. Alejandro Jodorowsky) ** 3/4
ENDURING LOVE (2004, d. Roger Michell) Dynamite, kinetic opening leads to a story of divinely inspired romantic obsession. Daniel Craig is wonderful. *** 1/4
ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE (2010, d. Lemkin & Sambath) V. Vital, if turgid, docu of Cambodian killing fields from bottom up collected by man whose family died. ***
ENEMY AT THE GATES (2001, d. Jean-Jacques Annaud) ** 3/4
ENEMY (2014, d. Denis Villeneuve) ** 3/4
ENGLAND! (2001, d. Achem Von Borries) ***
ENIGMA (2002, d. Michael Apted) ** 3/4
Ennemis Intérieurs (2017, d. Sélim Azzazi) *** 1/2
ENNIO: THE MAESTRO (2021, d. Giuseppe Tornatore) ****
ENOUGH SAID (2013, d. Nicole Holofcener) ** 1/2
ENRICO MATTEI: THE MAN WHO LOOKED AT THE FUTURE (2010, d. Giorgio Capitani) ***
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (2006, d. Alex Gibney) V.Well made docu about complexity, maybe not as informative as it might have been.*** 1/4
ENTANGLEMENT (2017, d. Jason James) **
ENTER THE VOID (2010, d. Gaspar Noé) Tour de force doesn't come close to describing this amazing film which completely bowled me over. ****
ENTOURAGE (2015, d. Doug Ellin) ***
ENVY (2004, d. Barry Levinson) It started ok, clever with some good yuks. Black & Stiller are a great comedy team & Walken rules; but the film totally falls apart in 3rd act. **
ENZO AVITABILE: MUSIC LIFE (2013, d. Jonathan Demme) ** 3/4
EO (2023, Poland IFF, d. Jerzy Skolimowski) *** 1/4
EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF AN IRON PICKER, AN (2013, d. Danis Tanovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina) *** 3/4
EPITAFIOS (2006, d. Alberto Lecchi & Jorge Nisco) V. HBO miniseries à la SE7EN from Argentina. Literally the best tv series I've ever seen. ****
EQUAL MEANS EQUAL (2016, d. Kamala Lopez) *** 1/2
EQUALS (2016, d. Drake Doremus) ** 1/2
EQUATION TO AN UNKNOWN (Équation à un inconnu) (2022, d. Francis Savel) 1980 arty French gay porno. Needs editing and a real plot. * 3/4
ERAGON (2006, d. Stefen Fangmeier) It's supposed to be bad; but try as I might I couldn't fail to enjoy it...nicely paced, good f/x. ***
ERES MI HEROE (2004, d. Antonio Cuadri) Excellent coming of age story of 13 year old boy during the death of Franco era. Manuel Lozano is great as the kid. *** 1/2
ERIC CLAPTON: LIFE IN 12 BARS (2017, d. Lili Fini Zanuck) *** 1/2
ERIN BROKOVICH (2000, d. Steven Soderbergh) *** 1/4
ERNEST & CELESTINE (2014, d. Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, Benjamin Renner) ** 1/2
ERNIE & JOE: CRISIS COPS (2019, d. Jenifer McShane) *** 3/4
ERSKINEVILLE KINGS (2010, d. Alan White) V. Static '99 Aussi film about 2 brothers mourning their recently passed abusive dad. Hugh Jackman in early good form. ** 1/2
ESCAPE FIRE: THE FIGHT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE (2012, d. Frömke & Heineman) V. Important docu, covers too much ground but says what needs to be said. *** 1/2
ESCAPE ROOM (2017, d. Will Wernick) * 1/4
ESCAPE, THE (2009, d. Kathrine Windfeld) ***
ESCAPES (2017, d. Michael Almereyda) *** 1/2
ESTEROS (2017, d. Papu Curotto) * 3/4
ESTHER KAHN (2002, d. Arnaud Desplechin) *** 1/2
ÉTÉ SANS POINT NI COUP SUR, UN (A No-hit, No-run Summer) (2008, d. Francis Leclerc) ** 3/4
E-TEAM (2014, d. Katy Chevigny & Ross Kauffman) *** 1/4
ETERNAL MEMORY, THE (2023, Doc., d. Maite Alberdi) ** 3/4
ETERNAL ROAD, THE (2018, d. AJ Annila) *** 1/2
ETERNAL SUMMER (2007, d. Leste Chen and Patrick Mao Huang) * 3/4
ETERNAL SUMMER (2016, d. Andreas Öhman) *** 1/2
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004, d. Michel Gondry) Writing, acting, directing, f/x tour de force; also an affecting love story. ****
ETERNITY (2018, Peru, d. Oscar Catacora) ** 3/4
ETHAN MAO (2004, d. Quentin Lee) Involving drama in the Araki mode of a Gay Asian boy kicked out of home into life of street hustler. ** 3/4
ETHEL & ERNEST (2017, d. Roger Mainwood) *** 1/4
ETHEL (2012, d. Rory Kennedy) V. Emotionally devastating docu (at least for me) by RFK's youngest daughter featuring her mom & siblings plus a story more incredible than fiction. *** 1/2
EUGENE (2009, d.Jake Barsha) * 3/4
EULOGY (2004, d. Michael Clancy) A screwball family comedy with an outstanding cast, entertaining, but a ridiculous script and only intermittently funny. ** 1/4
EUPHORIA (Ejfroija) (2007, d. Ivan Vyrypaev) ** 1/2
EUREKA (2001, d. Shinji Aoyama) *** 1/4
EUROPA (2021, Iraq, d. Haider Rashid) *** 1/4
EVA HESSE (2016, d. Marcie Begleiter) *** 1/4
EVA NOVÁ (2016, Slovakia, d. Marko Skop) *** 1/4
EVAN ALMIGHTY (2007, d. Tom Shadyac) Good f/x money shot; but that's about it for this bloated, unfunny "comedy". **
EVELYN (2002, d. Bruce Beresford) ** 3/4
EVEN THE RAIN (También La Lluvia) (2010, d. Icíar Bollaín; Spain) *** 1/2
EVENING (2007, d. Lajos Koltai) *** 1/2
EVENT, THE (2003, Canada d. Thom Fitzgerald) Emotionally shattering AIDS drama about a sick man whose friends throw an assisted suicide party *** 1/4
EVEREST (2015, d. Baltasar Kormikur) *** 1/2
EVERGREEN (2004, d. Edid Zentelis) A low-budget Seattle HD video/film about a lower class girl who is ahamed of her family. Good acting. ** 1/4
EVERGREEN: THE ROAD TO LEGALIZATION IN WASHINGTON (2013, d. Riley Morton) *** 1/4
EVERLASTING MOMENTS (2008, d. Jan Troell; Sweden) ***
EVERY BLESSED DAY (2013, d. Paolo Virzi) *** 1/4
EVERY BODY (2023, Doc., d. Julie Cohen) *** 1/2
EVERY DAY (2010, d. Richard Levine) ** 3/4
EVERY LAST CHILD (2015, d. Tom Roberts) *** 1/2
EVERY LITTLE STEP (2009, d. James Stern & Adam Del Deo) Superb meta-docu (film about trying out for a musical about trying out). Riveting & emotional. *** 3/4
EVERY OTHER WEEK (2006, d. various) ** 3/4
EVERY SONG IS ABOUT ME (2011, d. Jonas Trueba) ***
EVERY STEWARDESS GOES TO HEAVEN (2002, d. Daniel Burman) ** 3/4
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! (2016, d. Richard Linklater) *** 1/4
EVERYBODY'S FAMOUS (2000, d. Dominique Deruddere) *** 1/4
EVERYBODY'S FINE (2009, d. Kirk Jones) I'm not a father; but DeNiro's situation is one that hit me with particular emotional wallop. Fine script, rings true, engrossing. *** 1/2
EVERYDAY PEOPLE (2004, d. Jim McKay) Pleasant enought HBO tv movie about a Brooklyn deli and the consequences of its closing. ** 3/4
EVERYONE ELSE (2009, d. Maren Ade) *** 1/4
EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE (2012, d. Tracy D. Smith) * 3/4
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (2023, d. Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan) *** 3/4
EVERYTHING IS COPY (2016, d. Jacob Bernstein) *** 3/4
EVERYTHING IS FINE (2008, d. Yves Fournier) ***
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED (2005, d. Liev Schreiber) ** 1/2
EVERYTHING STRANGE AND NEW (2009, d. Frazer Bradshaw) ***
EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE (2011, d. Christoffer Boe) ** 1/2
Everything Will Be Okay (2016, d. Patrick Volrath) *** 1/2
EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN (2006, d. Paul Fox) ** 3/4
EVIL (2004, d. Maiael Hafström) A 50's Swedish boarding school's sadistic system and its affect on a rebellious kid. A cross of If and Rebel Without a Cause. *** 1/2
EVIL (Ondskan) (2008, d. Mikael Håfström) V. + One of the best depictions of boarding school sadism ever filmed. *** 1/2
ÉVOCATEUR: THE MORTON DOWNEY JR. MOVIE (2013, d. Seth Kramer & Daniel A. Miller & Jeremy Newberger) *** 1/4
EVOLUTION OF A CRIMINAL (2014, d. Darius Clark Monroe) ** 3/4
Evolution of Verse (VR short film) (2016, d. Chris Milk) ****
EX DRUMMER (2007, d. Koen Mortier) * 1/4
EX LIBRIS: NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY (2017, d. Frederick Wiseman) *** 1/4
EX (2011, d. Heiward Mak) **
EX, THE (Jesse Peretz) Unfunny comedy. Braff and Bateman are worth admission; but the plot has holes & doesn't hold together. **
EXCEPTION, THE (2017, d. David Leveaux) **
EXCITED (2010, d. Bruce Sweeney) ***
EXCURSION (2023, d. Una Gunjak) ***
EXILED (2007, d. Johnny To) ** 1/4
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (2011 d. Banksy) + V. First time I was mystified, was this a mocumentary? Now I get it. Beautifully edited, entertaining docu. *** 3/4
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (2010, d. Banksy) Controversial docu about street art & L.A. hipster art scene. I had no idea all this was happening. *** 1/2
EXODUS: GODS AND GENERALS (2014, d. Ridley Scott) **
EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, THE (2005, d. Scott Derrickson) ** 3/4
EXPERIMENT, DAS (2001, d. Oliver Hirshbiegel) *** 1/2
EXPERIMENTER (2015, d. Michael Almereyda) *** 1/2
EXPIRATION DATE (2006, d. Rick Stevenson) ***
EXPIRED (2007, d. Cecilia Miniucchi) ** 1/2
EXPLICIT ILLS (2009, d. Mark Webber) Somewhat muddled continuity, but a quite moving anti-poverty drama with some memorable perfs. ***
EXPLODING GIRL, THE (2009, d. Bradley Rust Gray) *** 1/4
EXPORTING RAYMOND (2011, d. Philip Rosenthal) V. Brilliantly written & funny docu about Rosenthal's adventures adapting his tv series to Russian esprit. *** 3/4
EXTRA MAN, THE (2010, d. Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini) ** 1/4
EXTRACT (2009, d. Mike Judge) Often funny comedy with iconic Jason Bateman perf. Judge replaces biting edge satire with more traditional farce structure. *** 1/4
EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY PEOPLE (2017, d. Alan Govenar) ** 1/4
EXTRATERRESTRIAL (2011, d. Nacho Vigalondo) **
EXTREME OPS (2004, d. Christian Duguay)V. Silly, unlikely action film: extreme sports vs.Serbian terrorists. Good cast (Devon Sawa, Rupert Graves, Rufus Sewell) wasted. ** 1/4
EXTREME OPS (2002, d. Christian Duguay) ** 1/2
EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE (2011, d. Stephen Daldry) Unfilmable 9/11 novel saved by outstanding script, direction & one great kid actor. *** 1/2
Extremis (2016, short, d. Dan Krauss) *** 1/2
EYE FOR BEAUTY, AN (2015, d. Denys Arcand) *** 1/4
EYE IN THE SKY (2016, d. Gavin Hood) *** 1/2
EYE OF THE STORM (L'oeil du cyclone) (2016, d. Sékou Traoré) ***
EYE OF THE STORM, THE (2012, d. Fred Schepisi) ***
EYE, THE (2003, Thailand d. Danny & Oxide Pang) Horror film, not especially scary, blind woman cured with a corneal transplant who sees dead people. ** 1/2
EYES OF A THIEF (2014, Palestine, d. Najwa Najjar) ** 1/2
EYES OF TAMMY FAYE, THE (2022, d. Michael Showalter) *** 1/4
EYES WIDE OPEN (2010, d. Hair Tabakman) *** 1/4
F1GHTING LOOKS DIFFERENT 2 ME NOW (2023, Doc short, d. Fox Maxy) * 1/4
FABELMANS, THE (2023, d. Steven Spielberg) *** 3/4
FABULOUS ALLAN CARR, THE (2017, d. Jeffrey Schwartz) *** 1/2
FACE OF AN ANGEL, THE (2015, d. Michael Winterbottom) **
FACES PLACES (2017, d. JR and Agnes Varda) *** 3/4
Facility, The (Detención) (2021, doc short, d. Seth Freed Wessler) ****
FACING ALI (2010, d. Pete McKormack) Quite interesting docu featuring interviews with fighters who fought Muhammad Ali plus great boxing footage. *** 1/2
Facing Fear (2013, d. Jason Cohen) Doc short: former skinhead & the gay man that 25 yrs. ago he helped almost kill meet by chance & face past. Fine lesson. *** 1/4
FACING WINDOWS (2004, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) Resonant, multilevel story of a modern day couple who become involved with a Holocaust survivor. *** 1/4
FACTOTUM (2006, d. Bent Hamer) ** 3/4
FAHRENHEIT 11/9 (2018, d. Michael Moore) *** 3/4
FAHRENHEIT 9/11 (2004, d. Michael Moore) Slam dunk politically; but doc could be structured better for my taste. *** 1/4
FAILURE TO LAUNCH (2006, d. Tom Dey) Reasonably original romantic comedy...Justin Bartha should be given a leading role! ** 3/4
FAIR GAME (2011 d. Doug Liman) V. Taut true life story which nails the rot in the Bush/Chaney White House & infuriates. Watts & Penn excell as usual. *** 1/4
FAIR PLAY (2007, d. Lionel Bailliu) *** 1/4
FAIR PLAY (2014, Czech Republic, d. Andrea Sedlácková) *** 1/4
FAIRY TALE OF KATHMANDU (2008, d. Neasa Ni Chianain) **
FAKE TATTOOS (2018, d. Pascal Plante) *** 1/2
FALKENBERG FAREWELL (2006, d. Jesper Ganslandt; Sweden) **
FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE, THE (2019, d. Denys Arcand) *** 1/4
FALL, THE (2008, d. Tarsem Singh) ** 3/4
FALLEN GODS (2009, d. Ernesto Daranas; Cuba) * 3/4
FALLEN (2006, d. Mikael Salomon) V. Good TV movie with series possibilities. ** 3/4
FALLING (2018, d. Marina Stepanska) *** 1/2
FALLS, THE (2016, d. Jon Garcia) *** 1/2
FALLS, THE: COVENANT OF GRACE (2017, d. Jon Garcia) ** 3/4
FALLS, THE: TESTAMENT OF LOVE (2017, d. Jon Garcia) ** 3/4
FAME (2009, d. Kevin Tanchardoen) The cast is attractive and talented, the singing & dancing well done. Too bad there was no real story. Greatly inferior to the original. ** 3/4
FAME HIGH (2012, d. Scott Kennedy) V. True life Fame. Follows 4 performing h.s.students at L.A. County Arts thru a year (and beyond). Nice choice of subjects, & heartening. *** 1/2
FAMILY FILM (2016, d. Olmo Omerzu) ** 3/4
FAMILY FIRST (Chien de garde) (2018, Canada, d. Sophie Dupuis) ** 1/4
FAMILY FRIEND (L'Amico di Famiglia) (2007, d. Paolo Sorrentino) W/O
FAMILY HERO (Le héros de la famille) (2007, d. Thierry Klifa) ** 3/4
FAMILY HOUSE, THE (La casa di famiglia) (2018, d. Augusto Fornari) ** 3/4
FAMILY IN TRANSITION (Mishpakha BiTrans) (2018, d. Ofir Trainin) *** 1/2
FAMILY LAW (2006, d. Daniel Burman; Argentina) *** 1/2
FAMILY MAN, THE (2000, d. Brett Ratner) **
FAMILY STONE, THE (2005, d. Thomas Bezucha) ** 1/2
FAMILY TIES (2006, d. Kim Tae-yang) ** 1/2
FAMILY TREE (L'Arbre et la foret) (2011 d. Ducastel & Martineau) ***
FAMILY TREE, THE (2010, d. Vivi Friedman) ***
FAMILY UNITED (2014, d. Daniel Sánchez Arévalo) *** 1/2
FAMILY, A (2010, d. Pernille Fischer Christensen) *** 1/2
FAMILY, THE (2013, d. Luc Bresson) ***
FAMILY, THE (2018, Venezuela, d. Gustavo Randón Córdova) *** 1/4
FANNY (2014, d. Daniel Auteuil) *** 3/4
FANTASIA/2000 (2000, d. Committee) ***
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM (2016, d. David Yates) **
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (2018, d. David Yates) * 1/4
FANTASTIC FOUR (2005, d. Tim Story) Fun, if silly super-character comic story. Chris Evans is a star. ** 3/4
FANTASTIC MR. FOX, THE (2010, d. Wes Anderson) It must just be me; but the whimsey escaped me, the characters annoyed, it all seemed a little silly. ** 1/4
FANTASTIC PARASUICIDES (Fantastic Ja-sal-so-dong) (2008, d. Kim, Park & Jo) ** 3/4
FANTASTIC WOMAN, A (2017, Chile, d. Sebastián Lelio) *** 3/4
FANTASTICKS, THE (2000, d. Michael Ritchie) [1995] ** 1/4
FAQS (2006, d. Everett Lewis) Militantly gay romance. Fine performance by perky newcomer Joe Lia. Oddly, I enjoyed this terribly written & shot digital film. * 3/4
FAR FROM HEAVEN (2002, d. Todd Haynes) *** 1/2
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (2015, d. Thomas Vinterberg) *** 1/2
FAR OUT ISN'T FAR ENOUGH: THE TOMI UNGERER STORY (2013, d. Brad Bernstein) *** 3/4
FAR SIDE OF THE MOON (2005, d. Robert Lepage) Quirky comedy based on 1-man play. Lepage plays 2 leading roles & he must be an acquired taste that I don't share. **
FAREWELL (L'Affaire Farewell) (2010, d. Christian Carion) *** 1/4
FAREWELL BAGHDAD (2010, d. Mehdi Naderi; Iran) *
FAREWELL PARTY, THE (Mita Tova) (2015, d. Tal Granit, Sharon Maymon) ***
FAREWELL TO HOLLYWOOD (2015, d. Henry Corra & Regina Nicholson) *** 1/4
FAREWELL, THE (2019, d. Lulu Wang) *** 1/2
FARSAN (2010, d. Josef Fares) ***
FARTHEST THE (2017, d. Emer Reynolds) *** 3/4
FASHION VICTIMS (2008, d. Ingo Rasper) Intermittently funny & clever German farce: two dress salesmen battle. ** 3/4
FAST AND FURIOUS (2009, d. Justin Lin) Testosterone soaked film with some nicely edited & conceived auto stunts; but ridiculous and predictable script. ** 1/2
FAST AND THE FURIOUS, THE (2001, d. Rob Cohen) *** 1/2
FAST CONVOY (Le convoi) (2016, d. Frédéric Schoendoerffer) **
FAST FIVE (2011, d. Justin Lin)
FAST FOOD NATION (2008, d. Richard Linklater) Exploited Mexicans, slaughtered cattle, great cast, tough sell! ***
Fast Horse (2019, doc short, d. Alexandra Lazarowich) ** 1/2
FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS (2014, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) *** 1/4
FAT GIRL (À ma soeur) (2001, d. Catherine Breillat) *** 1/2
FAT GIRLS (2006, d. Ash Christian) Inventive if juvenile gay comedy by a talented writer/director. ** 1/2
FAT KID RULES THE WORLD (2012, d. Matthew Lillard) *** 1/4
FATAL (2013, d. Lee Don-ku) ***
FATE AS A RAT (2001, d. Ivan Pavlov) * 1/2
FATELESS (Sorstalanság) (2005, d. Lajos Koltai; Hugary) *** 3/4
FATHER & SONS (2004, d. Michael Boujenah) A feel good, amusing French comedy road picture about a father and his squabbling sons. Beautifully acted. ***
FATHER (2011 d. Pasquale Squitieri) **
FATHER AND SON (2012, d. Aleksandr Sokurov) V. Can't decipher a story from this beautifully shot film. But the guys are lovely to watch even if one ignores the homoeroticism. ***
FATHER AND SON (2017, Vietnam, d. Luong Dinh Dung) ** 3/4
FATHER OF MY CHILDREN, THE (2010, d. Mia Hansen-Løve) ** 3/4
FATHER, A SON, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, A (2004, d. Lee Grant) V. Insider docu about Kirk and Michael Douglas, interesting but not great. ** 3/4
FATHER, THE (2021, d. Florian Zeller) *** 1/4
FATHERS AND SONS (2005, d. various) V. ** 3/4
FAUBOURG 36 (2008, d. Christophe Barratier) ** 3/4
FAULT IN OUR STARS, THE (2014, d. Josh Boone) *** 1/2
Fauve (2019, d. Jérémy Comte) Oscar nominated fiction short film. *** 1/4
FAVELA RISING (2005, d. Mattt Mochary, Jeff Zimbalest; docu) V. ***
FAVOR, THE (2008, d. Eva Eridjis) Fine lost indie film with interesting perfs by Frank Woods & Ryan Donowho ***
FAVOURITE, THE (2018, d. Yorgos Lanthimos) *** 1/2
FAY GRIM (2007, d. Hal Hartley) Wildly uneven comedy/thriller. Posey is fine, but writing not up to former Hartley films. ** 3/4
FAYA DAYI (2021, d. Jessica Beshir) **
FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS (2003, d. Terry Gilliam) V. Like watching a lurid train wreck & almost needing to turn away. Depp & del Toro are amazing. **
FEAR AND TREMBLING (2004, d. Alain Corneau) A fascinating French office film set in a Japanese office. Sylvie Testud is wonderful. *** 1/4
FEAR ME NOT (2009, d. Kristian Levring) ** 3/4
Fear Us Women (2017, d. David Darg) *** 1/2; Canadian woman fighting with YPJ Kurds against ISIS. Touching, low key doc.; narrated by committed sniper.
FEAST OF LOVE (2007, d. Robert Benton) Emotionally affecting; but I need to read the book, which is obviously richer. ***
FEATHER (2017, d. Roan Johnson) ***
FEATHERS IN MY HEAD (2004, d. Thomas de Thier) Compelling, beautifully shot film about a family torn by the consequences of a missing child. ***
FED UP (2014, d. Stephanie Soechtig) *** 3/4
FEELING FACTORY, THE (La Fabrique des sentiments) (2008, d. Jean-Marc Moutout) V. ** 1/2
FEELING MINNESOTA (2004, d. Steven Baigelman)V. '96 Keanu Reeves/Cameron Diaz screwball dumb guy/bad girl comedy. Watchable, but ridiculous plot. **
Feeling Through (2021, d. Doug Roland) Homeless teenager helps blind/deaf man on NYC streets. *** 1/4
FELIX AND LOLA (2001, d. Patrice Leconte) **
FELIX AND MEIRA (Canada) (2015, d. Maxime Giroux) *** 1/4
FEMALE AGENTS (Les Femmes de l'ombre) (2008, d. Jean-Paul Salomé) ** 1/2
FEMME DE GILLES, LA (2005, d. Frédéric Fonteyne) Formally terrific, if slow, drama about a laborer obsessed by his plain wife's beautiful sister. Emmanuel Devos rules. ***
FEMME FATALE (2002, d. Brian De Palma) *** 1/4
FENCER , THE (Finland) (2015, d. Klaus Härö) *** 1/2
FENCES (2016, d. Denzel Washington) ** 3/4
Feral (2014, d. Daniel Sousa) * 1/4
FERDINAND (2018, d. Carlos Saldanha) ** 1/4
FERMAT'S ROOM (2010, d. Piedrahita & Sopeña) V. Overly intellectualized Spanish thriller like Intacto: 4 people trapped in a room forced to solve enigmas or die. ** 3/4
FERMENTED (2017, d. Jonathan Cianfrani) ***
FERPECT CRIME (2004, d. Alex de la Iglesia) Another zany film by Iglesia, high gloss comedy about a Lothario salesman's comeuppence. Good fun, but a trifle obvious. ** 3/4
FESTIVAL EXPRESS (2004, d. Bob Smeaton) Wonderful footage of 1970 rock festival train across Canada. Great The Band & Janis performances. *** 1/2
FEVER OF '57 (2007, d. David Hoffman) *** 1/4
FEVER PITCH (2005, d. Farrelli Bros.) Gets everything right in a delightful romantic comedy. Fallon is a star in the Hanks mode. *** 1/4
FEVER, THE (La Febbre) (2008, d. Alessandro d'Alatri) *** 1/4
FEW CUBIC METERS OF LOVE, A (2014, Afghanistan, d. Jamshid Mahmoudi) *** 1/2
FEW DAYS IN SEPTEMBER, A (2010, d. Santiago Amigorena) V. Subtle French conspiracy thriller based around 9/11. Food for thought, but thin gruel. ** 3/4
FEW DAYS OF RESPITE, A (Quelque jours de répit) (2011, d. Amor Hakkar) A gay, Franco/Irani version of A Better Life, slow, arty, lovely, sad. ***
FEW HOURS OF SPRING, A (Quelques Heures de printemps) (2013, d. Stéphane Brizé) ***
FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES (2019, d. Max Lewkowicz) *** 3/4
FIDEL (2004, d. David Attwood)V. TV mini-series biopic of the Cuban revolution...diffuse script, but good performances by Victor Martin and, of course, Gael Bernal as Che. ** 1/4
FIELDS OF FUEL (2008, d. Josh Tickell) *** 3/4
FIFTEEN MINUTES (2001, d. John Herzfeld) ***
FIFTH ESTATE, THE (2013, d. Bill Condon) * 1/4
FIFTH SEASON, THE (2013, d. Peter Brosens, Jessica Hope Woodworth) ***
FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING (2008, d. Kari Skogland) ***
FIFTY PILLS (2008, d. Theo Avgerinos) V. Monumentally stupid film; but Lou Pucci is my type of leading man. * 1/4
FIG TREES (2009, d. John Greyson) ** 3/4
FIGHT CHURCH (2014, d. Daniel Junge, Bryan Storkel) **
FIGHT TO THE FINISH: STORIES OF POLIO, A (2001, d. Ken Mandel) ** 1/2
FIGHTER PILOT: OPERATION RED FLAG (2005, d. Stephen Low) V. ** 3/4
FIGHTER, THE (2010, d. David O. Russell) Perfect ensemble acting (Bale, Leo, Adams spectacular) combined with a script which built slowly but powerfully. *** 1/2
FIGHTING (2009, d. Dito Montiel) Clichés abound & Montiel's mis-en-scène just seems confused. Tatum isn't a convincing actor; but he sure looks the part. ** 1/4
FILL THE VOID (2012, d. Rama Burshtein, Israel) *** 1/2
FILM CRITIC, THE (2015, d. Hernán Guerschuny) ** 1/2
FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL (2017, d. Paul McGuigan) *** 3/4
FILM UNFINISHED, A (2010, d. Yael Hersonski) V. No end to vital & important Holocaust films with something new: here German docu footage of '42 Warsaw Ghetto. *** 3/4
FILME FALADO, UM (2003, d. Manoel de Oliveira) Travelogue cum philosophical meditation on feminism and language. Interesting, if unsatisfying. ** 1/2
FILMWORKER (2018, d. Tony Zierra) *** 1/2
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS (Bouquet final) (2009, d. Michel Delgado) ** 3/4
FINAL CUT, THE (2004, d. Omar Nïam) Unsatisfying, psychological sci-fi melodrama about saving memories. Poor Robin Williams comes a cropper again. **
FINAL DESTINATION 3 (2007, d. James Wong) V. Surprisingly stylish horror thriller; but when Jesse Moss was killed off I bailed. W/O
FINAL DESTINATION (2000, d. James Wong) * 1/2
FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN (2001, d. Hironobu Sakaguchi) **
FINAL MEMBER, THE (2013, d. Jonah Bekor, Zach Math) *** 1/4
FINAL PORTRAIT (2018, d. Stanley Tucci) W/O
FINAL RECIPE (2014, d. Gina Kim) *** 1/2
FINAL YEAR, THE (2017, d. Greg Barker) *** 3/4
FINAL (2001, d. Campbell Scott) ***
FINDERS FEE (2001, d. Jeff Probst) ***
FINDERS KEEPERS (2015, d. Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel) *** 1/4
FINDING AMANDA (2008, d. Peter Tolan) Faintly amusing dramady...witty about the tv game, but the rest not so good. ** 1/4
FINDING BLISS (2009, d. Julia Davis) ** 1/2
FINDING FARIDEH (2019, Iran, d. Azadeh Moussavi, Kourosh Ataee) *** 3/4
FINDING FELA (2014, d. Alex Gibney) ***
FINDING FORRESTER (2000, d. Gus Van Sant) ***
FINDING KUKAN (2017, d. Robin Lung) *** 1/4
FINDING NEMO (2003, d. Andrew Stanton) Another engaging Pixar/Disney film with superb 3-D animation but a fairly simplistic plot. 3/4 (REV. * 1/4)
FINDING NEVERLAND (2004, d. Marc Forster) Emotionally powerful, unlikely romantic film based on J.M. Barrie's life. Depp is outstanding in a muted perf. ***
FINDING OSCAR (2017, d. Ryan Suffern) ** 1/2
FINDING VIVIAN MAIER (2014, d. John Maloof and Charlie Siskel) *** 1/2
FINE DEAD GIRLS (2002, d. Dalibor Matanic) *** 1/2
FIORETTA (2023, Doc., d. Matthew Mishory) ****
FIRE AT SEA (2016, Italy, d. Gianfranco Rosi) ** 3/4
FIRE IN BABYLON (2011, d. Steven Riley) * 3/4
Fire in Paradise (2019, doc short, d. Zackary Canepari, Drea Cooper) ****
FIRE IN THE BLOOD (2013, d. Dylan Mohan Gray) ** 1/2
Fire Mouth (Boca de Fogo) (2017, d. Luciano Pérez Fernández) 1/2* Brazilian doc. short: follows announcers of small town soccer team. Unwatchable.
FIRE OF CONSCIENCE (2011, d. Dante Lam) ** 1/2
FIRE OF LOVE (2022, d. Sara Dosa) *** 1/2
FIREDANCER (2002, d. Jawed Wassel) 1/2*
FIREFLY DREAMS (2002, d. John Williams) **
FIRESTORM (2014, d. Alan Yuen) ***
FIRM LAND, THE (2009, d. Chapour Haghighat) * 1/4
FIRST $20 MILLION IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST, THE (2002, d. Mick Jackson) ***
FIRST BEAUTIFUL THING, THE (2010, d. Paolo Virzi; Italy) *** 3/4
FIRST COMES LOVE (2013, d. Nina Davenport) *** 1/2
FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED (2013, d. Alan Berliner) *** 1/2
FIRST COW (2021, d. Kelly Reichardt) *** 1/4
FIRST DAUGHTER (2004, d. Forest Whitaker) Utterly predictable, slick romantic comedy. I like Marc Blucas; but Katie Holms is awfully plastic. * 1/2
FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (Le premier jour du reste de ta vie) (2009, d. Rémi Bezançon) *** 3/4
FIRST GRADER, THE (2011, d. Justin Chadwick) ***
FIRST MAN (2018, d. Damien Chazelle) *** 1/4
FIRST MONDAY IN MAY, THE (2016, d. Adrew Rossi) ** 1/4
FIRST NIGHT, THE (2004, d. Luis Restrepo) Columbian AFF about the uprooting effects of a local rebellion on a rural family. Somewhat overamped, but moving. ** 1/2
FIRST ON THE LIST, THE (2012, d. Roan Johnson) ***
FIRST POSITION (2012, d. Bess Kargman) V. Emotionally satisfying docu of young ballet student dancers. Familiar format; but well chosen subjects & nice editing. *** 1/2
FIRST REFORMED (2018, d. Paul Schrader) *** 1/2
FIRST SNOW (2007, d. Mark Fergus) Pedestrian, twisty Amer. Indy with a great Guy Pearce perf.** 3/4
FIRST SNOWFALL (2014, d. Andrea Segre) ***
First Step, The (Le premier pas) (2015, d. Vanessa Clément) short film **
FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER (2017, d. Angelina Jolie) **
FIRST TIME I WAS TWENTY, THE (2005, d. Lorraine Lévy) Enormously entertaining coming of age in mid '60s of a portly girl jazz musician. *** 1/2
FIRST TIME, THE (2012, d. Jonathan Kasdan) ** 1/2
FIRST WAVE, THE (2021, d. Matthew Heineman) *** 1/2
FISH DREAMS (2007, d. Kiril Mikhanovsky) ** 1/2
FISH TANK (2010, d. Andrea Arnold) 15 yr.old girl's coming of age in lower class Brit family. Michael Fassbender impressive as mom's boyfriend who crosses line. *** 1/4
FISTS IN THE POCKET (2011 d. Marco Bellocchio) *** 1/2
FIT (2010, d. Rikke Beadle-Blair) *** 1/4
FIVE DANCES (2013, d. Alan Brown) *** 1/2
FIVE DAY LOVER (L'Amant de cinq jours) (2015, d. Philippe de Broca) ***
FIVE DAYS IN SEPTEMBER (2006, d. Barbara Sweete) ****
FIVE FEET APART (2019, d. Justin Baldoni) *** 1/4
FIVE FINGERS (2012, d. Laurence Malkin) V. Interesting STV rendition flick, Ryan Phillippe vs. Laurence Fishburne in a political terrorist battle of wits. *** 1/4
FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN (2009, d. Oliver Hirschbiegel) Moral Dilemmas 'R Us. Reconciliation in N. Ireland with 2 great performances, esp. James Nesbitt. *** 1/4
FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS, THE (2004, d. Lars von Trier, Jorgen Leth) Von Trier as tyrant making Leth redo his seminal short 5 times. Both boring & interesting. ** 1/2
FIVE SENSES, THE (2000, d. Jeremy Podeswa) ** 3/4
FIVE STAR LIFE, A (2014, d. Maria Sole Tognazzi) *** 1/2
FIVE STAR (2014, d. Keith Miller) ** 3/4
FIXEUR (2017, Romania, d. Adrian Sitaru) *** 1/4
Flagmakers, The (2023, doc. short, d. Cynthia Wade,Sharon Liese) *** 1/4
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (2006, d. Clint Eastwood) Overly complex; but moving despite. Spectacular action direction. *** 1/4
FLAME & CITRON (Flammen & Citronen) (2008, d. Ole Christian Madsen) ***
FLAQUEZA DEL BOLCHEVIQUE, LA (2004, d. Manuel Cuenca) Luis Tosar shines again as conflicted man who gets involved with teenage girl. ** 3/4
FLAT, THE (2012, d. Arnon Goldfinger) V. Disturbing, think piece docu: 3rd generation Israeli explores his deceased German expat grandparent's relationship with (maybe?) high ranking Nazi. *** 1/2
FLATS, THE (2002, d. Kelly and Tyler Requa) *** 1/4
FLEE (Flugt) (2021, Denmark, d. Jonas Poher Rasmussen) ****
FLEEING BY NIGHT (2001, d. Hsu Li-kong & Yin Chi) *** 1/4
FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE (2023, limited TV series, d. various) ****
FLEUR DU MAL, LA (2007, d. Claude Chabrol)V.+ Incestuous hijinx among the French bourgeoisie. Cool & intriguing. ***
FLICK (2000, d. Fintan Connolly) ***
FLICKER (2013, d. Patrik Eklund) *** 1/4
FLICKERING LIGHTS (2003, d. Anders T. Jensen) Clever Danish caper film about gang who can't shoot straight trying to go straight. ***
FLICKERING TRUTH, A (2016, New Zealand, d. Pietra Brettkelly) ** 1/2
FLIGHT (2012, d. Robert Zemeckis) *** 1/2
FLIGHT TO FREEDOM (Fuga per la libertà) (2009, d. Carlo Carlei) ** 1/2
FLIGHTPLAN (2005, d. Robert Schwentke) ** 3/4
FLIPPED (2010, d. Rob Reiner) For once omnipresent narration works. Loved the films dual POV structure. Emotionally satisfying and fun whitebread kiddie romcom. *** 1/4
FLOOD (2007, d. Tony Mitchell) V. Tacky, convincing British disaster drama about 1,000 year flood of London. ** 1/4
FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS (2016, d. Stephen Frears) ***
FLORIDA PROJECT, THE (2017, d. Sean Baker) ***
FLOWER OF EVIL, THE (2003, d. Claude Chabrol) Skewering the haut bourgeoisie, a winner. Magimel is sexiest actor alive and Suzanne Flon magnificent! *** 1/4
FLOWERS (Spain) (2015, d. Jon Garano, Jose Mari Goenega) *** 1/4
FLOWERS OF WAR, THE (2011, d. Zhang Yimou, China) ** 1/4
FLOYD NORMAN: AN ANIMATED LIFE (2016, d. Flore & Frik Sharkey) ***
FLUFFER, THE (2001, d. Richard Glatzer & Wash West) ***
FLYBOYS (2006, d. Tony Bill) Astoundingly good aerial f/x. Utterly predictable, lame script. James Franco fine, as usual. ** 1/2
FLYING FISH (2011, d. Sanjeewa Pushpakummara) 1/2*
Flying Sailor, The (2023, anim. short, d. Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby) ***
FLYING SCOTSMAN, THE (2007, d. Douglas Mackinnon) Jonny Lee Miller & Billy Boyd are good; but film predictable sports bio. ** 1/4
FOCUS (2001, d. Neal Slavin) ** 1/2
FOG OF WAR, THE (2004, d. Errol Moris) More than a talking head doc, the film is a valuable primer on the responsibilities of leadership and frailty of human nature. *** 1/2
FÖGI IS A BASTARD (2012, d. Marcel Gisler) V. Finally watched the DVD of my all-time #1 gay film and it still blows my mind! Honest, unsparing, sexy. *** 3/4
FOLLOW ME:THE YONI NETANYAHO STORY (2012, d. Gruber & Pinchot) V. Fine, emotional if undistinguished bio-docu with weird structure which detracts. ** 3/4
FOOD CHAINS (2014, d. Sanjay Rawal) ** 1/2
FOOD EVOLUTION (2017, d. Scott Hamilton Kennedy) *** 3/4
FOOD INC (2009, d. Robert Kenner) ** 1/2
FOOD OF LOVE (2002, d. Ventura Pons) ***
Fools, Gold (2021, short, d. Jim Allison) ** 3/4
FOOTLOOSE (2011, d. Craig Brewer) Why make this film? It has retro feel of '80s no different from orig. Lead actor can dance; but has no charisma. * 3/4
FOOTNOTE (2011, d. Joseph Cedar, Israel) *** 3/4
FOOTNOTES (2017, d. Kostia Testut, Paul Calori) * 1/4
FOR A MOMENT FREEDOM (2010, d. Arash T. Riahi; Austria) *** 1/2
FOR NO GOOD REASON (2013, d. Charlie Paul) ***
FOR SAMA (2019, d. Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts) ****
FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO (2007, d. Daniel Karslake) *** 3/4
FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS (2010, d. Oskar Santos) *** 1/4
FORASTERS (2009, d. Ventura Pons) ** 3/4
FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, THE (2008, d. Rob Minkoff) Angarino is good, action direction ok; but too predictible. ** 1/2
FORCE MAJEURE (2014, Sweden, d. Ruben Östlund) *** 1/2
FORD V FERRARI (2019, d. James Mangold) *** 1/2
FORECASTER, THE (2015, d. Marcus Vetter) ** 1/2
FOREST (2003, d. Benedek Fliegauf) Boring, pretentious ordeal of a film...7 droning vignettes vaguely connected by people's proximity in a shopping mall. *
FOREVER ENTHRALLED (2009, d. Chen Kaige) ** 1/2
FOREVER FLOWS (2007, d. Abu Sayeed; Bangladesh) **
FOREVERLAND (2012, d. Maxwell McGuire) *** 1/4
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL (2008, d. Nicholas Stollar) Sweet & surprisingly smart comedy . *** 1/4
FORGIVEN (2006, d. Paul Fitzgerald) ***
FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD, THE (2012, d. Joshua Marston) Slow developing, involving story of Albanian teen boy caught up in fatal family feud. *** 1/4
FORGOTTEN KINGDOM, THE (2013, d. Andrew Mudge) **
FORGOTTEN WOMAN, THE (2008, d. Dilip Mehta) Docu based on plight of widows in India (non-fiction version of Water). Intrinsically horrifying; but film meanders. ***
FORGOTTEN (2014, Bolivia, d. Carlos Bolado) ***
FORGOTTEN, THE (2004, d. Joseph Rubin) Eerie, scary psychological sci-fi melodrama about losing memories, very effectively filmmaking. Julianne Morre simply great. *** 1/4
FORMULA 17 (2004, d. D.J. & Yin-Jung Cheng) V. Silly gay Taiwanese comedy with lavish photography, but dreadful acting and line readings. * 3/4
FORSYTE SAGA, THE: TO LET (2004, d. Andy Wilson) V. Incredibly involving 5 hour followup to original. Glorious production, superb acting. ****
FORTAPASC (2010, d. Marco Risi) ** 3/4
FORTRESS (2008, d.Shamil Nacafzada; Azerbaijan) * 1/2
FORTRESS, THE (2009, d. Fernand Melgar) ** 1/2
FORTY SHADE OF BLUE (2005, d. Ira Sachs) ***
FOSTER BOY, THE (2013, d. Markus Imboden) *** 1/2
FOSTER CHILD (2008, d. Brilliante Mendoza) ** 3/4
FOSTER (2019, d. Mark Jonathan Harris) *** 3/4
FOUNTAIN, THE (2006, d. Darren Aronofsky) Pretentious & arty. Jackman & Weisz and f/x are great, but script annoyingly obscure. ** 1/4
FOUR (2021, d. Joshua Sanchez) ** 3/4
FOUR BOXES (2009, d. Wyatt McDill) ***
FOUR BROTHERS (2005, d. John Singleton) * 1/2
FOUR CORNERS (2013, d. Ian Gabriel, South Africa) ** 1/4
FOUR DAUGHTERS (2013, d. Michael Curtiz) ** 1/2
FOUR DAUGHTERS (2023, Doc. d. Kaouther Ben Hania) ***
FOUR DOGS PLAYING POKER (2000, d. Paul Rachman) 1/2*
FOUR FEATHERS, THE (2002, d. Shekhar Kapur) **
FOUR LETTER WORD, A (2012, d. Caspar Andreas) V. Glossy, superficial gay film which explores issues of love in NYC. Cliched acting; but director Andreas has style. ** 1/4
FOUR MINUTES (2006, d. Chris Kraus) *** 1/4
FOUR MORE YEARS (2011, d. Tova Magnusson-Norling) *** 1/2
FOUR SOULS OF A COYOTE (2023, Hungary, d. Áron Gauder) *** 1/4
FOUR STARS (2006, d. Christian Vincent) ** 1/4
FOUR SUNS (2012, d. Bohdan Sláma) ** 1/2
FOUR WINDOWS (Vier Fenster) (2012, d. Christian Müller) V. Parallel day in lives of bourgeois German family of 4. Hidden quirks the point; but too slow & opaque. ** 1/2
FOURTH ESTATE, THE (2018, TV series, d. Liz Garbus, Jenny Carchman) ****
FOURTH STATE, THE (2012, d. Dennis Gansel) *** 1/2
FOXCATCHER (2014, d. Bennett Miller) *** 1/4
FOXTROT (2017, Israel, d. Samuel Maoz) *** 1/2
FRACTURE (2007, d. Gregory Hoblit) Clever story, acting tour de force. Gosling is a star. *** 1/4
FRAILTY (2002, d. Bill Paxton) ***
Frame 394 (2016, short, d. Rich Williamson) *** 1/2
FRAME BY FRAME (2015, d. Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli) ** 3/4
FRAMED (2003, d. Daniel Petrie, Jr.) (V.) TNT tv movie about NYC cop (Rob Lowe) vs. classy mob squealer (Sam Neill). Predictable. * 1/2
FRAMING AGNES (2022, d. Chase Joynt) *** 1/4
FRANCE BOUTIQUE (2004, d. Tonie Marshall) Fast paced but empty comedy about the people doing a French cable tv shopping channel. **
FRANCES HA (2013, d. Noah Baumbach) ***
FRANCOFONIA (2016, d. Alexander Sokurov) W/O
FRANK AND LOLA (2016, d. Matthew Ross) **
FRANK MILLER'S SIN CITY (2005, d. Robert Rodriguez) Super stylish pop-art graphic novel the way it should be filmed. But I was bored. ** 1/2
FRANK THE RAT (2009, d. Jim Cozza) *** 1/4
FRANK (2014, d. Lenny Abrahamson) **
FRANKENWEENIE (2013, d. Tim Burton) V. ** 1/4
FRANKIE AND ALICE (2010, d. Geoffrey Sax) Split personality story told much better before. Halle Berry's acting seemed calculated as Oscar bait. * 3/4
FRANTZ (2017, d. François Ozon) *** 3/4
FREAKS & GEEKS: THE DOCUMENTARY (2018, d. Brent Hodge) ****
FREAKY FRIDAY (2003, d. Mark Waters) Enjoyable, but empty change-of-identity comedy with some nice acting by Jamie Lee Curtis & Lindsay Lohan. ** 1/2
FREDDY GOT FINGERED (2001, d. Tom Green) *
FREE AND EASY (2017, d. Jun Geng) ** 1/4
FREE ANGELA AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS (2013, d. Shola Lynch) *** 1/2
FREE CHINA: THE COURAGE TO BELIEVE (2013, d. Michael Perlman) * 1/4
FREE CHOL SOO LEE (2022, d. Eugene Yi, Julie Ha) *** 1/2
FREE FALL (2013, d. Stephan Lacant) *** 1/2
FREE GUY (2022, d. Shawn Levy) ** 3/4
FREE RADICALS (2003, d. Barbara Albert) Interconneced year-in-the-life story of capricious fate. Confusingly written and edited, but nicely directed. ** 3/4
FREE RANGE (2013, d. Veiko Ounpuu, Estonia) 3/4*
FREE SOLO (2018 d. Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Viasarhelyi) ****
FREE SOLO (2019, d. Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi) + ****
FREE THE MIND (2013, d. Phie Ambo) ** 1/2
FREE WORLD, THE (2016, d. Jason Lew) ***
FREEBIE, THE (2010, d. Katie Aselton) ** 3/4
FREEDOM RIDERS (2010, d. Stanley Nelson) V. Ultimately involving, uplifting docu about '61 bus riders to South who broke Jim Crow. Why wasn't I one?! *** 1/4
FREEDOM TO MARRY, THE (2017, d. Eddie Rosenstein) *** 1/2
FREEDOM WRITERS (2008, d. Richard LaGravenese)V. Surprisingly moving true story of teacher vs. gangs. *** 1/4
FREEWAY (2012, d. Christophe Sahr) **
FRENCH DISPATCH, THE (2022, d. Wes Anderson) ***
FRENCH FOR BEGINNERS (Französisch für Anfänger) (2007, d. Christian Ditter) ***
FRENCH GIGOLO, A (Cliente) (2009, d. Josiane Balasko) *** 1/4
French it up! (2015, d. Alice Vial & Sabrina B. Karine) short film ** 3/4
FRENCH KISSERS, THE (Les beaux gosses) (2010, d. Riad Sattour) ** 1/4
FREQUENCY (2000, d. Gregory Hoblit) ** 1/2
FRESH AIR (Friss levegö) (2007, d. Agnes Kocis and Andrea Roberti) ***
FRIDA (2002, d. Julie Taymor) *** 1/4
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2004, d. Peter Berg) One of the all-time great sports films, wonderfully directed and edited (great music, too). Thornton & Lucas Black shine. *** 1/2
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2004, d. Peter Berg) V.+ Even more impressive on video, certainly the best sports film I've ever seen and the best edited film of the year. *** 3/4
FRIEND OF MINE, A (2007, d. Sebastian Schipper) *** 1/4
FRIEND, THE (Der Freund) (2008, d. Micha Lewinsky, Switzerland) *** 1/4
FRIENDS AND FAMILY (2001, d. Kristen Coury) **
FRIENDS FOREVER (2012, d. Stefan Henszelman) V. '87 Danish coming-of-age film about a straight hi-school boy accepting his gay friend. Culturally significant, well acted. ***
FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (2012, d. Will Gluck) V. Wanted to hate this rom-com which tries too hard to be unconventional. Timberlake is weak; but script won me over. ** 3/4
FRIENDS WITH KIDS (2012, d. Jennifer Westfeldt) Adult rom-com, nicely played by great cast; but dialog misfires & leads' chemistry isn't convincing. ***
FRIENDS WITH MONEY (2006, d. Nicole Holofcener) Ensemble film, well observed, nicely acted...ending left me wanting more. ***
FROM AFAR (2016, d. Lorenzo Vigas) ** 3/4
FROM BEGINNING TO END (d. Aluizio Abranches) + 2nd time (with horrible DVD temp.mix print) not quite as good; but still startlingly controversial & sexy. ***
FROM BEGINNING TO END (2010, d. Aluizio Abranches) *** 1/4
FROM HELL (2001, d. The Hughes Brothers) * 1/4
FROM THE EDGE OF THE CITY (2000, d. Constantine Giannaris) ** 1/2
FROM THE LAND OF THE MOON (Mal de Pierres) (2017, d. Nicole Garcia) ** 3/4
FROM TIME TO TIME (2010, d. Julian Fellowes) *** 1/2
FRONT LINE, THE (2011, d. Jang Hun, Korea) *** 1/2
FRONT RUNNER, THE (2018, d. Jason Reitman) ** 3/4
FROST/NIXON (2008, d. Ron Howard) Surprisingly fascinating middlebrow film, with a career perf. by Longella. *** 1/2
FROZEN CITY (2007, d. Aku Louhimies) ** 1/4
FROZEN DAYS (Yamin Kfuim) (2006, d. Danny Lerner) ** 3/4
FROZEN II (2020, d Chris Buck, Jennifere Lee) * 3/4
FROZEN RIVER (2008, d. Courtney Hunt) *** 1/2
FROZEN (2013, d. Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee) **
FROZEN (2005, d. Juliet McKoen) Mysterious, sort of pointless English film with Shirley Henderson as a woman mourning her lost, presumed dead sister. ** 1/2
FRUITVALE STATION (2013, d. Ryan Coogler) ** 1/4
FUCK MY LIFE (2011, d. Nicolás López) ***
FUCK MY WEDDING (2012, d. Nicolas López) ** 3/4
FUCK UP (2013, d. Oystein Karlsen) ** 3/4
FUGITIVAS (2001, d. Miguel Hermoso) ***
FUGITIVE PIECES (2007, d. Jeremy Podeswa) ***
FÜHRER EX (2012, d. Winfried Bonengel) V. Involving, violent '02 German flick about 2 political rebels in '80s GDR. Neo-nazi played by Christian Blümel terrifying & real. ***
FULL CIRCLE (2013, d. Zhang Yang) ** 1/4
FULL FRONTAL (2002, d. Steven Soderbergh) ***
FULLTIME KILLER (2001, d. Johnnie To and Wie Ka-Fai) * 3/4
FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING, THE (2016, d. Rob Burnett) *** 1/4
FUNKYTOWN (2011, d. Daniel Roby) *** 1/4
FUNNY PEOPLE (2009, Judd Apatow) Well written & acted dramedy; could have benefited from tightening, but much genius is on display here. *** 1/2
FUREVER (2013, d. Amy Finkel) ** 1/2
FURIOUS 7 (2015, d. James Wan) ** 3/4
FURY (2014, d. David Ayer) *** 1/2
FUSE (2004, d. Pjer Zalica) A confusing, but effective satire about post-war reconciliation in Bosnia. ** 3/4
FUTURE LASTS FOREVER (2012, d. Özcan Alper) **
FUTURE WEATHER (2012, d. Jenny Deller) ** 3/4
FUTURO BEACH (2014, d. Karim Aïnouz) *** 1/2
G.B.F. (2013, d. Darren Stein) *** 1/2
G.I. JOE: RISE OF COBRA (2009, d. Stephen Sommers) Truly dreadful, bombastic, empty-headed actioner which wastes every actor, tho the f/x are pretty good. * 1/2
GABRIELLE (2006, d. Patrice Chéreau) Edwardian film of manners; pretty, talky and boring with good perfs by Isabelle Huppert & Pascal Greggory. **
GABRIELLE (2013, d. Louise Archambault, Canada) *** 1/4
GAGA: FIVE FOOT TWO (2017, d. Chris Moukarbel) ** 1/4
GAGARIN'S GRANDSON (2007, d. Andrey Panin) ** 1/2
GAHAN WILSON: BORN DEAD, STILL WEIRD (2013, d. Steven-Charles Jaffe) ** 3/4
GALAPAGOS AFFAIR, THE: SATAN COMES TO EDEN (2014, d. Dayna Goldfine & Dan Geller) *** 1/4
GAMBLER (2006, d. Phie Ambo) ** 1/2
GAMBLER, THE (2014, d. Rupert Wyatt) * W/O
GAMBLER, THE (2014, Lithuania, d. Ignas Jonynas) Grisley stuff about a group of irresponsible hospital staff. Too weird, I walked. W/O
GAME CHANGE (2012, d. Jay Roach) V. Julianne Moore & esp. Ed Harris are quite good in this political evisceration. Docu feel with actual news footage. ***
GAME CHANGE (2014, Jay Roach) TV movie examining McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as VP. Julianne Moore is fine. *** 1/4
GAME OF THRONES (2012, d. various) V. Season #1 on Blu-ray. Spectacular epic production, perfectly cast, event programming at its best. ****
GAMER (2009, d. Neveldine & Taylor) F/x galore can't save this future death game film from its ridiculous over-the-top (but predictable) premise. **
GAMES OF LOVE & CHANCE (2005, d. Abdellatalfi Kechiche) Teenagers in the projects in Paris, variation of Romeo & Juliet...talkiy but fun. ** 3/4
GAMING INSTINCT (Spieltrieb) (2014, d. Gregor Schnitzler) ** 1/2
GANGS OF NEW YORK (2002, d. Martin Scorsese) *** 1/2
GANGSTER NO. 1 (2000, d. Paul McGuigan) ***
GANGSTER SQUAD (2014, d. Ruben Fleischer) **
GARAGE DAYS (2003, d. Alex Proyas) Familiar rock film about a garage band trying to get established in Australia. Sometimes clever direction, clichéd. ** 1/4
GARAGE (2007, d. Lenny Abrahamson) ***
GARBAGE DREAMS (2009, d. Mai Iskander) ** 3/4
GARBO THE SPY (2010, d. Edmon Roch) *** 1/4
GARÇON STUPIDE (2005, d. Lionel Baier) ** 1/2
GARDEN IN THE SEA (2012, d. Thomas Riedelsheimer) V. Beautiful docu of building an undersea monument in the Sea of Cortez. Straightforward & a little boring. ** 1/2
GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS, THE (2003, d. Vittorio De Sica) V. Gorgeous, subtle, inscrutable. Jews in facist Italy, more thwarted love than political. ***
Garden Party (2018, d. Florian Babikian, Vincent Bayoux, et al) *** 3/4
GARDEN PARTY (2008, d. Jason Freeland) ***
GARDEN STATE (2004, d. Zach Braff) Likable young man comes home to N.J. when his mother dies and finds himself. Inventive details, I just like this film. ***
GARDEN, THE (2008, d. Scott Hamilton Kennedy) Infuriating docu about a disputed S. Central L.A. parcel of land which is political dynamite. *** 1/2
GARDENER, THE (2013, d. Mohsen Makhmalbaf) ** 1/4
GARDENERS OF EDEN (2015, d. Austin Peck & Anneliese Vandenberg) *** 1/2
GARPASTUM (2006, d. Alexey Guerman) ***
GARRY WINOGRAND: ALL THINGS ARE PHOTOGRAPHICAL (2018, d. Sasha Waters Freyer) ** 1/2
GASLAND (2010, d. Josh Fox) V. Yet another effective, scary, muckraking docu about horrendous enviromental affects of drilling & fracking (natural gas in this case). ***
GASLAND PART II (2013, d. Josh Fox) *** 3/4
GATE, THE (Le Temps des aveux) (2015, Regis Wargnier) *** 1/2
GATEKEEPERS, THE (2012, d. Dror Moreh) V. 6 Israeli spymasters (heads of the Shin Bet) tell "all" in this bleak, controversial, horrifying docu. Important revelations, if mostly dry, big-heads. *** 1/2
GAUDI AFTERNOON (2001, d. Susan Seidelman) ** 3/4
GAY DAYS (Hazman Havarod) (2010, d. Yair Qedar) * also short film THE LIBERATION OF GRIFFITH PARK (2010, d. Matt Spero) * 1/2
GAY GIRL IN DAMASCUS, A: THE AMINA PROFILE (2015, d. Sophie Deraspe) ***
GAY HOLLYWOOD (2003, d. Jeremy Simmons) V. Doc. notable since I'm acquainted with 2 of the subjects. Dustin Lance Black is a personal fave. ** 3/4
GAY LIVES (2008, short program, various directors) (average: ** 1/2)
GAY SHORTS (2005, d. various) 6 quite ordinary to poor gay short films. Only "Postmortem" and "Just Pray" were worth watching. **
GAYBY (2012, d. Jonathan Lisecki) *** 1/4
GAZA MON AMOUR (2021, Palestine, d. Nasser Brothers) Elderly bachelor fisherman finds Greek priapus statue & falls for seamstress. *** 1/4
GEBIRTIG (2003, d. Lukas Stepanik, Robert Schindel) Austria AFF. Drama about present day Holocaust participants. ** 1/2
GEMINIS (2005, d. Albertina Carri) ** 3/4
GEMMA BOVARY (2015, d. Anne Fontaine) *** 1/4
GENERAL, EL (2009, d. Natalia Almada) * 3/4
GENERAL, THE (2016, d. Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman) *** 1/2
GENERATION IRON (2013, d. Vlad Yudin) ***
GENERATION WAR Part 1 (2014, d. Philipp Kadelbach) *** 1/2
GENERATION WAR Part 2 (2014, d. Philipp Kadelbach) ****
Genius Loci (2021, d. Adrien Merigeau) Woman takes a bad trip thru urban Paris (?). Inventive watercolor animation; but puzzling story. ** 1/4
GENIUS WITHIN: INNER LIFE OF GLENN GOULD (2010, d. Hozer & Raymont) V. Extraordinary live footage makes for an especially fascinating bio docu. *** 1/2
GENIUS (2016, d. Michael Grandage) *** 1/2
GENOVA (2008, d. Michael Winterbottom) ***
GENTE DE BIEN (2015, d. Franco Lolli) * 1/4
GEOGRAPHY CLUB (2013, d. Gary Entin) ** 1/2
GEORGE MICHAEL - A DIFFERENT STORY (2006, d. Southan Morris) *** 1/4
GEORGE WASHINGTON (2000, d. David Gordon Green) ** 3/4
GEORGIA O'KEEFFE (2010, d. Bob Balaban) V. Despite convincing perfs by Joan Allen & Jeremy Irons, sappy Lifetime tv movie is unwatchable. W/O
GERMAN DOCTOR, THE (2013, d. Lucia Puenzo, Argentina) *** 1/4
GERONTIPHILIA (2014, d. Bruce LaBruce) *** 1/4
GERRY (2003, d. Gus Van Sant) Boring existential drama about 2 dumb guys metaphysically lost in the desert. Great steady-cam. **
Get a Horse! (2014, d. Lauren MacMullan) *** 1/2
GET HIM TO THE GREEK (2010 d. Nicholas Stoller) Surprisingly tender rock-n-roll road-trip farce from Apatow factory. Jonah Hill & Russell Brand have great chemistry. *** 1/4
GET LOW (2010, d. Aaron Schneider) Fine acting (Duval, Bill Murray & Lukas Black shine here) authentic period; but slender true story fails to live up to promise. ** 3/4
GET ME ROGER STONE (2017, d. Daniel DiMauro,, Morgan Pehme, Dylan Blank) *** 1/2
GET OUT (2017, d. Jordan Peele) * 3/4
GET OVER IT (2001, d. Tommy O'Haver) ** 1/4
GET WELL SOON! (Bon Rétablissement!) (2015, d. Jean Becker) *** 1/4
GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM (2014, Israel, d. Ronit & Shlomi Elkabetz) *** 1/2
GETTING GO, THE GO DOC PROJECT (2014, d. Cory Krueckeberg) *** 1/4
GETTING HOME (Luo ye gui gen) (2007, d. Zhang Yang) *** 1/4
GETTING MY BROTHER LAID (2002, d. Sven Taddicken) * 1/2
GETTING TO THE NUTCRACKER (2014, Serene Meshel-Dillman) ****
GHOLAM (2017, d. Mitra Tabrizian) * 1/2
GHOST DOG: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI (2000, d. Jim Jarmusch) ***
GHOST WORLD (2001, d. Terry Zwigoff) *** 1/2
GHOST WRITER, THE (2010, d. Roman Polanski) Since I'd read the book, few surprises; but Polanski knows how to construct an effective thriller. *** 1/4
GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE, THE (2013, d. Liz Marshall) ***
GHOSTS OF CITÉ SOLEIL (2006, d. Leth & Loncarivic) V. Scattered docu; a Haitian City of God. Rappers in the slums get screwed. ***
Ghosts of Sugar Land (2019, doc. short, d. Bassam Tariq) *** 1/4
GIANT LITTLE ONES (2019, d. Keith Behrman) *** 1/4
GIDEON'S ARMY (2013, d. Dawn Porter) *** 1/2
GIE (2005, d. Rira Riza) ** 3/4
GIFT TO STALIN, THE (2009, d. Rustem Abdrashev) *** 1/2
GIFT, THE (2003, US doc. d. Louise Hogarth) Important documentary about some gays, especially the young, who purposely contract HIV. *** 1/2
GIFT, THE (2001, d. Sam Raimi) **
GIFTED (2017, d. Marc Webb) *** 1/4
GIGANTIC (2010, d. Matt Aselton) V. Strange mumblecore romantic comedy. Dano is stolid & Zooey D. wacky. Sort of annoying, but likable. ** 1/2
GIGLI (2003, d. Martin Brest) An embarrassing film for all, especially Affleck and Brest. Tacky, squicky, homophobic; but Justin Bartha a find. 1/2*
GIGOLOS, THE (2005, d. Richard Bracewell) ** 1/2
GIMME DANGER (2016, d. Jim Jarmusch) *** 1/2
GIMME THE LOOT (2012, d. Adam Leon) ** 1/2
Girl and the Picture, The (2018, doc short d. Vanessa Roth) *** 3/4
GIRL BY THE LAKE, THE (La Ragazza del Lago) (2008, d. Andrea Molaioli) ** 1/2
GIRL CUT IN TWO, A (La fille coupée en deux) (2007, d. Claude Chabrol) ***
GIRL FROM MONACO, THE (La fille de Monaco) (2008, d. Anne Fontaine) ** 1/4
GIRL FROM PARIS, THE (2003, France d. Christian Carion) + Lovely movie about a woman who forsakes the city and buys and runs a mountain farm. *** 1/2
GIRL IN THE CAFÉ, THE (2005, d. David Yates) V. Bill Nighy is great as a financial dweeb. But simplistic politics sink this Richard Curtis written romance. ** 1/4
GIRL IN THE PARK, THE (2007, d. David Auburn) *** 1/4
Girl in the River, A: The Price of Forgiveness (2015, d. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy)
GIRL IS MINE, THE (2007, d. Virginie Wagon) ***
GIRL MOST LIKELY (2013, d. Shari Springer Berman) * 1/4
GIRL NEXT DOOR, THE (2004, d. Luke Greenfield) I expect to like it; but instead I was offended by the ridiculous plot, though Olyphant and Hirsch were good. * 3/4
GIRL ON THE BRIDGE (La fille sur la ponte) (2000, d. Patrice Leconte) ** 1/2
GIRL ON THE TRAIN, THE (La fille du RER) (2009, d. André Téchiné) *** 1/4
GIRL ON THE TRAIN, THE (2016, d. Tate Taylor) * 1/4
GIRL RISING (2013, d. Richard Robbins) *** 3/4
GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST, THE (2010, d. Daniel Alfredson) Fitting ending to fine trilogy. Interesting simplifications from the book. Well thought out. *** 1/4
GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, THE (2010, d. Daniel Alfredson) Having read the book, this is an amazingly faithrul & skilled adaptation of a complex story. *** 1/2
GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING (2003, d. Peter Webber) Cinematography worthy of Vermeer; but the film's story was like watching paint dry. **
GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011, d. David Fincher) For me the story was too familiar. But like Zodiac, nobody does epic thrillers as well as DF. *** 1/4+
GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE (2010, d. Niels Arden Oplev) *** 1/2
GIRL WITHOUT HANDS, THE (2017, d. Sébastien Laudenbach) * 3/4
GIRL (2018, Belgium, d. Lukas Dhont) ** 1/2
GIRL, THE (2013, d. David Riker) ***
GIRL, THE (2014, d. Julian Jarrold) *** 1/4
GIRLFIGHT (2000, d. Karyn Kusama) *** 1/2
GIRLS CAN'T SWIM (2002, d. Anne-Sophie Birot) **
GIRLS IN THE BAND, THE (2013, d. Judy Chaikin) *** 1/2
Girls Section (2019, d. Kathryn Everett) *** 1/4
GITS, THE (2005, d. Kerri O'Kane) Compelling counterpoint to Malfunkshun, a docu about a Seattle punker lead singer who was raped & murdered. ***
GIVE ME YOUR HAND (2009, d. Pascal-Alex Vincent) ***
GIVER, THE (2014, d. Phillip Noyce) ** 3/4
GIVING IT UP (2009, d. Frank Ruy) ***
GLADIATOR (2000, d. Ridley Scott) *** 1/4
GLADIATORS OF ROME (2013, d. Iginio Straffi) * 1/4
GLAMOUR (2000, d. Frigyes Gödrös) ** 3/4
GLASS CASTLE, THE (2017, d. Destin Daniel Cretton)
GLASS HOUSE, THE (2001, d. Daniel Sackheim) **
GLASS MAN, THE (2012, d. Cristian Solimeno) * 3/4
GLASS ONION, THE: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (2023, d. Rian Johnson) ** 3/4
GLASS: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts (2008, d. Scott Hicks) Inherently intersting if overlong docu about composer. ***
GLEANERS AND I, THE (2001, d. Agnès Varda) *** 1/2
GLEASON (2016, d. Clay Tweel) *** 3/4
GLEN CAMPBELL: I'LL BE ME (2014, d. James Keach) *** 1/2
GLI INDESIDERABILI (2003, d. Pasquale Scimeca) Confusing gangster film. Desires to be Once Upon a Time in America and fails utterly. Vincent Gallo OK * 1/4
GLICKMAN (2013, d. James L. Freedman) ***
GLORIA BELL (2019, d. Seastián Lelio) *** 1/2
GLORIA (2013, d. Sebastián Lelio, Chile) *** 1/2
GLORIOUS 39 (2010, d. Stephen Poliakoff) ***
GLORY ROAD (2006, d. James Gartner) Solid, typical sport docudrama with great Josh Lucas perf, raised 1/4 star by the real-life end credit interviews. *** 1/4
GLUE (2006, d. Alexis Dos Santos) ** 1/2
GMO OMG (2013, d. Jermey Seifert) *** 1/4
GO FURTHER (2004, d. Ron Mann) Entertaining doc. about Woody Harrelson emulating Kesey's Prankster bus in a trip & bike ride for the environment. ** 3/4
GO GRANDRIDERS (2013, d. Hua Tian-Hao) ** 1/2
GO TIGERS! (2001, d. Kenneth Carlson) ****
GO WEST (2006, d. Ahmed Imamovic) ***
GO (2001, d. Isao Yukisada) *** 1/4
GOAL II: LIVING THE DREAM (2008, d. Jaume Collet-Serra) I'm not into soccer; but this is one sports film which satisfies. Kuno Becker!, Nivola, Hauer, Dillane, great f/x. ***
GOAL! THE DREAM BEGINS (2006, d. Danny Cannon) Totally clichéd, predictable script; but damn, this film rocked my world. Kuno Becker! ** 3/4
GOAT (2016, d. Andrew Neel) ** 3/4
GOATS (2012, d. Christopher Neil) Nice indie coming-of-age, prep school film with original characters, fine cast & superb photography. Graham Phillips one to watch. *** 1/4
GOD HELP THE GIRL (2014, d. Stuart Murdoch) ** 3/4
GOD IS GREAT, AND I'M NOT (2002, d. Pascale Bailly) ** 3/4
GOD KNOWS WHERE I AM (2017, d. Jedd and Todd Wider) *** 3/4
GOD LOVES UGANDA (2013, d. Roger Ross Williams) *** 1/4
GODS AND GENERALS (2003, d. Ronald Maxwell) Civil War epic, centered on Stonewall Jackson. Well made; but not as good as Gettysburg.. ** 3/4
GODS OF EGYPT (2016, d. Alex Proyas) **
GOD'S OWN COUNTRY (2017, d. Francis Lee) *** 1/2
GODSEND (2004, d. Nick Hamm) Almost a good film, sort of a secular Omen, effectively and darkly shot, directed & acted. But can't surmount its ridiculous premise. **
GO-GETTER, THE (2009, d. Martin Hynes) V. Typical indie road flick, but a good vehicle for Lou Taylor Pucci. ** 1/2
GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF (2015, Alex Gibney) *** 1/4
GOING SOUTH (2010, d. Sebastien Lifshitz) ** 3/4
GOING THE DISTANCE (2010, d. Natalie Burstein) Strange mixture of raunchy guy and emotional chick flick & doesn't quite gel as either despite amiable cast. ** 1/2
GOING THRU SPLAT: STEWART STERN (2005, d. Jon Ward) Conventional docu about embittered ex-film screenwriter, only occasionally interesting. ** 1/4
GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT (2023, Doc. d. Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson) *** 1/4
GOING WEST (2018, d. Henrick Martin Daslsbakken) *** 1/4
GOLD (2014, d. Niall Heery) ** 1/2
GOLD (2014, d. Thomas Arsian) ** 3/4
GOLDEN BOWL, THE (2001, d. James Ivory) ***
GOLDEN COMPASS, THE (2007, d. Chris Weitz) Great f/x, muddled script. **
GOLDEN DOOR, THE (2006, d. Emanuele Crialese; Italy) ***
GOLDEN ERA, THE (2014, Hong Kong, d. Ann Hui) *** 1/4
GOLDFINCH, THE (2019, d. John Crowley) ***
GOLDSTONE (2017 d. Ivan Sen) *** 1/4
GOLTZIUS AND THE PELICAN COMPANY (2013, d. Peter Greenaway) **
GOMORRA (2008, d. Matteo Garrone; Italy) ** 3/4
GONE (2012, d. Heitor Dhalia) Well done strong-damaged-young-women in peril thriller; but so predictable that it really didn't need to be made. ** 1/2
GONE BABY GONE (2007, d. Ben Affleck) Nicely directed. Story too far-fetched; but Casey Affleck especially fine. *** 1/4
GONE FOR GOOD (Disparu à jamais) (2021, d. Juan Carlos Medina) Mystery about buried secrets. ** 1/4
GONE GIRL (2014, d. David Fincher) ** 3/4
GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS (2000, d. Dominic Sena) ** 1/2
GONE WITH THE WOMAN (2007, d. Peter Naess) Norway Academy foreign film submission ***
GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN (2012, d. Michael Akers) V. 2003 film about an affair between an amnesiac & a ranger who saved him from suicide. Slow & poorly acted. **
GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON (2008, d. Alex Gibney) *** 1/2
GOOD BOSS, THE (El buen patrón) (2021, Spain, d. Fernando León de Aranoa) *** 1/2
GOOD BOY! (2003, d. John Robert Hoffman) A sweet and inoccuous kids film, with some tacky effects, but mostly successful on the level it was intended. ***
GOOD BOYS (2005, d. Yair Hochner) * 3/4
GOOD BOYS (2019, d. Gene Stupnitsky) ** 3/4
GOOD BYE, LENIN! (2004, d. Wolfgang Becker) A political satire about the Wall and German unification which is amusing and affecting. *** 1/4
GOOD FOOD (2008, d. Melissa Young & Mark Dworkin) **
GOOD GERMAN, THE (2006, d. Steven Soderbergh) Glorious B&W cinematography doesn't disguise ambiguous plot & lack of involvement. ** 1/2
GOOD GIRL, THE (2002, d. Miguel Arteta) ***
GOOD GUY, THE (2010, d. Julio DePietro) Corruption & sexual hi-jinks among young Wall Street traders? Here well done & creepy. Bryan Greenberg rules. *** 1/4
GOOD HANDS (2002, d. Peeter Simm) ***
GOOD KILL (2015, d. Andrew Niccol) ** 3/4
GOOD LAWYER’S WIFE, A (2004, d. Im Sang-soo) Very sexy drama about the corrosive effects of marital infidelity by a lawyer & his wife. ***
GOOD MORNING, NIGHT (2006, d. Marco Bellocchio) Impressionist docudrama of Aldo Moro kidnapping. Talky & political. ** 3/4\
GOOD NEIGHBORS (2011, d. Jacob Tierney) Diverting, predictable urban bad neighbor flick spoiled by terribly written, truncated 3rd act. Baruchel fine here. **
GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK (2005, d. George Clooney) *** 1/2
GOOD NIGHT OPPY (2022, d. Ryan White) ****
GOOD NIGHT TO DIE, A (2003, d. Craig Singer) Arty, ironic thriller about 2 hit men and their destiny. Good cast, but pretentious. * 3/4
GOOD NIGHT, THE (2007, d. Jake Paltrow) Totally forgettable story about a shlub who lives a vivid dream life. **
GOOD OL' FREDA (2013, d. Ryan White) ** 3/4
GOOD OMENS (2019, d. Douglas Mackinnon) ** 3/4
GOOD SHEPHERD, THE (2006, d. Robert De Niro) Absorbing, well achieved CIA story, but Matt Damon seems too young & callow for role. ***
GOOD SON, THE (2007, d. Joseph Rubin)V. Elija Wood, great kid actor...Culkin ok. Convincing film, except for unlikely ending. ** 3/4
GOOD THIEF, THE (2003, d. Neil Jordan) Based on Bob le flambeur which was infinitely better. Atmospheric caper film with large holes. * 3/4
GOOD TIME (2017, d. Josh Safdie & Benny Safdie) *** 1/2
GOOD YEAR, A (2006, d. Ridley Scott) The French do this sort of romantic comedy of terroir much better (e.g. Rohmer's Autumn Tale). ** 1/2
GOOD YEAR, A (2008, d. Ridley Scott) V.+ Minor Scott film; but Provence and Russell Crowe are lovely. ** 3/4
GOOD (2008, d. Vicente Amorim) A misguided but fairly involving Holocaust film about a "good" German SS man & his Jewish buddy. ** 1/2
GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (2008, d. Sergio Leone) 195 min. extended version is long, but visual feast; Eli Wallach steals the film. *** 1/2
GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (2017, d. Simon Curtis) ** 3/4
GOODBYE DRAGON INN (2003, d. Tsai Ming-Liang) Weirdly paced allegory? ghost story? shaggy dog story? Tsai's most formal exercise in boredom as style. ***
GOODBYE FIRST LOVE! (2012, d. Mia Hansen-Love) ** 3/4
GOODBYE MOTHERS (2008, d. Mohammed Ismail; Morocco) ** 3/4
GOODBYE (2012, d. Mohammad Rasoulof) ** 1/2
GOODNIGHT MOMMY (Austria) (2015, d. Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala) *** 1/2
GOOK (2017, d. Justin Chon) *** 1/4
GOOSE FEATHER (2005, d. Ljubisa Samardzic; Serbia) Psychologically iffy, soapy melodrama about a peasant who loves one woman but marries another rich one. ** 1/4
GORBACIOF (2011 d. Stefano Incerti) * 3/4
GORDOS (2010, d. Daniel Sánchez Arévalo) *** 1/4
GORE VIDAL: THE UNITED STATES OF AMNESIA (2014, d. Nicholas D. Wrathall) *** 1/4
GOSFORD PARK (2001, d. Robert Altman) *** 3/4
GOTHIKA (2003, d. Mathieu Kassovitz) Kassovitz stories tend towards supernatural claptrap. Excellent acting & direction overcome ridiculous plot. ***
GOYA IN BORDEAUX (2000, d. Carlos Saura) * 1/4
GOYA'S GHOST (2007, d. Milos Forman) ***
GOYOKIN (2018, d. Hideo Gosha) *** 1/4
GRACE IS GONE (2007, d. James Strause) Subtle, well crafted & acted (especially the girls): mom killed in war. *** 1/4
GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI (2018, d. Sophie Feinnes) * 3/4
GRAFFITI ARTIST, THE (2004, d. James Bolton) Slow, hypnotic digital video about a young, gay graffiti artist who befriends another boy & tags the NW. ***
GRAN GATO, EL (2004, d. Ventura Pons) Doc. about songwriter in vein of Shadow of Motown & Buena Vista Club. Good music. ***
GRAN TORINO (2008, d. Clint Eastwood) The gran curmudgeon as sassy as ever. Neatly plotted if a tad obvious. ***
GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, THE (2014, d. Wes Anderson) *** 1/4
GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, THE + (2015, d. Wes Anderson) *** 1/2
GRAND CENTRAL (2013, d. Rebecca Zlotowski) **
GRAND SEDUCTION, THE (2014, d. Don McKellar) ***
GRAND SONS (2012, d. Ilan Duran Cohen) V. Touching cinéma verité-ish story: relationship between young gay man & the mildly dotty grandmother who raised him. ***
GRAND VOYAGE, LE (2005, d. Ismael Ferroukhi) Involving, picturesque road pic of father & son driving Paris to Mecca. ***
GRANDE ÉCOLE (2005, d. Robert Salis) V. Empassioned film about young people's sexual obsessions. Arty bi-sexual frontal nudity a plus. ** 3/4
GRANDMA (2015, d. Paul Weitz) *** 1/2
GRANDMASTER, THE (2013, d. Wong Kar Wai) ***
GRANDPA IS DEAD (2009, d. Soxie H. Topacio; Philippines) *
GRANT (2020, d. Malcolm Venville) 3-part History revisionist docudrama lauding U.S.Grant as a great general & Pres. *** 1/2
GRASSROOTS (2012, d. Stephen Gyllenhaal) Sporadically funny political comedy. Aced city of Seattle, double bogied transportation policy. Joel Moore too frenetic. **
GRAVE DECISIONS (2007, d. Marcus H. Rosenmüller) ** 1/2
GRAVEHOPPING (2006, d. Jan Cvitkovic) **
GRAVES WITHOUT A NAME (2018, d. Rithy Panh) ** W/O
GRAVITY (2010, d. Maximilian Erlenwein) ***
GRAVITY (2013, d. Alfonso Cuarón) *** 3/4
GRAY MAN, THE (2022, d. Anthony & Joe Russo) * 1/2
GRAY STATE, A (2017, d. Erik Nelson) *** 1/2
GRBAVICA (2006, d. Jasmila Zbanic; Bosnia & Herzegovina) *** 1/4
GREASE LIVE (2016, Thomas Kail, Alex Rudzinski) *** 1/4
GREAT BEAUTY, THE (2013, d. Paolo Sorrentino, Italy) ***
GREAT BUCK HOWARD, THE (2008, d. Sean McGinly) ** 3/4
GREAT DEBATERS, THE (2007, d. Denzel Washington) Better than I expected. Predictable, but moving. ***
GREAT EXPECTATIONS (2012, d. Brian Kirk) V. Nicely staged, if too concised, version of the novel. Fine acting, but Gillian Anderson was over the top. ***
GREAT FLOOD, THE (2014, d. Bill Morrison) **
GREAT FREEDOM (Große Freiheit) (2021, Austria, d. Sebastian Meise) *** 1/2
GREAT GATSBY, THE (2013, d. Baz Luhrmann) ***
GREAT HACK, THE (2019, d. Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim) *** 1/4
GREAT INVISIBLE, THE (2014, d. Margaret Brown) ** 1/4
GREAT MUSEUM, THE (2014, d. Johannes Holzhausen) ** 1/4
GREAT NEW WONDERFUL, THE (2006, d. Danny Leiner) 5 post-9/11 NY stories of ordinary people in search of meaning. ** 1/2
GREAT PASSAGE, THE (2013, d. Ishii Yuya, Japan) *** 1/4
GREAT RAID, THE (2005, d. John Dahl) ***
GREAT WATER (2005, d. Ivo Trajkov) Nicely directed and acted drama about a dying Macedonian politician recalling his youth. ***
GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED, THE (2005, d. Bill Paxton) ***
GREATEST SHOWMAN, THE (2017, d. Michael Gracey) ** 3/4
GREEDY LYING BASTARDS (2013, d. Craig Scott Rosenbraugh) *** 1/4
GREEN BOOK (2018, d. Peter Farrelly) *** 1/4
GREEN BUTCHERS, THE (2004, d. Anders Jensen) Dutch black comedy about a couple of losers who make a macabre go of a new butcher shop. ** 3/4
GREEN DRAGON (2002, d. Timothy Linh Bui) ** 3/4
GREEN HAT (2005, d. Liu Fendou) Quirky dramedy about 3 inep bankrobbers & a cuckolded cop with marital impotence. Amusing, but confusing, script. * 3/4
GREEN PRINCE, THE (2014, d. Nadav Schirman) ** 3/4
GREEN ROOM (2016, d. Jeremy Saulnier) ** 3/4
GREEN YEARS, THE (2013, d. Victor Saville) ** 3/4
GREEN ZONE (2010, d. Paul Greengrass) Offensively political, overwrought and never believeable. Makes one appreciate The Hurt Locker all the more. **
GREENBERG (2010, d. Noel Baumbach) Stiller's character is so unsympathetic that it skews an otherwise interesting, familiar & authentic L.A. story. ** 3/4
GREENFINGERS (2001, d. Joel Hershman) ** 1/2
GRETA (2019, d. Neil Jordan) * 1/4
GREY ZONE, THE (2002, d. Tim Blake Nelson) ****
GREY, THE (2012, d. Joe Carnahan) V. ***
GREYHOUND (2021, d. Aaron Schneider) *** 1/2
GRID, THE (2004, d. Mikael Salomon)V. Mini-series about a multi-national war on terrorism involving the CIA, NSC, FBI, MI-5 & MI-6. Gripping, with some fine performances. ***
GRIFFIN AND PHOENIX (2006, d. Ed Stone) **
GRILL POINT (2002, d. Andreas Dresen) **
GRIMM LOVE (2007, d. Martin Weisz) ** 1/2
GRIND (2012, d. Casey La Scala) V. Medicre 2003 skateboard exploitation flick with (in retrospect) A-list cast. Mike Vogel's debut & he lights up the screen. ** 1/4
GRIZZLY MAN (2005, d. Warner Herzog) *** 1/2
GROCER'S SON, THE (Le Fils de l'épicier) (2008, d. Eric Guirado) *** 1/4
GRÖNHOLM METHOD, THE (El Metodo Grönholm) (2005, d. Marcelo Piñero) ***
GROOMSMAN, THE (2006, d. Edward Burns) *** 1/4
GROUND TRUTH, THE (2006, d. Patricia Foulkrod) V. Docu of plight of returning Iraq vets. More than I wanted to know, but vital. *** 1/4
GROWN UPS (Les grandes personnes) (2009, d. Anna Novion) ** 1/4
GROWN UPS (2010, d. Dennis Dugan) Silly, poorly directed comedy about 5 families, almost redeemed by its insightful grasp of current American values. ** 1/4
GUARD, THE (2011, d. John Michael McDonagh) The "other" McDonagh bro even improves on In Bruges. Is there an auteur theory for brothers? *** 1/2
GUARDIAN, THE (2006, d. Andrew Davis) Nicely scripted action flick; both Costner & Kutcher are fine. Storm f/x top of line. ***
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014, d. James Gunn) **
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOL. 2 (2017, d. James Gunn) * 3/4
GUARDIAN'S SON (2007, d. Dimitis Koutsiabassakos) ** 3/4
Guerrilla Habeas (2022, doc. short, d. Emma Wall, Betsy Hershey) *** 1/2
GUESS WHO (2005, d. Kevin Sullivan) Unfunny, borderline offensive...but Ashton Kucher actually desplays some talent for timing & star quality. ** 1/2
GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS, A (2006, d. Dito Montiel) Truish life Mean Streets. Great cast, indie at its best. *** 1/2
GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS, A (2008, d. Dito Monteil) V.+ Great cast, life as art. *** 1/4
GUIDE, THE (2014, Ukraine, d. Olis Sanin) ***
GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO (2023, d. Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson) *** 1/2
GUILT TRIP, THE (2012, d. Anne Fletcher) * 1/4
GUILTY (Présumé coupable) (2012, d. Vincent Garenq) *** 1/2
GUILTY, THE (Den skyldige) (2018, d. Gustav Möller) *** 3/4
GUILTY, THE (2004, d. Anthony Waller)V. Totally contrived murder mystery thriller with a good cast, Bill Pullman and Devon Sawa especially. ** 1/2
GUN HILL ROAD (2011, d. Rashaad Green) ** 1/2
GUN IN EACH HAND, A (2013, d. Cesc Gay) ** 3/4
GUNDA (2021, d. Victor Kossakovsky) *** 1/2
GUY AND MADELINE ON A PARK BENCH (2009, d. Damien Chazelle) **
GUYS, THE (2004, d. Jim Simpson) An emotional, talky film about FDNY coping with 9/11. Anthony LaPaglia great, Sigorney Weaver also pretty good. ** 1/2
GYPSY CARAVAN (2007, d. Jasmine Dellal) ***
H (2003, S. Korea d. Lee Jeong-hyuk) Serial killer melodrama with the creepiest villains since Hannibal Lector. Very much in the same vein as Cure. ***
HABITANTE INCIERTO, EL (The Uninvited Guest) (2007, d. Guillem Morales) V. ***
HACHIKO: A DOG'S STORY (2009, d. Lasse Hallstrom) ** 3/4
HACKER WARS, THE (2014, d. Vivien Lesnik Weisman) ***
HACKSAW RIDGE (2016, d. Mel Gibson) ** 1/2
HADZA: LAST OF THE FIRST, THE (2014, d. Bill Benenson)
HAEMOO (2014, South Korea, d. Shim Sung-bo) ** 1/2
HAIKU TUNNEL (2001, d. Jacob & Joshua Kornbluth) ***
HAIL (2012, d. Amiel Courtin-Wilson) 3/4*
HAIL, CAESAR! (2016, d. Joel and Ethan Coen) ***
HAIL, CAESAR! (2017, d. Joel & Ethan Coen) + ** 3/4
Hair Love (2020, anim. short, d. Matthew A. Cherry) *** 1/2
HAIRSPRAY LIVE! (2016, d. Alex Rudzinski, Kenny Leon) * 1/2
HAIRSPRAY (2007, d. Adam Shankman) *** 1/2
HAL (2018, d. Amy Scott) *** 3/4
HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING (2018, d. RaMell Ross) ** 1/2
HALF LIFE OF TIMOFEY BEREZIN, THE (2006, d. Scott Z. Burns) *** 1/4
HALF NELSON (2006, d. Ron Fleck) *** 1/4
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN (2014, d. Biyi Bandele) *** 1/4
HALF-LIFE (2008, d. Jennifer Phang) **
HALIMA'S PATH (2014, d. Arsen Anton Ostojc) *** 1/2
HALLELUJAH: LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG (2022, d. Dayna Goldfine, Daniel Geller) *** 3/4
HALSTON (2019, d. Frédéric Tcheng) ***
HAMILL (2010, d. Oren Kaplan) *** 1/4
HAMILTON (2020, d. Thomas Kail) *** 1/2
HAMLET (2000, d. Michael Almereyda) ** 1/2
HANA & ALICE (2005, d. Shunji Iwai) Intermittantly clever & interesting, quirky film about two teenage girls & their crush on a reserved boy. ** 1/2
HANA (2006, d. Hirokazu Kore-eda) ** 3/4
HANCOCK (2008, d. Peter Berg) Ridiculous premise, reasonably good f/x. Superhero with a human face; but I strongly disliked script. * 1/2
HAND OF GOD, THE (È stata la mano di Dio) (2022, Italy, d. Paolo Sorrentino) *** 1/2
HANDMAIDEN, THE (2016, d. Park Chan-wook) ** 1/2
HANDS OF STONE (2016, d. Jonathan Jakubowicz) *** 1/2
HANDS OVER THE CITY (2015, d. Francesco Rosi) **
HANDSOME DEVIL (2017, d. John Butler) *** 1/2
HANGING OFFENSE (2004, d. Guillame Nicloux) Atmospheric, puzzling thriller about possible murders and the woman Colombo-like detective on the case. ***
HANGOVER, THE (2009, d. Todd Phillips) One of those great bad comedies: earned laughs, surprising plot development, fresh acting by 4 comic actors. *** 1/4
HANNA (2011, d. Joe Wright) Wow! Exciting filmmaking, great score!, Run Lola Run with a dash of Welles & Kubrick, fabulous editing, Wright scores again! *** 3/4
HANNA RANCH (2014, d. Mitch Dickman) ** 1/2
HANNIBAL RISING (2007, d. Peter Webber) Now just an ordinary slasher/revenge genre pic, though Gaspard Ulliel is a very interesting actor. **
HANNIBAL (2001, d. Ridley Scott) ** 1/4
HANSEL AND GRETEL (2009, d. Yim Phil-sung) W/O
HAPPENING, THE (2008, d. M. Night Shyamalan) Good acting (Betty Buckley's classic camp), ridiculous script (plot holes to spare). **
HAPPIEST DAY IN THE LIFE OF OLLI MÄKI (2016, Finland, d. Juho Kuosmanen) *** 1/4
HAPPILY EVER AFTER (2005, d. Yvan Attal) Ironically titled, interesting enough film about 2 married guy & single friend and their failing relationships. ** 3/4
Happiness is £4 Million (2023, doc. short, d. Weixi Chen, Kai Wei) ** 1/2
HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS, THE (2002, d. Takashi Miike) * 1/2
HAPPY ACCIDENTS (2001, d. Brad Anderson) ***
HAPPY AS ONE (2006, d. Vanessa Jopp) ***
HAPPY CHRISTMAS (2014, d. Joe Swanberg) *** 1/2
HAPPY END (2017, Austria, d. Michael Haneke) ***
HAPPY ENDINGS (2005, d. Don Roos) Somewhat sprawling, well observed black comedy of 21st century families with a brilliant perf by Maggie Gyllenhaal *** 1/2
HAPPY EVENT, A (2012, d. Rémi Bezançon) ***
HAPPY FAMILY (2010, d. Gabriele Salvatores) *** 1/4
HAPPY FEET TWO (2011, d. George Miller) Loved the original; but this sequel adds nothing and was a confusing mess. * 3/4
HAPPY FEET (2006, d. George Miller) Simply wonderful 3-D animation combined with a timeless, appealing story. A triumph. *** 3/4
HAPPY HOUR (2003, d. Mike Bencivenga) Anthony LaPaglia doing a Leaving Las Vegas dramatic turn, well acted but ultimately derivative. ** 1/2
HAPPY PRINCE, THE (2018, d. Rupert Everett) **
HAPPY TIMES (2002, d. Zhang Yimou) ** 1/2
HAPPY VALLEY (2014, d. Amir Bar-Lev) *** 1/4
HAPPY, HAPPY (2011, d. Anne Sewitsky) *** 1/4
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY (2008, d. Mike Leigh) Formless, well acted character study centered around a happy-go-lucky young woman and her angst ridden driving teacher. ** 3/4
HARD CANDY (2006, d. David Slade) ***
HARD DAY, A (2014, d. Kim Seong-Hoon) ** 1/2
HARD GOODBYES: MY FATHER (2003, Greece/Germany d. Penny Panayotopoulou) Slight story about young boy in denial about his father's death. ** 1/4
HARD PAINT (2018, d. Filipe Matzembacher, Marcio Reolan) ** 1/2
HARD PILL (2005, d. John Baumgartner) ***
HARD WORD, THE (2003, Australia/Great Britain d. Scott Roberts) Delightful caper film. ***
HARDBALL (2001, d. Brian Robbins) ** 1/2
HARI OM (2005, d. Bharatbala Ganapathy) Another travelog, this one better, though also contrived: French girl roving thru India with a rickshaw driver. ** 1/2
HARLAN COBEN'S SHELTER (2023 miniseries, d. various) *** 3/4
HARMONY LESSONS (2013, d. Emir Baigazin) *** 3/4
HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE (2004, d. Danny Leiner) Silly teen farce with too many stupid bathroom & fag bashing jokes...but fun anyway. ** 1/4
HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY (2017, d. Daniel Raim) *** 1/2
HARRIET (2019, d. Kasi Lemmons) ** 3/4
HARRY & SNOWMAN (2016, d. Ron Davis) ** 3/4
HARRY AND MAX (2004, d. Chris Munch) Brutally honest, well written story of 2 boy-band brothers with incest overtones. Bryce Johnson is a major find! *** 1/4
HARRY AND MAX (2004, d. Christopher Munch) + Still one of the most truthful & insightful films about boybands and gay life in general. Better the 2nd time. *** 1/2
HARRY POTTER #3 (2004, d. Alfonso Cuarón) Darker, better directed; but still relatively uninvolving. Maybe I should read the books. ** 1/2
HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 (2010, d. David Yates) Impeccably made, designed, acted. Fine f/x. But for me a long, one-note, loud bore. ** 3/4
HARRY POTTER 5 (2007, d. David Yates) *** 1/4
HARRY POTTER 8 (2011, d. David Yates) Non-stop, propulsive action. Total immersion into the story, really splendid f/x, solid acting. Best Potter flick; but sort of predictable. *** 1/4
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBE OF SECRETS (2002, d. Chris Columbus) ***
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (2005, d. Mike Newell) ***
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009, d. David Yates) Series marking time; but excellent script and f/x make it worthwhile. *** 1/4
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001, d. Chris Columbus) ** 3/4
HARSH TIMES (2006, d. David Ayer) Tough action film with scintillating acting and superreal dialog. Bale is a phenom. ***
HART'S WAR (2002, d. Gregory Hoblit) ** 1/2
HARVARD MAN (2002, d. James Toback) ** 1/4
HARVEST OF EMPIRE (2012, d. Getzels & Lopez) V. Informative docu explaining & justifying Latino immigration from various troubled countries. Lengthy & a little didactic. ***
HATE CRIME (2005, d. Tommy Stovall) *
HATE U GIVE, THE (2018, d. George Tillman, Jr.) *** 1/2
HATEFUL EIGHT, THE (2015, d. Quentin Tarantino) *** 1/4
Haulout (2023, doc. short, d. Maxim Arbugaev, Evgenia Arbugaeva) *** 1/2
Haunted ("Hjemsogelsen") (2018, d. Christian Einshoj) * 3/4
HAUTE CUISINE (2013, d. Christian Vincent) *** 1/2
HAVA NAGILA (THE MOVIE) (2013, d. Roberta Grossman) *** 3/4
HAVANASTATION (2011, d. Ian Padrón, Cuba) ** 1/4
HAVEN (2006, d. Frank E. Flowers) Good actors in a mess of a film about Cayman Island life and dire financial schemes. **
HAVRE, LE (2011, d. Aki Kaurismaki, Finland) ** 1/2
HAWAII (2015, d. Marco Berger) *** 1/2
HAWAII, OSLO (2004, d. Erik Poppe) Norway AFF: slick, complex multi-strand drama of a group of Oslo residents as they play out one character's portentious dream. ***
HAWKING (2013, d. Stephen Finnigan) *** 1/2
HAYFEVER (2011, d. Laura Luchetti) ** 1/4
HAYWIRE (2012, d. Steven Soderbergh) Somewhat repetitive action flick with a fine cast and a kick-ass female protagonist. The boys were fine, too. ***
HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT (2005, d. Tom Vaughan) Psychologically modern Trollope novel of 4 Victorian relationships given average Masterpiece Theater treatment. ** 1/2
HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT (2003, d. Laetetia Columbani) Clever thriller about a woman literally crazy about a cardiologist. ***
HE NAMED ME MALALA (2015, d. Davis Guggenheim) ***
HEAD BURST (Kopfplatzen) (2020, d. Savas Ceviz) *** 1/2
HEAD GAMES (2012, d. Steve James) V. At times shocking indictment of sports & dementia causing brain injuries, especially kids. Slightly too long; but makes its point! *** 1/4
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS (2004, d. John Duigan) Old fashioned big WWII romance, a tear jerker that didn't jerk but never bored. Theron fine; but Townsend too callow for role. ** 3/4
HEAD OVER HEELS (2001, d. Mark Waters) **
HEADHUNTERS (2012, d. Morten Tyldum) Norwegian thriller where antihero is chased by implacable evil. Fun, provocative, stylish; story maybe too slick. *** 1/4
HEADING WEST (2011, d. Nicole van Kilsdonk) ** 1/2
HEADLESS WOMAN, THE (2009, d. Lucrecia Martel) ** 1/2
HEAD-ON (2004, d. Fatih Akin) Off center love story about troubled German Turkish couple. Good film, but not as good as rep. *** 1/4
HEADSHOT (2012, d. Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Thailand) *** 1/4
HEAL THE LIVING (2017, d. Katell Quillévérê) *** 3/4
HEALING (2014, d. Craig Monahan) ***
HEARING IS BELIEVING (2017, d. Lorenzo DeStefano) *** 1/2
HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, THE (2004, d. Asia Argento) Mind blowing adaptation from life of a young boy being raised by his disaster of a mother. *** 1/2
HEART OF A DOG (2015, d. Laurie Anderson) *** 3/4
HEART OF A LION (2014, d. Dome Karukoski) ***
HEART OF AN ASTRONAUT (2023, Doc short, d. Jennifer Rainsford) ***
HEART OF ME, THE (2003, Great Britain/Germany d. Thaddeus O'Sullivan) Unabashed weepy romance about 2 sisters in love with the same man. ***
HEART OF NUBA, THE (2018, d. Kenneth A. Carlson) ****
HEART OF THE BEAR, THE (2001, d. Arvo Iho) *** 1/4
HEARTBEAT DETECTOR (2008, d. Nicolas Klotz) ** 1/4
HEARTBEATS (2010, d. Xavier Dolan) ***
HEARTBREAKER (L'Arnacoeur) (2010, d. Pascal Chaumeil) ** 1/2
HEARTS BEAT LOUD (2018, d. Brett Haley) *** 1/4
HEARTS IN ATLANTIS (2001, d. Scott Hicks) **
HEARTSTONE (2017, d. Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson) *** 1/2
Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 (2017, d. Frank Stiefel) *** 3/4
HEAVEN (2002, d. Tom Tykwer) *** 1/2
HEAVENLY NOMADIC (Kyrgyzstan) (2015, d. Mirlan Abdykalykov) *** 1/4
HEAVENS BLUE (Tengri) (2008, d. Marie Jaoul de Poncheville; Kyrgyzstan) *** 1/4
HEAVEN'S BURNING (2005, d. Craig Lahiff)V. Russell Crowe & Japanese chick in a corkingly over-the-top (a la Robert Rodriguez) violent road pic from Oz. ***
HEDGEHOG (Le hérisson) (2010, d. Mona Ashashe) *** 3/4
HEDI (2017, d. Mohamed Ben Attia) *** 1/4
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (2001, d. John Cameron Mitchell) ***
HEIGHTS (2005, d. Chris Terrio) + Second time to watch this one. Superbly well done. Another great Glenn Close role. My kinda film! *** 1/2
HEIGHTS (2005, d. Chris Terrio) Multi-character 24 hours in the lives of N.Y. arty types. Superbly well done. My kinda film! *** 1/2
HEIR TO AN EXECUTION (2003, d. Ivy Meeropol)V. Doc. Rosenberg's grandaughter searches for the truths of family's past. Moving, well made, informative. ***1/2
HEIST (2001, d. David Mamet) ** 3/4
HEIST: WHO STOLE THE AMERICAN DREAM? (2012, d. Causey & Goldmacher) V. Another cautionary docu: nice graphics & correct message. But so much lecturing by big heads? *** 1/4
HELI (2013, d. Amat Escalante, Mexico) *** 3/4
HELICOPTER MOM (2014, d. Salomé Beziner) *
Helium (2014, d. Anders Walter) ***
HELL AND BACK AGAIN (2011, d. Danfung Dennis) V. Weirdly edited docu of marines in Afghan. & one wounded man's scary life after coming home. ** 1/2
HELL HOUSE (2002, d. George Ratliff) ***
HELL ON EARTH: THE FALL OF SYRIA AND THE RISE OF ISIS (2017, d. Sebastian Junger and Nick Quested) *** 3/4
HELL OR HIGH WATER (2016, d. David Mackenzie) *** 1/2
HELL (2006, d. Danis Tanovic) *** 1/2
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY (2009, d. Guillermo del Toro) Bombastic fantasy with del Toro's nightmarish imagery, but a soporific, predictable plot. **
HELLION (2014, d. Kat Candler) *** 1/4
HELLO DESTROYER (2017, d. Kevan Funk) ** 1/4
HELLO GOODBYE (2009, d. Graham Guit) ** 1/2
HELLO I MUST BE GOING (2012, d. Todd Louiso) *** 1/2
HELP, THE (2011, d. Tate Taylor) Beautifully acted, somewhat pat and predictable, but ultimatelly affecting story. Olivia Spencer just about steals the picture. *** 1/4
HEMEL (2012, d. Sacha Polak) * 1/2
HENERAL LUNA (Philippines) (2015, d. Jerrold Tarog) ** W/O
HENRY OF NAVARRE (2010, d. Jo Baier) ***
HENRY POOLE IS HERE (2008, d. Mark Pellington) Luke Wilson in a film totally without irony doesn't compute. * 1/4
HENRY VIII (2004, d. Pete Travis) V. Abridged PBS version of British series with an interesting Ray Winstone perf. Pop history, but too short to be meaningful. ** 1/4
HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER (2017, Japan, d. Ryöta Nakano) ****
HER MAJESTY (2002, d. Mark J. Gordon) * 1/2
HER MINOR THING (2005, d. Charles Matthau) Silly romantic comedy with a trite, predictable story but nice production values. * 1/2
HER (2013, d. Spike Jonze) *** 3/4
HERBLOCK: THE BLACK & THE WHITE (2013, d. Michael Stevens) ** 3/4
HERE (2012, d. Braden King) Aimless travelog (Armenia) + love story with pretensions of indie cred. But Ben Foster is wonderful & vistas were beautiful. ** 1/2
HERE ON EARTH (2000, d. Mark Piznarski) ** 1/2
HEREAFTER (2010, d. Clint Eastwood) Superbly written & crafted film, subtle, mature, moving and emotionally fulfilling...especially the twin boys' story. *** 3/4
HEREAFTER (2012, d. Clint Eastwood)V+ Still one of the best films ever, incredibly moving, brilliantly written and acted, and Clint's score is special. An upgrade. ****
HERENCIA (2002, d. Paula Hernandez) ***
HERMANO (2011 d. Marcel Rasquin; Venezuela) *** 1/2
HERO (2003, d. Zhang Yimou) China AFF. Huge marshall arts epic in Crouching Tiger vein. Gorgeous & well made; but cold. ***
HERO, A (2022, Iran, d. Asghar Farhadi) *** 1/2
HERO, THE (2017, d. Brett Haley) *** 1/4
HEROIC LOSERS (2019, Argentina, d. Sebastián Borensztein) Small town's money stolen in monetary scandal, and revenge is taken. ***
Heroin(e) (2017, d. Elaine McMillion Sheldon) *** 1/4
HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (2009, d. Ken Kwapis) Attractive cast, but clichés abound in this all too clever rom-com about coupling. ** 1/2
HESHER (2012, d. Spencer Susser) V. Strange, compelling coming of age flick, boy loses mom, dad depressed, & a hippie sociopath comes to rescue. Gordon-Levitt great. ***
HEY, HAPPY! (2001, d. Noam Gonick) 0*
HI, TERESKA (2002, d. Robert Glinski) ***
HIDALGO (2004, d. Joe Johnston) Entertaining western variant, true (if transparently enhanced) story of a mustang competing with thoroughbred Arabians. ** 3/4
HIDDEN (Caché) (2005, d. Michael Haneke) *** 1/2
HIDDEN BLADE, THE (2006, d. Yoji Yamada) *** 1/2
HIDDEN DIARY (Mères et filles) (2010, d. Julie Lopes-Curval) *** 1/4
HIDDEN FACE (2008, d. Bernard Campan) * 1/4
HIDDEN FIGURES (2016, d. Theodore Melfi) ** 1/4
HIDDEN HILLS (2014, d. Dan Steadman) 1/2*
HIDDEN LETTERS (2022, d. Violet Du Feng, Zhao Qing) ** 3/4
HIDDEN LIFE, A (2019, d. Terrence Malick) *** 3/4
HIDDEN LOVE (L'amour caché) (2007, d. Alessandro Capone) * 3/4
HIDDEN MAN (2018, China, d. Jiang Wen) ** 1/4
HIDEAWAY (2010, d. François Ozon) *** 1/2
HIDING AND SEEKING (2004, d. Menachem Daum) V. Enormously moving docu about a family of Holocaust survivors and their reconciliation with the past. *** 3/4
HIGH CRIMES (2002, d. Carl Franklin) **
HIGH FIDELITY (2000, d. Stephen Frears) *** 1/2
HIGH GROUND (2012, d. Michael Brown) V. Inspirational docu: ex-soldiers with PTSD & other disabilities climb a Himalayan peak. Bios, repetitive; but climb beautiful & moving. *** 1/2
HIGH LANE (Vertige) (2010, d. Abel Feray) ***
HIGH LIFE (2019, d. Claire Denis) * 1/2
HIGH ROAD (2011, d. Matt Walsh) **
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 (2008, d. Kenny Ortega) Surprisingly good, fun and frothy. High energy, ok score, great choriography make for a diverting experience. ***
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (2006, d. Kenny Ortega) V. By far the best musical of the last year is a Disney TV film. Zac Ephron can move & even lip sync. ***
HIGH SUN, THE (Croatia) (2015, d. Dalbor Matanic) *** 1/4
HIGH TENSION (2004, d. Alexandre Aja) Vividly graphic and gory mass-murder horror thriller, well made, but based on a cheat which compromises it. ***
HIGHER FORCE, THE (2009, d. Olaf de Fleur Johannesson) * 3/4
HIGHER FORCE, THE (2008, d. Olaf de Fleur Johannesson) Silly Iceland comedy which went nowhere for 45 minutes so I walked. W/O
HIGH-RISE (2016, d. Ben Wheatley) ** 3/4
HIGHWAY (2005, d. James Cox) V. Messy, faintly homoerotic '02 road movie with stoned out Jake Gyllenhaal & Jared Leto looking fine. * 3/4
HIJACKING, A (2013, d. Tobias Lindholm) *** 1/2
HILLBILLY ELEGY (2021, d. Ron Howard) *** 1/4
HIMALAYA (2001, d. Eric Valli) ***
HINDENBERG, THE (2006, d. Robert Wise) V. Fairly good old fashioned disaster flick. F/x sort of lame. ** 1/4
HIPPOCRATES: DIARY OF A FRENCH DOCTOR (2015, d. Thomas Lilti) *** 1/4
HIPPOPOTAMUS, THE (2017, d, John Jencks) *** 1/2
HIPSTERS (2010, d. Valery Todorovsky) *** 1/2
HIS MOTHER'S EYES (Les Yeux de sa mère) (2011 d. Thiery Klifa) *** 1/4
HIS SECRET LIFE ("Ignorant Fairies") (2001, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) *** 1/2
HIS WAY (2011, d. Douglas McGrath) V. Docu about Jerry Weintraub. Interesting life, big stars, unconventioinal mogul, boringly made documentary. ** 1/2
HISTORY BOYS, THE (2006, d. Nicholas Hytner) Yorkshire Dead Poets Society with a fine, literate script. Totally absorbing. *** 3/4
HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, A (2005, d. David Cronenberg) *** 1/2
HIT AND RUN (2012, d. Dax Shepard) Another adrenalin rush flick, only badly over-written with ocean size plot holes & reprehensible characters (exc. Kristen Bell). * 1/2
HIT AND RUNWAY (2001, d. Christopher Livingston) *** 1/4
HIT SO HARD (2011, d. David Ebersole) ** 1/4
HIT, THE (2003, d. Stephen Frears) V. 1984 noir with superb performances. Wonderfully nihlistic & typical of later Frears. *** 1/4
HITCHCOCK (2012, d. Sacha Gervasi) ** 1/4
HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT (2015, d. Kent Jones) ****
HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (2005, d. Garth Jennings) Banal, arch as only the Brits can. I was incredibly bored, even with the great f/x. * 1/2
HIVE (Zgjoi) (2022, Kosovo, d. Blerta Basholli) *** 1/4
HOAX, THE (2007, d. Lasse Hallstrom) Competent, but predictable and not involving. ** 1/2
HOBBIT, THE: BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES (2014, d. Peter Jackson) *** 1/4
HOBBIT, THE: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (2013, d. Peter Jackson) ** 3/4
HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, THE (2012, d. Peter Jackson) *** 3/4
HOCKNEY (2016, d. Randall Wright) *** 3/4
HOLD MY HEART (2003, d. Trygve Allister Diesen) Norway AFF. Drama about father who kidnaps estranged young daughter. *** 1/4
HOLD YOUR FIRE (2022, d. Stefan Forbes) *** 1/4
Holding Moses (2023, doc. short, d. Rivkah Beth Medow) *** 1/4
HOLDING THE MAN (2016, d. Neil Armfield) *** 3/4
HOLDING TREVOR (2012, d. Rosser Goodman) V.+ I overrated this at OUTFEST in 2007; but it still is a well acted, realistic & tender slice of young modern gay life in L.A. *** 1/4
HOLDING TREVOR (2007, d. Rosser Goodman) *** 1/2
HOLES (2003, d. Andrew Davis) It's sort of churlish to complain about a bad script with such a feel-good movie. Shia LaBeouf is great. ** 3/4
HOLIDAY, THE (2006, d. Nancy Meyers) I loved every minute of this chick flick despite its flaws. *** 1/4
HOLLARS, THE (2016, d. John Krasinski) ** 3/4
HOLLOW MAN (2000, d. Paul Verhoeven) * 3/4
HOLLYWOOD ENDING (2002, d. Woody Allen) ***
HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE (2003, d. Ron Shelton) Cop flick where quirky cops are more interesting than the case. Shelton better director here than writer. ** 1/2
HOLLYWOOD (2020, prod. by Ryan Murphy & Ian Bannan) ** 3/4
HOLLYWOODLAND (2006, d. Allen Coulter) TV director's style more suited to noir. Fine cast (esp. Brody & Affleck) good script! ***
HOLY GIRL, THE (2005, d. Lucrecia Martel) Turgid and pointless drama about the effect on a teen girl of an almost molestation by a married older man. * 1/2
HOLY HELL (2016, d. Will Allen) *** 3/4
HOLY LOLA (2005, d. Bertrand Tavernier) Just about the same movie as John Sayles' Casa de los babys except in Cambodia. Too protracted and long. ** 1/2
HOLY MAN: THE USA VS. DOUGLAS WHITE (2012, d. Jennifer Jessum) V. Another docu re-creating a horrendous miscarriage of justice, Lakota Medicine Man falsely imprisoned. *** 1/2
HOLY MOTORS (2012, d. Leos Carax) *** 1/4
HOLY ROLLERS (2010, d. Kevin Tyler Asch) ***
HOLY SPIDER (2023, Denmark IFF, d. Ali Abbasi) ***
HOME (2009, d. Ursula Meier) ***
HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD, A (2004, d. Michael Mayer) Extraordinarily well made, literate gay film which nails its '60s-'80s eras. Great acting. *** 3/4
HOME CARE (Czech Republic) (2015, d. Slavek Horak) *** 1/4
HOME OF DARK BUTTERFLYS, THE (2008, d. Dome Karukoski; Finland) ** 3/4
HOME OF THE BRAVE (2004, d. Paola di Florio) V. Well made docu, informative & emotionally powerful about civil rights martyr Viola Liuzzo & her surviving family. *** 1/2
HOME OF THE BRAVE (2006, d. Irwin Winkler) Powerful affects-of-war film about current Iraq soldiers. Too on point, but well acted. ** 3/4
HOME SONG STORIES, THE (2008, d. Tony Ayres; Australia) *** 1/4
HOMEGROWN (2004, d. Stephen Gyllenhaal) V. Authentic '98 pot growing paranoia movie thriller/comedy with good cast (Ryan Phillippe is fine). ** 3/4
HOMELESS TO HARVARD (2003, d. Peter Levin) (V) Lifetime tv movie (Thora Birch) about girl who surmounts incredible odds to get an education. ** 3/4
HOMESICK (Koti-ikävä) (2006, d. Petri Kotwica) Superb, raw Finnish film about a teenage boy committed to a mental institution, similar plot to Manic. *** 1/4
HOMESMAN, THE (2014, d. Tommy Lee Jones) ** 3/4
HOMME DE SA VIE, L' (2006, d. Zabou Breitman) *** 3/4
HONEY (Bal) (2010, d. Semih Kaplanoglu; Turkey) ***
HONEY BOY (2019, d. Alma Har'el) *** 3/4
HONEY (2003, d. Bille Woodruff) Is there a cookie-cutter factory for recycled plots like this? Ok music & dancing don't make up for terrible direction. * 1/4
HONEYDRIPPER (2007, d. John Sayles) Good music, but very predictable. ** 3/4
HONEYLAND (2019, N. Macedonia, d. Ljubo Stefanov, Tamara Kotevska) *** 3/4
HONOR FLIGHT (2012, d. Dan Hayes) V. Sentimental docu of WWII veterans flown to D.C. to tour memorials & family appreciations etc. Too saccharine for me; but uplifting anyway. **
HOOKED (2009, d. Adrian Sitaru) ** 1/2
HOOKED (2011, d. Pavel Sanayev) ***
HOOLIGAN SPARROW (2016, d. Nanfu Wang) *** 1/4
HOOT (2006, d. Wil Shriner) Ernest flick from teen book. Interesting young actors, but lacking directoral spark. * 3/4
HOPE ETERNAL (2008, d. Karl Francis; United Kingdom) ** 1/2
HOPE FROZEN (2019, d. Pailin Wedel) ***
HOPE SPRINGS (2012, d. David Frankel) Fine, adult script, superb acting, straightforward direction. I wanted to love it....got the emotional heart; but too predictable. ***
HOPE (2021, Norway, d. Maria Sodahl) ****
HORAS DEL DIA, LAS (2004, d. Jaime Rosales) Boring (cf. Bruno Dumont) film about the boring quotidien life of a boring shopowner with one little quirk. **
HORIZON OF EVENTS, THE (2006, d. Daniele Vicari) ** 3/4
HORIZONS (2016, d. Eileen Hofer) **
HORNBLOWER: DUTY (2003, d. Andrew Grieve)V. #8, not quite up to #7. Still, this series is best thing ever to happen on high seas, despite Russell Crowe. ***
HORNBLOWER: LOYALTY ( 2003, d. Andrew Grieve) V. #7 in the series, and one of the best. Ioan Gruffudd was born to play this role. *** 1/4
HORNET'S NEST, THE (2014, d. Christian Tureaud, David Salzberg) ***
HORRIBLE BOSSES (2011, d. Seth Gordon) For 3/4 it was one hell of a funny, inventive R-rated comedy with some marvelous comic acting. Script loses bite final 1/4. ***
HORSES OF GOD (2013, d. Nabil Ayouch) ***
HOST AND GUEST (2006, d. Shin Dong-il) ** 3/4
HOST, THE (Gue-Mool) (2006, d. Bong Joon-ho) **
HOSTAGE (2005, d. Constantine Giannaris) Gripping based on true story variation of Bus 174. Stathis Papadopoulis wonderful as the bus hostage taker. *** 1/4
HOSTAGE (2005, d. Florent Siri) Visually dazzling thriller with multiple layers of jeopardy. Plot has several holes; but effective filmmaking nevertheless. ** 3/4\
HOSTILES (2017, d. Scott Cooper) *** 1/2
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS (2018, d. Elijah Bynum) **
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE (2010, d. Steve Pink) I have no nostalgia for the '80s and this The Hangover wannabe was raucus, homophobic & ugly. * 3/4
HOTEL RWANDA (2004, d. Terry George) Epic, shocking and sad. Don Cheadle towers as a strong man in a crumbling society. Maybe too much on target. *** 1/4
HOTEL (2014, d. Lisa Langseth) *** 1/4
HOTTEST STATE, THE (2006, d. Ethan Hawke) ** 3/4
HOUDINI (2014, d. Uli Edel) ***
HOUNDS (2007, d. Ann-Kristin Reyels) *** 1/4
HOURS, THE (2002, d. Stephen Daldry) *** 3/4
HOUSE I LIVE IN, THE (2012, d. Eugene Jarecki) V. Docu cogently & compassionately comparing the "war" on drugs to Holocaust. Wake up! Hard to find a doc I agree with more this year. ****
HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS, A (2022, d. Simon Lereng Wilmont) *** 1/2
HOUSE OF ADAM, THE (2008, d. Jorge Ameer) Gay ghost story. A film of towering badness in every aspect: acting, direction, script, all the technicals, yet somehow watchable. *
HOUSE OF BOYS (2011, d. Jean-Claude Schlim) Earnest, glossy gay film about boy dancers in 1984 Amsterdam, sort of sexy, sort of truthful of that era (AIDS etc.) ** 1/2
HOUSE OF D (2005, d. David Duchovny) Sappy but watchable period piece ('70s N.Y) coming of age story. Anton Yelchin is quite good; but script has holes. * 3/4
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS (2004, d. Zhang Yimou) Visually stunning, emotionally resonant, remarkable f/x; but too much of a good thing is too much. *** 1/4
HOUSE OF FOOLS (2002, d. Andrei Konchalovsky) ** 1/2
HOUSE OF FOOLS (2003, d. Andrei Konchalovsky) Russia AFF. Off-center drama. Chechan war comes to insane asylum. ** 1/2
HOUSE OF GUCCI, THE (2022, d. Ridley Scott) *** 1/4
HOUSE OF MIRTH, THE (2000, d. Terence Davies) ** 1/2
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG (2003, d. Vadim Perelman) Classic tragedy: good but flawed people who make fateful mistakes. Incredibly well acted & directed. *** 1/2
HOUSE OF SAND (2006, d. Andrucha Waddington) *** 1/4
HOUSE OF TOMORROW (2018, d. Peter Livolsi) *** 1/4
HOUSE ON THE CLOUDS, THE (La casa sulle nuvole) (2009, d. Claudio Giovannesi) ***
HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS, THE (2018, d. Eli Roth) *** 1/4
HOUSE WITH A VIEW OF THE SEA, A (2001, d. Alberto Arvelo Mendoza) ** 1/2
HOUSE! (2000, d. Julian Kemp) * 1/2
HOUSE, THE (2012, d. Zuzana Liová) ***
HOUSEBOY, THE (2012, d. Spencer Schilly) V.+ Despite hard drugs, sex & despair, this is a sweet & life affirming gay film. Nick May is a find. *** 1/4
HOUSEBOY, THE (2008, d. Spencer Schilly) Totally realistic & sexy portrayal of 20-ish gay boy's life & times. Watch for actor Nick May. *** 1/4
HOUSEKEEPER, THE (2003, France d. Claude Berri) Wry, romantic comedy about a May-November romance. ***
HOUSEWARMING (Travaux, on sait quand ça commence...) (2006, d. Brigitte Roüen) Silly Paris apt. money pit/illegal alien worker comedy. ** 1/2
How America Killed My Mother (2021, Doc short; d. Travis Irvine) ** 3/4
HOW DO YOU KNOW (2010, d. James L. Brooks) V. Cookie-cutter romcom with wildly divergent acting styles. Silly set-up, sappy ending. Disappointing. **
How Do You Measure a Year? (2023, doc. short, d. Jay Rosenblatt) *** 1/4
HOW FUNNY (OUR COUNTRY IS) (2011 d. Deddy Mizwar; Indonesia) W/O
HOW I ENDED THIS SUMMER (2010, d. Alexei Popogrebsky) Tense, well acted Russian film about conflict between 2 men serving in Arctic weather station. *** 1/2
HOW I KILLED MY FATHER (2002, d. Anne Fontaine) ***
HOW IS YOUR FISH TODAY (Jin tian de yu zen me yang?) (2007, d. Xiaolu Guo) ** 3/4
HOW MOST THINGS WORK (2016, d. Fernando Salem) ** 3/4
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME (Combien tu m'aimes?) (2006, d. Bertrand Blier) Monica Bellucci as sexy prostitute; fun, not my cuppa. ** 3/4
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000, d. Ron Howard) ** 1/2
HOW THE WEST WAS WON (2003, d. Henry Hathaway et al)+ Pristine print in 3-screen Cinerama of gorgeous overblown star-driven turkey. Great experience. ** 1/4
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD (2015, d. Jerry Rothwell) ****
HOW TO COOK YOUR LIFE (2007, d. Dorris Dörrie) *** 1/2
HOW TO DEAL (2003, d. Clare Kilner) Rather innocuous teen romantic comedy. Mandy Moore is OK, Trent Ford one to watch; but Nina Foch steals the film. ** 1/2
HOW TO DIE IN OREGON (2011, d. Peter D. Richardson) *** 1/2
How to Fall in Love in a Pandemic (2021, Doc short; d. Michael-David McKernan) *** 3/4
HOW TO GROW UP DESPITE YOUR PARENTS (Come diventare grandi nonostante i gentori) (2018, d. Luca Lucini) ** 3/4
HOW TO LET GO OF THE WORLD AND LOVE ALL THE THINGS CLIMATE CAN'T CHANGE (2016, d. Josh Fox) *** 1/2
HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS (2003, d. Donald Petrie) Fairly clever high concept romantic farce: 2 people trying not to fall in love. Empty calories. **
HOW TO ROB A BANK (2007, d. Andrews Jenkins) Talky, pretentious caper thriller that doesn't work at all. Even Nick Stahl can't save. * 1/2
HOW TO STEAL 2 MILLION (2012, d. Charlie Vundla) ** 1/4
HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE (2012, d. David France) V. Docu of Act-Up and the decade of death sentences by AIDS. Great archival footage & coverage. Moving. Important. Vital. ****
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2010, d. Sanders & DeBlois) At times thrilling 3D amusement park ride & Baruchel is fine. But story is sketchy & silly. ** 1/2
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (2020, d. Dean DeBlois) ** 3/4
HOW TO TREAT YOUR DRAGON 2 (2015, d. Dean DeBlois) ** 1/2
HOW TO WIN AT CHECKERS (EVERY TIME) (Thailand) (2015, d. Josh Kim) *** 1/4
HOW WE GET FREE (2023, Doc. short, d. Geeta Gandbhir, Samantha Knowles) *** 1/4
HOWARD ZINN: YOU CAN'T BE NEUTRAL ON A MOVING TRAIN (2005, d. Ellis & Mueller) V. Didactic docu about a lifetime activist against war & prejudice. ** 3/4
HOWL (2010, d. Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman) *** 3/4
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (2005, d. Hayao Miyazaki) Good story, well dubbed (especially Christian Bale as Howl), nice animation. I was surprised. *** 1/4
HUACHO (2010, d. Alejandro Fernandez & Almendras) ***
HUDDERSFIELD (Hadersfild) (2008, d. Ivan Zivkovic) ** 1/2
HUDSON RIVER BLUES (2004, d. Nell Cox)V. '95 film chick flick about a large family. Some good actors, and a script with possibilities; but mostly mediocre filmmaking. **
HUGH HEFNER: PLAYBOY, ACTIVIST AND REBEL (2010, d. Brigitte Berman) *** 1/2
HUGO (2012, d. Martin Scorsese) + 2nd time still magical, wonderful flick with fabulous 3D and a palpable love for cinema which brings me to tears. *** 3/4
HUGO (2011, d. Martin Scorsese) Gorgeous paean to early days of cinema. Fabulous visuals & director's style make up for simplistic plot. *** 1/2
HUKKLE (2002, d. György Pálfi) ** 3/4
HULA GIRLS (2006, d. Lee Sang-il; Japan) **
HULK (2003, d. Ang Lee) Turgid, overlong King Kong vs. Crouching Tiger takeoff. Good effects, but constant barrage of novel transition device wearing. * 1/2
HUMAN CAPITAL (2014, d. Paolo Virzi) *** 3/4
HUMAN FLOW (2017, d. Ai Weiwei) *** 3/4
HUMAN NATURE (2002, d. Michel Gondry) *
HUMAN RESOURCES (2010, d. Laurent Cantet)V. Beautifully underplayed labor vs. management, father vs. son drama. Ambiguities abound to the novice director's credit. *** 1/4
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER, THE (2010, d. Eran Riklis; Israel) *** 1/4
HUMAN STAIN, THE (2003, d. Robert Benton) Surprisingly effective melodrama with a star-making debut by Wentworth Miller and another Kiddman triumph. ***
HUMANITÉ (2000, d. Bruno Dumont) *** 1/2
Humans (2019, d. Steph Miller) doc. short ** 1/2
HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT, THE (2019, d. Kim Nguyen) * 3/4
HUMPDAY (2009, d. Lynn Shelton) *** 1/4
HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY, THE (2014, d. Lasse Hallstrom) ** 1/4
HUNGER GAMES, THE (2012, d. Gary Ross) Disappointingly low key PG-13 action...but good acting (Josh Hutcherson fine) overcame story flaws. ** 3/4
HUNGER GAMES, THE: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1 (2014, d. Francis Lawrence) *** 1/4
HUNGER GAMES, THE: MOCKINGJAY - Part 2 (2015, d. Francis Lawrence) ** 3/4
HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE, THE (2013, d. Francis Lawrence) *** 1/4
Hunger Ward (2021, Doc short; d. Skye Fitzgerald) *** 1/2
HUNGER (2011, d. Steve McQueen) V. Fascinating direction: contrast between vivid acting and still compositions. Hard stuff to watch; but Fassbender scintillating. ***
HUNKY DORY (2012, d. Marc Evans) ** 3/4
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (2016, d. Taika Waititi) ** 3/4
HUNT, THE (2013, d. Thomas Vinterberg) *** 1/2
HUNTED, THE (2003, d. William Friedkin) Well made, exciting chase film: army trained killer on a rampage hunted by his teacher. *** 1/4
HUNTER, THE (2005, d. Serik Aprymov) A youthful juvenile deliquent in rural Khazagstan is tought by a lone wolf hunger. Fabu scenery, not much of a plot. ** 3/4
HUNTER, THE (2011, d. Rafi Pitts) * 3/4
HUNTING AND GATHERING (Ensemble, c'est tout) (2007, d. Claude Berri) *** 1/2
HUNTING ELEPHANTS (2014, d. Reshef Levi) *** 1/4
HUNTING GROUND, THE (2015, Kirby Dick) *** 3/4
HUNTING OF THE PRESIDENT, THE (2004, d. Perry & Thomason) V. Docu which nails slimy Ken Starr and his corrupt attack dogs as they tried to get Clinton. *** 1/4
HUNTING PARTY, THE (2007, d. Richard Shepard) ** 1/2
HURT LOCKER, THE (2010, d. Kathryn Bigelow) + Still amazing, definitive war film 1 1/2 years later; but now I notice episodic structure & middle drags a little. *** 3/4
HURT LOCKER, THE (2008, d. Kathryn Bigelow) ****
HUSH! (2002, d. Ryosuke Hashiguchi) ** 1/2
HUSH! (2002, d. Ryosuke Hashiguchi) ** 1/2
HUSTLE & FLOW (2005, d. Craig Brewer) Effective filmmaking about Tenn. underclass dealer & pimp (amazing Terrence Howard) & his need to be a rap star. ** 3/4
HUSTLERS (2019, d. Lorene Scafaria) ** 3/4
HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (2012, d. Roger Michell) * 1/4
HYPNOTIST, THE (2012, d. Lasse Hallström, Sweden) *** 1/4
HYPNOTIZED & HYSTERICAL (HAIRSTYLIST WANTED) (2002, d. Claude Duty) ** 1/2
Hysterical Girl (2021, Doc short, d. Kate Novack) ****
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SAINT (2003, d. Geneviève Mersch) Luxembourg AFF (though Belgian), about disfunctional family from the pov of the daughter. ***
I AM ALI (2014, d. Clare Lewins) *** 1/2
I AM ANOTHER YOU (2017, d. Nanfu Wang) *** 3/4
I AM BIG BIRD (2014, d. Dave LaMattina, Chad Walker) ** 1/4
I AM BREATHING (2013, d. Emma Davie, Morag McKinnon) *** 3/4
I AM CHRIS FARLEY (2015, d. Brent Hodge & Derik Murray) *** 1/2
I AM DAVID (2006, d. Paul Feig) V. Moving, if fairly pat, story of boy who escapes from Bulgarian camp in '52. ***
I AM GLAD MY MOTHER'S ALIVE (Je suis heureux que ma mère soit vivante) (2010, d. Claude Miller & Nathan Miller) *** 1/4
I AM JANE DOE (2017, d. Mary Mazzio) *** 1/4
I AM LEGEND (2007, d. Francis Lawrence) Too similar to 28 Days Later; but effective filmmaking, fine f/x. ***
I AM LOVE (Io sono l'amore) (2010, d. Luca Guadagnino) *** 1/4
I AM LOVE (Io sono l'amore) (2010, d. Luca Guadagnino) + SIFF crossed me up & switched films. I watched this again, mystified but fascinated. *** 1/4
I AM MICHAEL (2017, d. Justin Kelly) ** 3/4
I AM NOT A HIPSTER (2012, d. Destin Cretton) *** 1/2
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (2016, d. Raoul Peck) ****
I AM NUMBER 4 (2011 d. D.J. Caruso) This year's Jumper, alien teen with superpower. Plot barely holds together. Olyphant wasted; but young actors are attractive. ** 1/2
I AM SAM (2001, d. Jessie Nelson) ***
I AM YOURS (2013, d. Iram Haq, Norway) ** 1/4
I AM (2006, d. Dorota Kedzierzawska) *** 1/4
I AM (2010, d. Igor Voloshin) * 1/2
I CALLED HIM MORGAN (2017, d. Kasper Collin) ** 3/4
I CAN QUIT WHENEVER I WANT (2015, d. Sydney Sibilia) * 1/4
I CAPTURE THE CASTLE (2003, United Kingdom d. Tim Fywell) Three hankey weeper, British upper class period romance better than most. *** 1/4
I COMPAGNI (The Organizer) (2013, d. Mario Monicelli) *** 3/4
I DO (2013, d. Glenn Gaylord) *** 1/2
I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP ALONE (2007, d. Tsai Ming-liang) ** 1/2
I DREAMED OF AFRICA (2000, d. Hugh Hudson) **
I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL (2009, d. Bob Gosse) The Hangover with twice the raunch & characters half the age; but as funny & well played as it is tasteless. ***
I IMAGINE A DREAM LIKE THAT (Pense che un sogno cosi) (2009, d. Marco De Luca) ** 1/2
I JUST DIDN'T DO IT (2007, d. Masayuki Suo) Japan Academy foreign film submission *** 1/2
I KILLED MY MOTHER (J'ai tué ma mère) (2009, d. Xavier Dolan) *** 1/2
I KILLED MY MOTHER (J'ai tué ma mère) (2009, d.Xavier Dolan) + Actually better the second time around. Dolan is like a reincarnation of young Orson Welles. *** 3/4
I KISSED A VAMPIRE (2010, d. Chris Sean Nolan) W/O
I KNOW YOU KNOW (2009, d. Justin Kerrigan) ***
I LOST MY BODY (2020, d. Jérémy Clapin) ** 1/2
I LOVE CINEMA (2004, d. Osamma Fawzy) Egypt AFF. Annoying comedy about a kid raised in a raucus Coptic Christian family in 1966. * 3/4
I LOVE YOU BETH COOPER (2009, d. Chris Columbus) Horrible teen nerd+cheerleader comedy. Jack Carpenter as gay best friend can't redeem it. *
I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS (2010, d. John Requa, Glenn Ficarra) Weird script even if true. A bomb, of course; but for me a guilty pleasure. McGregor shines. ***
I LOVE YOU, MAN (2009, d. John Hamburg) Great to see an endearing, straight male bonding flick not based on homo panic! Rudd & Segal are wonderful. *** 1/4
I LOVE YOUR WORK (2010, d. Adam Goldberg) V. Crazed actors maybe shouldn't make super-arty films about crazy actors. But Giovanni Ribisi is fine here. **
I MISS YOU (Tu me Manque) (2019, Bolivia, d. Rodrigo Bellott) ****
I MISS YOU WHEN I SEE YOU (2018, d. Simon Chung) ** 3/4
I MISS YOU (2010, d. Fabian Hofman) *** 1/4
I MURDER SERIOUSLY (2003, Mex. d. Antonio Urrutia) Off kilter serial killer film, midnight movie fare. W/O
I NOT STUPID (2003, Singapore d. Jack Neo) Raucus, amusing comedy about 3 educationally challenged kids in a Singapore school & their zany parents. ** 1/2
I ORIGINS (2014, d. Mike Cahill) *** 3/4
I PREFER THE SOUND OF THE SEA (Mimmo Calopresti) *** 1/2
I REALLY HATE MY JOB (2007, d. Oliver Parker) * 3/4
I REMEMBER (2007, d. Edgard Nevarro) **
I SAW THE SUN (2009, d. Mahsun Kirmizigül; Turkey) ** 3/4
I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND (2007, d. Jiri Menzel; Czech Republic) *** 1/4
I SHOT MY LOVE (2013, d. Tomer Heymann) ** 3/4
I SMILE BACK (2015, d. Adam Salky) ** 1/4
I USED TO BE DARKER (2013, d. Matthew Porterfield) ** 1/2
I WANT YOUR LOVE (2012, d. Travis Mathews) Commendably realistic, ambling S.F. gay scene quasi-porno, amateur actors, real sex, rudimentary uninvolving story. ** 1/4
I Want Your Love (2014, d. Travis Mathews) + Short film where two friends decide to make love and do. Male porn as art film. *** 3/4
I WAS HERE (2008, d. René Vilbre; Estonia) ***
I WILL SURVIVE (2001, d. Sobreviveré) (2001, d. Alfonso Albacete & David Menkes) ***
I ♥ HUCKABEES (2004, d. David O. Russell) Who green lighted this script? Russell's style and his fine cast can't overcome the silly, pseudo profound script. **
I, ANNA (2013, d. Barnaby Southcombe) ***
I, DANIEL BLAKE (2016, d. Ken Loach) *** 1/2
I, ROBOT (2004, d. Alex Proyas) Surprisingly good adaptation of Asimov, though also filled with cheesy movie clichés and some ragged CGI f/x. ** 1/2
I, TONYA (2017, d. Craig Gillespie) *** 1/4
I.O.U.S.A. (2008, d. Patrick Creadon) Very well made pov docu about the crushing future economic deficits facing the U.S. Nobody wants to hear this, but everybody should. *** 1/2
iBOY (2017, d. Adam Randall) **
ICARUS (2017, d. Bryan Fogel) *** 3/4
ICE AGE THE MELTDOWN (2006, d. Carlos Saldanha) Funny, silly, watchable 3-D animated Road-Runnerish film. ** 3/4
ICE AGE (2003, d. Chris Wedge) DVD. Animated film, road trip with Mammoth, Sabre Tooth, Sloth & Neanderthal baby ** 1/2
ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (2009, d. Carlos Saldanha) Nice 3-D animation...but boring, clichéd and not up to previous. * 3/4
ICE AND THE SKY (2016, d. Luc Jacquet) *** 3/4
ICE CREAM, I SCREAM (2007, d. Yüksel Aksu; Turkey) * 1/4
ICE HARVEST, THE (2005, d. Harold Ramis) * 3/4
Ice Merchants (2023, anim. short, d.João Gonzalez) ** 1/2
ICE POISON (2014, Taiwan, d. Midi Z.) *
ICE PRINCESS (2005, d. Tim Fywell) Another tired teen flick about a girl's struggle against her good mother & bad mother. Nice skating. **
ICEBERG (2006, d. Abel, Gordon & Romy) ** 1/2
ICELANDIC DREAM, THE (2001, d. Robert I. Douglas) ** 1/4
IDA (2014, d. Pawel Pawlikowski) *** 1/2
IDENTITY THIEF (2014, d. Seth Gordon) How ridiculous the premise? Let me count the ways. I couldn't hack watching it. W/O
IDENTITY (2003, d. James Mangold) Stifling psycho thriller which holds together pretty well, considering it's pure claptrap. Figured it out too early. ** 1/2
IDES OF MARCH (2011, d. George Clooney) Cynical look at presidential politics. Strong perfs at all levels, with a relevant script developing in surprising ways. *** 1/2
IDIOCRACY (2006, d. Mike Judge) Intriguing, clever set-up, well written; ok f/x; just sort of boring and disappointing. ** 1/4
IDIOT LOVE (Amor Idiota) (2006, d. Ventura Pons) *** 1/4
IDIOTS, THE (2000, d. Lars von Trier) *** 3/4
IDLEWILD (2006, d. Bryan Barber) Annoying, overly stylish film with lousy songs by Outkast...but Big Boi can act. **
IDOL, THE (2016, Palestine, Hany Ab-Assad) ***
IF A TREE FALLS: STORY OF EARTH LIBERATION FRONT (2011, d. Curry & Cullman) V. Terrorists? or Eco-freedom fighters? Involving people story. *** 1/2
If Anything Happens I Love You (2021, d. Will McCormack, Michael Govier) Couple grieve for child lost in school shooting. Simple, moving! *** 3/4
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (2018, d. Barry Jenkins) * 3/4
IF DREAMS WERE LIGHTNING: RURAL HEALTHCARE CRISES (2023, Doc. short, d. Ramin Bahrani) *** 1/4
IF I HAD YOU (2006, d. John Deery) V. Underplayed English murder mystery with triple whammy. Nice script. ***
IF I WANT TO WHISTLE, I WHISTLE (2011 d. Florin Serban; Romania) *** 1/2
IF PROJECT, THE (2016, d. Kathlyn Horan) ** 1/2
IF THERE'S A HELL BELOW (2016, d. Nathan Williams) **
IF YOU BUILD IT (2014, d. Patrick Creadon) *** 1/4
IF... (2001, d. Lindsay Anderson) ***
IFINE: BEAUTY (2023, Doc. short, d. Adisa, Ebony Gilbert) *** 3/4
IGBY GOES DOWN (2002, d. Burr Steers) ***
IGNASI M. (2014, d. Ventura Pons) * 1/4
Ignite: A Burning Man Experience (2018, doc short d. Ryan Moore) *** 1/2
IL DIVO (2009, d. Paolo Sorrentino) ** 3/4
IL SORPASSO ( 2015, d. Dino Risi) *** 1/2
I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD (2004, d. Mike Hodges) Atmospheric Brit revenge thriller. Works despite disappointingly abrupt ending. ***
ILLEGAL (2010, d. Olivier Masset-Depasse; Belgium) ***
ILLEGITIMATE (2016, d. Adrian Sitaru) **3/4
ILLUSION OF FEAR, THE (2008, d. Aleksandr Kirienko; Ukraine) * 3/4
ILLUSIONIST, THE (2006, d. Neil Burger) ***
ILLUSIONIST, THE (2010, d. Sylvain Chomet) Silent bittersweet comedy with nice 2D animation from a Jacques Tati script. Typical retro Tati...I just don't get him. ** 1/2
ILO ILO (2013, d. Anthony Chen, Singapore) ***
I'M A PORN STAR (2016, d. Charlie David) ** 1/2
I'M FROM TITOV VELES (2009, d. Teona Mitevska; Macedonia) **
I'M GOING HOME (2002, d. Manoel de Oliveira) ***
I'M NO LONGER HERE (2021, Mexico, d. Fernando Frias) 17 yr. old dancer from Monterrey forced to go to NYC where he is miserable. *** 1/4
I'M NOT SCARED (Io non ho paura) (2010, d. Gabriele Salvatores) + *** 1/4
I'M NOT SCARED (2003, d. Gabriele Salvatores) 10 year Sicilian boy makes friends with victim of his village's kidnapping plot. Beautiful & well acted. ***
I'M NOT THERE (2007, d. Todd Haynes) Fascinating, but completely inscrutable, just like most of Dylan's songs for me. ***
I'M TARANEH, 15 (2003, d. Rassul Sadr-Ameli) Iran AFF. "Good" young girl gets in trouble in modern Iran. ***
I'M THE FATHER (2003, Germany d. Dani Levi) A German Kramer vs. Kramer, which ultimately worked for me, though it sometimes flagged. ***
I'M THE KING OF THE CASTLE (2003, d. Régis Wargnier) Gothic thriller cum Lord of the Flies with some remarkably naturalistic acting by 2 French kids. *** 1/2
I'M WITH LUCY (2002, d. Jon Serman II) * 1/2
I'M YOUR MAN (Ich bin dein Mensch) (2021, Germany, d. Maria Schrader) *** 1/2
IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS (2009, d. Terry Gilliam) Diverting...but what?! Depp, Law & Farrell do fine channelling Heath. ** 1/2
IMAGINARY HEROES (2004, d. Dan Harris) Fabulous script, an enthralling & moving disfunctional family black comedy with an awesome ensemble cast. *** 3/4
IMAGINARY HEROES (2004, d. Dan Harris) V.+ 2nd time around some of the acting & direction came off stilted. Still, great script and a moving very realistic drama. *** 1/2
IMAGINE (2013, d. Andrezej Jakimowski) *** 1/2
IMANI (2010, d. Caroline Kamya) * 3/4
IMITATION GAME, THE (2014, d. Morten Tyldum) ** 3/4
IMMACULATE (Sans laisser de traces) (2010, d. Grégoire Vigneron) ***
IMMIGRANT, THE (2014, d. James Gray) ** 3/4
IMMORTALISTS, THE (2014, d. David Alvarado, Jason Sussberg) *** 1/4
IMMORTALS (2011, d. Tarsem Singh) Bombastic, but approaching perfection for what it is. Henry Cavill's sculptured body a work of art in 3D. ***
IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, THE (2002, d. Oliver Parker) ** 1/2
IMPOSSIBLE, THE (2012, d. J.A. Bayona) *** 1/2
IMPOSTER, THE (2012, d. Bart Layton) *** 1/4
IMPULSOS (2003, d. Miguel Alcantud) Thriller about a Ted Bundy type of serial killer who meet his match with a suicidal woman. ** 3/4
IN A BETTER WORLD (2011 d. Susanne Bier; Denmark) ****
IN A DREAM (2008, d. Jeremiah Zagar) Raw nerve of a docu about Phila mosaic artist Isiah Zagar & his wife by the 2nd son. Fascinating but difficult. ***
IN A RELATIONSHIP (2018, d. Sam Boyd) ***
IN A WORLD (2013, d. Lake Bell) ***
IN AMERICA (2003, d. Jim Sheridan) Tender weeper which earns tears honestly with flawless performances & heartfelt script. A near perfect little gem. *** 1/2
IN BLOOM (2013, d. Chris Michael Birkmeier) *** 1/2
IN BLOOM (2013, d. Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross, Georgia) ** 3/4
IN BRUGES (2008, d. Martin Mcdonagh) Witty, terrific black comedy thriller with Colin Farrell's best perf. *** 1/2
IN DARKNESS (2011, d. Agnieszka Holland, Poland) *** 3/4
IN GOOD COMPANY (2004, d. Paul Weitz) Clever office comedy with Dennis Quaid's best performance in years & a charming Topher Grace. It really worked for me. *** 1/4
IN GOOD COMPANY (2004, d. Paul Weitz) V.+ Watched this well written & acted comedy again, and appreciated Scarlett Johanson more this time. Good ensemble. *** 1/4
IN GOOD COMPANY (2001, d. Nikos Zapatinas) * 1/2
IN HER SHOES (2005, d. Curtis Hanson) ** 3/4
IN HIS HANDS (2006, d. Anne Fontaine) ** 1/2
IN JACKSON HEIGHTS (2015, d. Frederick Wiseman) *** 1/4
IN JULY (2003, Germany d. Fairth Akin) Delightful road film. ***
IN MEMORY OF MYSELF (2008, d. Saverio Costanzo) ** 3/4
IN MY COUNTRY (2005, d. John Boorman) Earnest, but sporadically affecting film about reporting on the S. African reconciliation trials. ** 1/2
IN MY FATHER'S DEN (2005, d. Brad McGann) Involving, complex New Zealand drama with a superb Matthew MacFadyen performance. *** 1/4
IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE (2014, d. Hans Petter Moland) *** 1/4
IN PRAISE OF LOVE (Éloge de l'amour) (2001, d. Jean-Luc Godard) 0*
IN SEACH OF KENNEDY (2008, d. Chuck Workman) * 1/2
IN SEARCH OF PEACE, PART ONE: 1948-1967 (2001, d. Richard Trank) **
IN SECRET (2014, d. Charlie Stratton) *** 1/2
In the Absence (2019, d. Yi Seung-jun) *** 3/4
IN THE ARMS OF MY ENEMY (2008, d. Micha Wald) ***
IN THE BEDROOM (2001, d. Todd Field) *** 1/2
IN THE BEGINNING (À l'origine) (2010, d. Xavier Giannoli) *** 1/4
IN THE BOSOM OF THE ENEMY (2001, d. Gil Portes) ***
IN THE CITY (2003, d. Cesc Gay) 3 couples explore variations of marital infidelity in modern Barcelona. Mostly boring, til it clicked after an hour. ** 3/4
IN THE CUT (2003, d. Jane Campion) Stylish, creepy, sexy, edge of seat thriller. Meg Ryan is Oscar-worthy, Ruffalo miscast, but fine. *** 1/4
IN THE FADE (2017, Germany, d. Fetih Akin) *** 1/2
IN THE FOG (2013, d. Sergei Loznitsa) ***
IN THE GRAYSCALE (En la Gama de los Grises) (2017, d. Claudio Marcone) ** 1/2
IN THE HEART OF THE MACHINE (2022, Bulgaria IFF, d. Martin Makariev) *** 3/4
IN THE HEART OF THE SEA (2015, d. Ron Howard) *** 1/4
IN THE HEIGHTS (2022, d. John M. Chu) *** 1/4
IN THE HELIOPOLIS FLAT (2008, d. Mohamed Khan; Egypt) ** 1/4
IN THE HOUSE (2013, d. François Ozon) *** 3/4
IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY (2011, d. Angelina Jolie) V. Romeo & Juliette Bosnian war story, nicely underplayed and well directed. *** 1/4
IN THE LAND OF WOMEN (2007, d. Jon Kasdan) Brody is legitimate leading man. Ryan impressive. Fine debut by young Kasdan. *** 1/4
IN THE LOOP (2009, d. Armando Iannucci) ***
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (2001, d. Wong Kar-wai) ** 1/2
IN THE NAME OF MY DAUGHTER (L'Homme qu'on aimait trop) (2015, d. André Téchiné) *** 1/4
IN THE NAME OF (2013, d. Malgoska Szumowska) ***
IN THE RADIANT CITY (2017, d. Rachel Lambert) ** 1/4
IN THE REALM OF THE UNREAL (2004, d. Jessica Yu) Docu with weird, unsavory subject matter but interesting art and fine animation. I just didn't enjoy the experience. **
IN THE REARVIEW (2023, Doc. d. Maciek Hamela) *** 1/4
IN THE SAME BREATH (2022, d. Nanfu Wang) *** 3/4
IN THE SHADOW (2012, d. David Ondncek, Czech Republic) *** 1/4
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON (2007, d. David Sington) ***1/4
IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH (2007, d. Paul Haggis) Strong perfs, especially Tommy Lee Jones. Resonant script. *** 1/4
In Their Room: London (2013, d. Travis Mathews) ** 1/2
IN THEIR SLEEP (Dans ton sommeil) (2010, d. Caroline & Éric Du Potet) * 3/4
IN THIS TRICKY LIFE (2001, d. Biatriz Flora Silva) ** 1/2
IN THIS WORLD (2003, d. Michael Winterbottom) Quasi-documentary style film about 2 refugees trip from Pakistan to England. I wasn't engaged enough. ** 3/4
IN TIME (2012, d. Andrew Niccol) V. A good premise gone bad. Tacky looking f/x film, mediocre over-acting, plot holes bigger than L.A., no chemistry by leads. Why? **
IN YOUR ABSENCE (2009, d. Iván Noel) ***
INBETWEENERS, THE (2012, d. Ben Palmer) Expansion of Brit tv comedy (I watched!), sex & scatology 4-some end-of-hi trip to Crete. Well done, but too American Pie. ** 1/2
INCENDIARY: THE WILLINGHAM CASE (2011, d. Bailey & Mims) V. Strong pov docu that Texas (and Gov. Perry) quashed investigation of execution of innocent man. *** 3/4
INCENDIES (2010, d. Denis Villeneuve; Canada) *** 3/4
INCEPTION (2010, d. Christopher Nolan) Too complex plot makes for fascinating conjectures. Great f/x & driving, propulsive score overcomes too much exposition. *** 1/4
INCEPTION (2011 d. Christopher Nolan) + 2nd time I followed it better. One speedy, propulsive movie with great f/x & design, stalled by constant necessary exposition. ***
INCH'ALLAH DIMANCHE (2001, d. Yamina Benguigui) ** 3/4
INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS (2004, d. Zak Penn) Amusing, slick mockumentary in the Charlie Kaufmanesque mode. ***
INCITEMENT (2019, Israel, d. Yaron Zolberman) *** 1/4 The assassination of Rabin from pov of killer's action in previous year.
INCONVENIENT SEQUEL, AN: TRUTH TO POWER (2017, d. Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk) ****
INCONVENIENT TRUTH, AN (2006, d. Davis Guggenheim) V. More than a slide show, America's fall happened in Nov. 2000. *** 3/4
INCREDIBLE HULK, THE (2008, d. Louis Leterrier) King Kong meets Godzilla except they're people. Good f/x, Norton fine, film flawed. ** 1/4
INCREDIBLES 2 (2019, d. Brad Bird) ** 3/4
INCREDIBLES, THE (2005, d. Brad Bird) V. I guess I'm just not into Bird's genre of animated film. Well made, but overly obvious. ** 1/2
INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (2016, d. Roland Emmerich) ** 1/2
INDIAN POINT (2016, d. Ivy Meeropol) *** 1/2
INDIANA JONES & THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008, d. Steven Spielberg) Great f/x can't mask stupid escapist fantasy story. ** 1/4
INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE (2012, d. Pajot & Swirsky) V. Fascinating, emotionally involving docu of 4 indie nerd computer game developers & their process and passion. ****
INDIGNATION (2016, d. James Schamus) *** 3/4
INDUSTRIALIST, THE (2012, d. Giuliano Montaldo) ** 3/4
INEQUALITY FOR ALL (2013, d. Jacob Kornbluth) ****
INFAMOUS (2007, d. Douglas McGrath) V. Better in every particular than Capote. Stunning acting by Jones & Craig. *** 1/2
INFERNAL AFFAIRS #1 (2004, d. Andrew Lau) + Thriller that is only slightly clearer watching it a 2nd time. Still rivitingly fascinating. *** 1/4
INFERNAL AFFAIRS #2 (2004, d. Andrew Lau) A prequel to the initial film which does explain some of the backstory. Still confusing, but entertaining. ** 3/4
INFERNAL AFFAIRS #3 (2004, d. Andrew Lau) An expansion of the first film, fleshing out some of the events and going a little haywire psychologically. ** 1/2
INFERNAL AFFAIRS (2003, Hong Kong d. Andrew Lau, Alan Mak) High production value policier about long-term moles infiltrating an evil gang. *** 1/4
INFILTRATOR, THE (2016, d. Brad Furman) ***
Infinite Galatea (Galatée à l'infini) (2018, d. Mariangela Pluchino et al) **
INFINITELY POLAR BEAR (2015, d. Maya Forbes) ***
INFINITY BABY (2017, d. Bob Byington) ** 1/2
INFORMANT (2013, d. Jamie Meltzer) ** 3/4
INFORMANT, THE! (2009, d. Steven Soderbergh) Matt Damon is great, film has its funny moments but just falls short with unconvincing Keystone Feds. ** 3/4
INFORMERS, THE (2009, d. Gregor Jordan) Glossy, trashy film based on Bret Easton Ellis depraved L.A. novel. More meandering than Crash. Nobody wins. * 1/2
INGLORIOUS BASTARDS (2010, d. Enzo Castellari; 1978) ** 3/4
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009, d. Quentin Tarantino) Not being a Tarantino fan, I was blown away by the Wellesian imagery & great alternate history plot. *** 1/2
INGRID BERGMAN IN HER OWN WORDS (2015, d. Stig Björkman) *** 1/2
INHERENT VICE (2014, d. Paul Thomas Anderson) **
INHERITANCE (2003, d. Per Fly) Heavy, well made drama about scion of a steel factory owning family and his choice between business and happiness. *** 1/4
INHERITANCE, THE (2002, d. Daniel Filho) **
INHERITANCE: A FISHERMAN'S STORY (2003, d. Peter Hegedus) V. Australian doc about an ecologic disaster in Hungary. Well put together, somewhat slight. ** 3/4
INJU, LA BÊTE DANS L'OMBRES (Inju, the Beast in the Shadow) (2008, d. Barbet Schroeder) ** 3/4
INLAND ROAD, THE (2017, d. Jackie van Beek) ** 1/2
INNOCENCE (2000, d. Paul Cox) *** 1/2
INNOCENCE (2012, d. Jan Hrebejk) *** 1/2
INNOCENT VOICES (2005, d. Luis Mandoki) El Salvador guerilla war from pov of 11 year old boy in a small village. Shattering, powerful, excellent film. *** 1/2
INNOCENTS, THE (2016, d. Anne Fontaine) *** 1/2
INSIDE HANNA'S SUITCASE (2010, d. Larry Weinstein) *** 1/2
INSIDE JOB (2010, d. Charles Ferguson) V. Well deserved hatchet job docu on the banks, government & most everybody responsible for the current Depression. *** 3/4
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (2013, d. Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) *** 1/2
INSIDE MAN (2006, d. Spike Lee) Close to perfect bank heist film: original, unpredictable, involving. Clive Owens...wow! *** 1/2
Inside of My Mysterious Life (2019, d. Keylun Johnson, Karlian Cruz Ortega) *
INSIDE OUT (2015, d. Pete Docter) ** 3/4
INSOMNIA (2002, d. Christopher Nolan) *** 1/4
INSPECTOR LEWIS: AND THE MOONBEAMS... (2009, d. Dan Reed) V. Superb whodoneit reminiscent of "The Secret History". Tom Riley amazing as autistic artist. *** 1/2
INSPECTOR LEWIS: EXPIATION (2009, d. Dan Reed) V. My kind of mystery show, good cast, reasonable psychology, & interesting detectives. Lame case, tho. ** 3/4
INSPECTOR LEWIS: LIFE BORN OF FIRE (2009, d.Richard Spence) V. Intriguing religion vs. gay guilt serial killer plot...but I fgured it out way too soon. ***
INSPECTOR LEWIS: MUSIC TO DIE FOR (2009, d. Bill Anderson) V. Disappointingly opaque episode. Auspicious debut for Merlin's Bradley James. ** 1/2
INSTINCT (2019, Netherlands, d. Halina Reijn) *** 1/4 A prison psychologist is out of her depth dealing with a magnetic, sexy prisoner.
INSULT, THE (2017, Lebanon, d. Ziad Doueiri) *** 3/4
INSURGENT (2015, d. Robert Schwentke) *** 1/2
INTACTO (2002, d. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo) ***
INTENT TO DESTROY: DEATH, DENIAL & DEPICTION (2017, d. Joe Berlinger) ****
INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR (2013, d. Travis Mathews, James Franco) ***
INTERMISSION (2004, d. John Crowley) Unsparing Irish film which might be called Hate Actually. Good acting, inventive script. ***
INTERN, THE (2015, d. Nancy Meyers) *** 1/4
INTERNATIONAL, THE (2009, d. Tom Tykwer) Competent, disappointingly concluded thriller with 1 great shoot-out at the Guggenheim Museum, NY. ** 3/4
INTERNET'S OWN BOY, THE (2014, d. Brian Knappenberger) *** 1/2
INTERPRETER, THE (2005, d. Sidney Pollack) Disappointing thriller pastiche (Man Who Knew Too Much + 3 Days of Condor). Star power aint enough. **
INTERSTELLAR (2014, d. Christoper Nolan) *** 1/4
INTERVENTION, THE (2016, d. Clea DuVall) *** 1/4
INTERVIEW (2007, d. Steve Buscemi) ***
INTIMACY (2001, d. Patrice Chéreau) ** 1/2
INTIMATE ENEMIES (L'ennemi intime) (2007, d. Florent-Emilio Siri) *** 1/4
INTIMATE STRANGERS (2004, d. Patrice Leconte) Talky, if nicely written 2-character unconventional love story. Too one-note and buttoned-up for my taste. ** 3.4
INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS (2000, d. Mark Jonathan Harris) *** 1/2
INTO THE INFERNO (2016, d. Werner Herzog) *** 1/2
INTO THE STORM (2009, d. Thaddeus O'Sullivan) V. Astonishing perf. by Brendon Gleason. History lite...but quite absorbing. *** 1/4
INTO THE WILD (2007, d. Sean Penn) I've been haunted by this story of a young man's spiritual journey. *** 1/2
INTO THE WOODS (2014, d. Rob Marshall) *** 1/4
INTOLERABLE CRUELTY (2003, d. Joel Coen) The usual Coen Bros. hipster triumph of style over substance, only much too cynical for my tastes. ** 1/2
INTOUCHABLE, L' (2006, d. Benôit Jacquot) ***
INTOUCHABLES, THE (2012, d. Eric Toledano, Olivie Nakache) *** 1/2
INTRODUCING SELMA BLAIR (2021, d. Rachel Fleit) *** 1/2
INTRODUCING THE DWIGHTS (2007, d. Cherie Nowlan) ***
INVADER (2013, d. Daniel Calparsoro) ** 1/2
INVADER, THE (2012, d. Nicolas Provost) ***
INVENTING ANNA (2022, limited series, d. David Frankel, Tom Verica, et al) ** 3/4
INVENTION OF LYING, THE (2009, d. Ricky Gervais) A less bloated Evan Almighty but just as misguided. Gervaise is tiresome, the humor curdles. Only the surprising cameos work. **
INVENTOR: OUT FOR BLOOD IN SILICON VALLEY, THE (2019, d. Alex Gibney) *** 3/4
INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION (2012, d. Elio Petri) ** 3/4
INVESTIGATION (2008, d. Iglika Trifonova) ***
INVICTUS (2009, d. Clint Eastwood) Morgan Freeman is eerily perfect, bringing Mandela's heroism home. Film is truly affecting and unexpected. *** 1/2
INVINCIBLE (2006, d. Ericson Core) Fun football true story. Mark Wahlberg is fine as Vince Papale. Well made, moving. *** 1/4
INVINCIBLE (2002, d. Werner Herzog) ***
INVISIBLE CHILDREN, THE (2003, d. Lisandro Duque Naranjo) Columbia AFF. Nostalgic comedy about boys & black magic. ** 1/2
INVISIBLE LIFE (2019, Brazil, d. Karim Aïnouz) *** 1/4 Loving sisters tragically separated by life's vicissitudes.
INVISIBLE WAR, THE (2012, d. Kirby Dick) V. Some advocacy documentaries are so important that they surpass the format; but are didactic & hard to watch. *** 1/2
INVISIBLE WAVES (2006, d. Pen-ek Ratanaruang) ** 1/2
INVISIBLE WOMAN, THE (2013, d. Ralph Fiennes) **
INVISIBLE, THE (2007, d. David Goyer) Ridiculous plot, guilty pleasure...I like Justin Chatwin, so sue me. ** 1/4
INVOLUNTARY (2009, d. Ruben östlund) ***
IP5 (2001, d. Jean-Jacques Beineix) *** 1/2
IRA FINKELSTEIN'S CHRISTMAS (2012, d. Sue Corcoran) * 3/4
IRAN JOB, THE (2012, d. Till Schauder) V. American plays basketball in Iran's superleague. Sports & geopolitics, a powerful mixture. I cheered several times, a first for this year's docs. *** 3/4
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS (2006, d. James Langley) V. 3 part docu about today's Iraq. Beautifully shot, difficult to follow. ** 1/2
IRÈNE (2010, d. Alain Cavalier) * 1/4
IRINA PALM (2008, d. Sam Garbarski) ***
IRIS (2015, d. Albert Maysles) *** 1/2
IRIS (2001, d. Richard Eyre) **
IRISH EYES (2004, d. Daniel McCarthy) Daniel Baldwin vehicle...he's a Boston Irish gangster. But it wasn't holding my interest, though it wasn't all that bad. W/O
Irish Goodbye, An (2023, short, d. Ross White, Tom Berkeley) ***
IRISHMAN, THE (2019, d. Martin Scorsese) *** 3/4
IRON CROSS (2010, d. Joshua Newton)V. Post-Holocaust affect story, ludicrously plotted, poorly acted (poor Roy Scheider, bad way to go.) * 3/4
IRON JAWED ANGELS (2004, d. Katja von Garnier) V. Sufferagette biopic about fight for 19th Amendment. Good cast, clichéd filmmaking. ** 1/4
IRON LADIES (2001, d. Y. Thongkongtoon) **
IRON LADY, THE (2011, d. Phylida Lloyd) Streep's Thatcher her meatiest role in years & she attacks it with rare gusto. Film structured better than expected. ***
IRON MAN 2 (2010, d. Jon Favreau) Downey is fine, some good set pieces; but film loses traction and peters out to disappointing climax. ** 1/4
IRON MAN 3 (2013, d. Shane Black) ** 1/4
IRON MAN (2008, d. Jon Favreau) Smart, with good script & a great perf by Downey's mature & sarcastic superhero. *** 1/4
IRON MOON (2016, d. Qin Xiaoyu & Wu Feiyue) W/O
IRON TEMPLE (2021, d. Aaron M. Abelto) ** 3/4
IRRATIONAL MAN (2015, d. Woody Allen) ***
IRREVERSIBLE (2003, d. Gaspar Noe) Assault by celluloid? Or masterpiece of modern cinema. I'm firmly in the latter camp. ****
IS IT JUST ME? (2010, d. J. C. Calciano) *** 1/4
IS THE MAN WHO IS TALL HAPPY? (2013, d. Michel Gondry) ***
IS THERE ANYBODY THERE? (2008, d. John Crowley) *** 1/4
ISKA'S JOURNEY (Iszka Utazása) (2007, d. Csaba Bollók) ** 1/2
ISLAND ETUDE (2008, d. Huai-en Chen; Taiwan) W/O
ISLAND IN BETWEEN (2023, Doc. short, d. S. Leo Chiang) ***
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, THE (De Fortabte Sjaeles O) (2008, d. Nikolaj Arcel) ** 3/4
ISLAND PRESIDENT, THE (2011, d. Jon Shenk) V. Vitally informative docu of Pres. Nasheed of the Maldives and his quest to save his nation from global warming. *** 1/2
ISLAND, THE (2005, d. Michael Bay) More plot holes than swiss cheese, shameful stealing from past films; but still a diverting mishmosh. **
ISLAND, THE (2007, d. Pavil Lounguine) ***
ISLAND, THE (2009, d. Sherif Arafa; Egypt) ** 3/4
ISLE OF DOGS (2018, d. Wes Anderson)
ISMAEL'S GHOST (2018, d. Arnaud Desplechin) ** 1/4
IT ALL STARTS TODAY (2000, d. Bertrand Tavernier) *** 1/2
IT ALWAYS RAINS ON SUNDAY (2008, d. Robert Hamer, 1947) ** 1/2
IT DOESN'T HURT (Mne ne bolno) (2007, d. Alexey Balabanov) **
IT IS NO DREAM (2012, d. Richard Trank) V. Informative bio docu of Theodor Herzl, founder of Zionist movement. Nicely done graphics & well written, but made for specific audience. ***
IT MIGHT GET LOUD (2009, d. Davis Guggenheim) Great subjects & superb guitar playing subverted by poor editing scheme in otherwise excellent rock docu. ***
IT MUST BE HEAVEN (2019, Palestine d. Elia Suleiman) Palestian Christian observes the world as a semi-tragicomic place. ** 1/2
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY (2003, d. Fred Schepisi) Unaccountably entertained by this schlocky piece of emotionally manipulative crap. Family star power. **
ITAKER (Wop) (2013, d. Tony Trupia) *** 1/4
ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS (2001, d. Lone Scherfig) *** 1/4
ITALIAN JOB, THE (2003, d. F. Gary Gray) Caper thriller which works like gangbusters until it runs out of steam at the end. ***
ITALIAN, THE (2005, d. Andrey Kravchuk; Russia) *** 1/2
ITALY LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT (2012, d. Gustav Hofer & Luca Ragazzi) *** 1/4
ITINÉRARIES (2006, d. Christophe Otzenberger) *** 1/4
IT'S A DISEASE, NOT A DIET (2023, Doc. short, d. Michael Lopez, Brian Gove) *** 1/4
IT'S A KIND OF FUNNY STORY (2017, d. Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden) + *** 1/2
IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE (2004, d. Thomas Vinterberg) Pretentious, opaque melodrama about a near future world catastrophy. Nobody comes out a winner here. *
IT'S ALL GONE PETE TONG (2005, d. Michael Dowse) Funny satirical mocumentary about a deaf disco DJ with a splendid central performance (Paul Kaye) ***
IT'S ALL SO QUIET (2013, d. Nanouk Leopold) *** 1/2
IT'S BETTER TO JUMP (2013, d. Gina Angelone, Mouna Stewart, Patrick A. Stewart) * 3/4
IT'S COMPLICATED (2009, d. Nancy Meyers) Funny, even enchanting rom-com which hit the right notes for me. Streep & esp. Alec Baldwin are so good. *** 1/2
IT'S COMPLICATED (2009, d. Nancy Meyers) V.+ Funny, lush rom-com which hit the right notes for me. Streep, Baldwin & Krasinski are so good. *** 1/2
IT'S HARD TO BE NICE (2007, d. Srdan Vuletic; Bosnia/Herzogovina) ***
IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY (2010, d. Fleck & Boden) Fine, well directed coming of ager with a career making perf. by Keir Gilchrist. Neat montages, absorbing. *** 1/2
IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY (2012, d. Boden & Fleck) V.+ Lovely, moving humanistic story with great perfs by Gilchrist & Galifianakis. 2nd time as good. *** 1/2
IT'S NOT ME, I SWEAR! (2009, d. Philippe Falardeau) ** 3/4
IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE (2014, d. Arid Ostin Ommundsen) ** 3/4
IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD (2016, Canada, d. Xavier Dolan) *** 1/2
IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD (2017, d. Xavier Dolan) + *** 1/4
IT'S THE LAW (L'ora legale) (2017, d. Salvatore Ficarra & Valentino Picone) ***
IT'S WINTER (2007, d. Rafi Pitts (86 min.) **
Ivalu (2023, short, d. Anders Walter) ** 1/4
IVAN (2017, d. Alyona Davydova) ** 3/4
IVAN (2018, Slovenia, d. Janez Burger) *** 1/4
I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (2008, d. Philippe Claudel) Superb, original & unpredictable family drama with towering perfs from Kristin Thomas & Elsa Zylberstein. *** 1/2
IVORY - A CRIME STORY (2016, d. Sergey Yastrzhembsky) ** 1/2
IVORY GAME, THE (2016, d. Richard Ladkani & Kief Davidson) *** 3/4
IVORY TOWER (2014, d. Andrew Rossi) ***
IXCANUL (Guatemala) (2015, d. Jayro Bustamente) *** 1/4
J. EDGAR (2011, d. Clint Eastwood) Well made - DiCaprio is fine; but its mild whitewash of Hoover & his life was unsettling. ***
JACK AND SAM (2023, Doc. short, d. Jordan Matthew Horowitz) ****
JACK GOES BOATING (2010, d. Philip Seymour Hoffman) Unlikable, unattractive people trying to cope. I couldn't get interested or involved. **
JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK (2016, d. Edward Zwick) * 1/4
JACK SMITH & THE DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS (2006, d. Mary Jordan) ** 1/4
JACK THE DOG (2001, d. Bobby Roth) ***
JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (2013, d. Bryan Singer) ***
JACK (2004, d. Lee Rose)V. Beautifully written coming of age story of 15 year old boy coming to terms with his father's gayness in 1982. Anton Yelchin is perfect. *** 1/4
JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA (2014, d. Jeff Tremaine) **
JACKET, THE (2005, d. John Maybury) Stylish timebending thriller which overcomes its unlikely premise with some fine acting. Brody is wonderful. ***
JACKIE (2016, d. Pablo Larrain) *** 3/4
JACKPOT (2001, d. Michael Polish) 1/2*
JAGGED HARMONIES (2004, d. Dominique de Rivaz) Nicely done historical drama: J.S. Bach meets Frederick II. ***
JAIL BREAKERS (2003, S. Korea d. Kim Sang-jin) Well made slapstick comedy about two jailbreakers who have to break back into prison. ***
JALLA! JALLA! (2001, d. Josef Fares) *** 1/4
JAMES DEAN (2011 d. Mark Rydell) V. ++ If this nifty tv biopic is a tad overdramatized, it still doesn't detract from 22 yr.-old James Franco's fabulous perf. *** 1/4'
JAMES DEAN (2008, d. Mark Rydell)V. + Superior 2001 TV movie biopic with spectacular perf. by James Franco. *** 3/4
JAMES DEAN: FOREVER YOUNG (2005, d. Michael Sheridan) V. ** 1/2
JAMES WHITE (2015, d. Josh Mond) *** 1/2
JAMILA & THE PRESIDENT (2009, d. Ratria Sarumpaet; Indonesia) **
JANE AUSTIN BOOK CLUB, THE (2007, d. Robin Swicord) ** 3/4
JANE EYRE (2011, d. Cary Fukunaga) My problem is that I'd always choose Jamie Bell over Michael Fassbender. Great sets & costumes, tho! Story...eh. ***
JANE (2017, d. Brett Morgen) ****
JANE'S JOURNEY (2011, d. Lorenz Knauer) V. Jane Goodall is doing wonderful stuff with kids & for environment at age 77. Still too hagiographic for me. ** 3/4
JANES, THE (2022, d. Tia Lessin, Emma Pildes) *** 1/2
JANI GAL (2008, d. Jamil Rostami; Iraq) **
JANIS (2006, d. Howard Ilk) V. + Filled with great footage of Janis Joplin, otherwise ordinary docu bio. ** 3/4
JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE (2015, d. Amy J. Berg) ***
JAPANESE STORY (2003, d. Sue Brooks) Road movie which shifts from romance to some other place in the blink of an eye. Enjoyed ; but not much happens. ** 3/4
JAR CITY (Mýrin) (2007, d. Baltasar Kormákur) *** 1/4
JARHEAD (2005, d. Sam Mendes) *** 1/2
JARROD CARMICHAEL: ROTHANIEL (2022, d. Bo Burnham) *** 1/2
JASON BOURNE (2016, d. Paul Greengrass) ** 3/4
JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (2003, d. Kevin Smith) (V) Why? I knew it was crap; but I've seen everything else on tv tonight. 1/2*
JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (2001, d. Kevin Smith) * 1/4
JAY MYSELF (2019, d. Stephen Wilkes) *** 1/2
JE PRÉFÈRE Q'ON RESTE AMIS (2005, d. Tolidano & Nakache) Painful to watch buddy comedy about a shy guy & a heel looking for love in today's Paris. ** 1/4
JEALOUSY IS MY MIDDLE NAME (2003, Korea d. Park Chan-Ok) Weird relationship drama about older man and younger man involved with the same women. ** 1/2
JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME (2011, d. Jay & Mark Duplass) *** 1/4
JELLYFISH (2007, d. Etgar Keret, Shira Gefen) ** 3/4
JEREMIAH TOWER: THE LAST MAGNIFICENT (2017, d. Lydia Tenaglia) ***
JERICHOW (2009, d. Christian Petzold) A German riff on The Postman Always Rings Twice, with a different twist. Good atmosphere & acting. ***
JERSEY BOYS (2014, d. Clint Eastwood) ** 1/4
JERSEY GIRL (2004, d. Kevin Smith) So kill me, I loved this film. Sure it's sappy & Affleck is supposed to be washed up. But it worked for me. ***
JERUSALEMA (2009, d. Ralph Ziman; South Africa) *** 1/4
JESS + MOSS (2011, d. Clay Jeter) ** 1/4
JESUS CAMP (2006, d. Ewing & Grady) V. Viscerally disturbing docu of kids that religious right are indoctrinating with Jesus. *** 1/4
JESUS'S SON (2000, d. Alison Maclean) *** 1/2
JET LAG (2003, France d. Daniele Thompson) Overblown romantic comedy about two people meeting frenetically at a closed De Gaulle airport. **
Jew Walks Into A Bar, A (2019, doc. short, d. Jonathan Miller) *** 3/4
JIM & ANDY: THE GREAT BEYOND (2017, d. Chris Smith) ***
JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY (2016, d. Brian Oakes) *** 1/2
JIMI HENDRIX: ELECTRIC CHURCH (2015, d. John McDermott) *** 1/4
JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE (2014, d. John Ridley) *** 1/4
JIMMY NEUTRON BOY GENIUS (2001, d. John A. Davis) **
JIMMY OF THE HILL (2008, d. Enrico Pau) ** 1/2
JIN (2013, d. Reha Erdem) ** 3/4
JINDABYNE (2007, d. Ray Lawrence) Intolerance Aussie style. Well directed & acted (esp. Laura Linney per usual). *** 1/4
JIRGA (2018, Australia, d. Benjamin Gilmour) ***
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI (2011, d. David Gelb) V. Beautifully shot docu about 85 yr. old sushi master Jiro Ono & his obsessiveness. Phil Glass score drones. *** 1/4
JOAN DIDION: THE CENTER WILL NOT HOLD (2017, d. Griffin Dunne) *** 1/2
JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK (2010, d. Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg) *** 1/4
Joanna (2014, d. Aneta Kopacz) doc short ***
JOBS (2013, d. Joshua Michael Stern) ***
JODOROWSKY'S DUNE (2013, d. Frank Pavich) ****
JOE LOUIS: AMERICA'S HERO BETRAYED (2008, d. Joe Lavine) Excellent & moving docu with a point of view. *** 1/2
JOE STRUMMER: THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN (2007, d. Julian Temple) Fabu music docu. I had no idea. *** 1/2
JOE (2014, d. David Gordon Green) ** 3/4
Joe's Violin (2016, short, d. Kahane Cooperman) *** 3/4
JOHAN (2012, d. Philippe Vallois) V. '75 daring gay Fr. Warholian film with no story, but lots of sex. "Making-of" on DVD much more interesting than the film. ** 1/4
JOHN CARTER (2012, d. Andrew Stanton) Good 3D f/x; but that's the last praise. Overlong, hero with no charisma, ridiculous dilemmas, bombastic. Ugh. * 3/4
JOHN McENROE: IN THE REALM OF PERFECTION (2018, d. Julien Faraut) ** 3/4
JOHN RABE (2012, d. Florian Gallenberger) V. The 3rd film I've watched lately on the Rape of Nanking. This the slickest, but not the best. Too sentimentalized, more movie than reality. ** 3/4
JOHNNY BE GOOD (2003, d. Bud Smith) V. Horrendous '88 teener Anthony Hall football movie. Watched to see early Robert Downey Jr. & Uma Thurman. Ugh. 1/2*
JOINT SECURITY AREA (2001, d. Park Chan-wook) *** 1/2
JOJO RABIT (2019, d. Taika Waititi) *** 1/2
JOKER (2019, d. Todd Phillips) ** 1/2
JOLENE (2008, d. Dan Ireland) ***
JONESTOWN: THE LIFE & DEATH OF THE PEOPLE'S TEMPLE (2006, d. Stanley Nelson) V. Horrendous footage; but I didn't end up with more understanding. ** 3/4
JO'S BOY (Le Fils à Jo) (2011, d. Philippe Guillard) ** 1/2
JOSÉ AND PILAR (2012, d. Miguel Gonçalves Mendes, Portugal) ** 3/4
JOSHUA TREE, 1951: A PORTRAIT OF JAMES DEAN (2012, d. Matthew Mishory) * 3/4
JOSHUA (2007, d. George Ratliff) *** 1/2
JOSHUA: TEENAGER VS. SUPERPOWER (2017, d. Joe Piscatella) *** 1/4
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (2001, d. Deborah Kaplan & Harry Elfont) ***
JOURNEY OF A FEMALE COMIC (2014, d. Erick Crespo & Kiki Melendez) * 1/2
JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (2004, d. Ivan Nichev) Bulgaria AFF. Strong narrative about a gypsy troupe which adopts 2 Jewish refugee kids in 1940. ** 3/4
JOURNEY, THE (Yatra) (2006, d. Goutam Ghosh) * 3/4
JOURNEY, THE (2017, d. Nick Hamm) ****
JOY RIDE (2001, d. John Dahl) **
JOY (2015, d. David O. Russell) * 1/4
JOYEUX NOËL (2005, d. Christian Carion; France) ***
JOYLAND (2022, Pakistan IFF, d. Saim Sadiq) ***
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (2021, d. Shaka King) *** 1/2
JUDAS KISS (2012, d. J.T. Tepnapa) V. Queer cinema at its most pretentious, with an ambitious, but unsatisfying timebinding plot. Cute, realistic gay guys is it. **
JUDGE, THE (2014, d. David Dobkin) *** 1/4
JUDGMENT, THE (Bulgaria) (2015, d. Stephan Komandarev) *** 1/2
JUDY BERLIN (2000, d. Eric Mendelsohn) *** 1/2
JUDY (2019, d. Rupert Goold) ** 3/4
Jujitsu-ing Reality (2013, d. Chetin Chabuk) Doc short: screenwriter Scott Lew's 10 yrs. surviving with ALS (cf. Hawking!). Moving, life affirming, film-ish. *** 1/2
JULIA (2010, d. Erick Zonca) V. Tilda Swinton is amazingly blowzy in this unlikely, unpleasant, if strangely affecting kidnapping story. ***
JULIA (2022, d. Julie Cohen, Betsy West) *** 1/2
JULIE & JULIA (2009, d. Nora Ephron) A delectible dish of a movie. Streep is marvelous, Amy Adams almost keeps up. Clever & funny, Ephron is back! *** 1/2
JULIE WALKING HOME (2003, Canada/Germany/Poland d. Agnieszka Holland) Riviting & involving film about a housewife & a Russian faith healer. *** 14
JULIETA (2016, Spain, d. Pedro Almodóvar) *** 1/2
JUMP (2013, d. Kieron J. Walsh) ** 3/4
JUMPER (2008, d. Doug Liman) Curiously inert and truncated action thriller. Only Jamie Bell has any life. **
JUNEBUG (2005, d. Phil Morrison) Idiosyncratic No. Carolina family & the new in-law wife that visits. Suprisingly good script & great acting. *** 1/4
JUNGLE BOOK, THE (2017, d. Jon Favreau) ** 3/4
JUNO (2007, d. Jason Reitman) ** 1/4
JUPITER ASCENDING (2015, d. The Wachowskis) * 1/2
JURASSIC WORLD (2015, d. Colin Trevorrow) *** 1/4
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (2018, d. J.A. Bayona) * 3/4
JUST A FATHER (Solo un padre) (2009, d. Luca Lucini) *** 1/4
JUST A KISS (2002, d. Fisher Stevens) **
JUST A QUESTION OF LOVE (2005, d. Christian Fauré) V. ***
Just Before Losing Everything (Avant que de tout perdre) (2014, d. Xavier Legrand) + *** 1/2
JUST BURIED (2007, d. Chaz Thorne) ** 3/4
JUST LIKE HEAVEN (2005, d. Mark Waters) ** 3/4
JUST LIKE HOME (Hjemve) (2007, d. Lone Scherfig) ** 1/2
JUST MARRIED (Oggi sposi) (2010, d. Luca Lucini) ***
JUST MARRIED (2004, d. Shawn Levy) V. Cookiecutter, predictable plot. Kutcher is an amiable comedian/romantic lead. **
JUST MERCY (2019, d. Destin Daniel Cretton) *** 3/4
JUST ONE TIME (2000, d. Lane Janger) * 1/4
JUST THE WIND (2012, d. Benedek Fliegauf, Hungary) ** 3/4
JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017, d. Zack Snyder) *** 1/4
Justice of the Pies (2021, Doc short, d. Michelle Marrion) **
JUSTINE (2003, d. George Cukor) V. Nicely mounted large-scale adaptation of the Alexandria Quartet, good cast but a mishmash of a script. ** 3/4
JUVENILE OFFENDER (2013, d. Kang Yi-kwan, Sourth Korea) *** 1/2
K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (2002, d. Kathryn Bigelow) ***
KABEI (2009, d. Yôji Yamada) *** 3/4
KABLUEY (2007, d. Scott Prendergast) Amusing Woody Allenish comedy. Prendergast is an actor/writer/filmmaker to watch. ***
KABOOM (2011 d. Gregg Araki) Old style pan-sexual Araki, starts promisingly with some wonderfully kooky perfs (Dekker so fine). Devolves to 3rd act ridiculousness. *** 1/4
KAIFECK MURDER (2009, d. Esther Gronenborn) ** 1/2
KALINKA (Au nom de ma fille) (2016, d. Vincent Garenq) ** 3/4
Kaltes Tal (2017, d. Florian Fischer & Johannes Krell) ** puzzling, impressionistic doc short about stone quarry & liming forests dying from acid rain.
KAMATAKI (2006, d. Claude Gagnon, Takako Miyahira) *** 1/4
KAMCHATKA (2003, d. Marcelo Piñeyro) Argentina AFF. Superb family drama about "The Disappeared" from the pov of a 10 year old. *** 3/4
KANCHIVARAM (2009, d. Priyadarshan) ** 3/4
KANIKOSEN (2010, d. Sabu) W/O
Karama Has No Walls (2013, d. Sara Ishaq) Doc short: Arab spring Yemen, 2011. 2 cameramen on ground witness slaughter of protesters. Vivid, incredible footage. *** 3/4
KARAMAZOVS, THE (2008, d. Petr Zelenka; Czech Republic) ** 1/2
KARL MARX CITY (2017, d. Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker) ** 1/2
KARL ROVE I LOVE YOU (2008, d. Butler & Leirness) Trenchant mocumentary, fun and just real enough to fool me for a while. ***
KARMA (2016, Thailand, d. Kanittha Kwunyoo) * 1/4
KATALIN VARGA (2010, d. Peter Strickland) ** 1/2
KATE & LEOPOLD (2001, d. James Mangold) ** 1/4
KATE PLAYS CHRISTINE (2016, d. Robert Greene) ** 1/2
KATYN (2007, d. Andrzej Wajda; Poland) *** 1/2
KAUWBOY (2012, d. Boudewijn Koole, Netherlands) ** 3/4
KAWASAKI ROSE (2010, d. Jan Hrebejk) *** 1/4
KAWASAKI'S ROSE (2010, d. Jan Hrebejk; Czech Republic) + ***
Kayayo: The Living Shopping Baskets (2017, d. Mari Bake Riise) *** 3/4
KEDI (2016, d. Ceyda Torun) ** 1/4
KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON (2014, d. Alan Hicks) *** 1/2
KEEP QUIET (2017, d. Sam Blair, Joseph Martin) *** 1/2
KEEP SMILING (2012, d. Rusudan Chkonia, Georgia) W/O
KEEP STEPPING (2022, d. Luke Cornish) ** 3/4
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON (2012, d. Ira Sachs) *** 1/2
KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES, THE (2014, d. Mikkei Nargaard) *** 1/2
KEEPERS OF THE GAME (2016, d. Judd Ehrlish) ***
KEEPING THE FAITH (2000, d. Edward Norton) ***
Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace (2014, d. Jeff Dupre) doc short *** 1/2
KEILLERS PARK (2012, d. Susanna Edwards) V. Stylish, infuriating Swedish noir: gay romance/murder/policier. True story (?!); but so very flawed psychology. * 3/4
KEKEXILI: MOUNTAIN PATROL (2005, d. Lu Chuan) Vigilante group patrols Tibetian plains to catch antelope pelt poachers. Disturbing, gorgeous. ***
KELIN: THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW (2010, d. Yermek Zursunov; Kazakhstan) ****
KEN PARK (2005, d. Larry Clark)V. The king of transgressive pedo-cinema is in fine form in this pornographic film of skater youths in extremis. *** 1/4
KEPT AND DREAMLESS (2005, d. Fogwill & Desalvo) 9 yr. old girl comes of age among poor Argentine extended family. Good characters but uninspired. **
KERMANJAN DATKA: QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS (2014, Kyrgyzstan, d. Sadyk Sher-Niyaz) *** 1/2
KEY OF LIFE (2013, d. Kenji Uchida) ** 1/2
KEY OF LIFE (2013, d. Kenji Uchida) + ***
KEYS TO THE HOUSE, THE (2004, d. Gianni Amelio) Quietly moving, beautifully made film of a father getting to know his 15 yr. old disabled son for the first time. *** 1/2
KHALED (2002, d. Asghar Massombagi) ** 1/2
KHAMSA (2008, d. Karim Dridi) ** 3/4
KHARGOSH (2010, d. Paresh Kamdar) * 1/2
KICK-ASS (2010, d. Matthew Vaughn) Haven't had more fun in a movie in ages. Impressive script (fresh, unjaded),spot-on direction. *** 1/2
KICK-ASS 2 (2014, d. Jeff Wadlow) ** 1/4
KICKING IT (2008, d. Susan Koch) Uplifting, if predictable docu about contestants at the 2006 Homeless World Cup soccer tournament in Capetown. ***
KID & I, THE (2005, d. Penelope Spheeris) ** 3/4
KID LIKE JAKE, A (2018, d. Silas Howard) *** 3/4
KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE, THE (2002, d. Brett Morgen & Nanette Burstein) *** 1/2
KID WITH A BIKE (2011, d. Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne) Continuing Dardennes' obsession with dysfunctional kids and tracking shots. Still, very affecting stuff. ***
KID (2012, d. Fien Troch) ** 1/4
KIDNAPPING OF MICHEL HOULLEBECQ, THE (2014, d. Guillaume Nicloux) * 3/4
KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, THE (2010, d. Lisa Cholodenko) A perfect acting ensemble, a daringly post-modern family drama. Best film of the year so far? ****
KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, THE (2011 d. Lisa Cholodenko) V.+ Superb script & acting undiminished on video. This time Moore's perf. stood out (!) *** 3/4
KIDS FOR CASH (2014, d. Robert May) *** 1/2
KIDS FROM THE MARX AND ENGELS STREET, THE (2014, Montenegro, d. Nikola Vukcevic) ** 1/2
KIKI & TIGER (2003, d. Alan Gsponer) Boring, ugly DV about a straight Albanian illegally in Germany and the Serb closet case who loves him. * 1/2
KIKI (2017, d. Sara Jordeno) ***
KILL BILL - VOL. 2 (2004, d. Quentin Tarantino) Unlike Vol. 1, this one has a real story to go with Terantino's obvious filmmaking genius. ***
KILL BILL VOL. 1 (2003, d. Quentin Tarantino) Stylized violence to no purpose. Looks great, but empty and boring...but then I'm no fan of the genre. **
KILL ME TENDER (2003, d. Ramon de España) Another Spanish winner, a sexy, romantic black comedy, a gentle farce, well acted with a good script. ***
KILL TEAM, THE (2014, d. Dan Krauss) *** 3/4
KILL THE INDIAN SAVE THE CHILD (2021, d. Louis Lawless) ** 3/4
KILL THE MESSENGER (2014, d. Michael Cuesta) *** 1/2
KILL THEM ALL (2009, d. Esteban Schroeder; Uruguay) ***
KILL YOUR DARLINGS (2013, d. John Krokidas) ** 1/4
KILLER BEES (2018, d. Ben Cummings, Orson Cummings) *** 1/4
KILLER INSIDE ME, THE (2010, d. Michael Winterbottom) Confusing, ultra-violent & misogynistic. Also chilling, repellant, & maybe brilliant. ** 1/4
KILLER INSIDE ME, THE (2018, d. Michael Winterbottom) + **
KILLER JOE (2012, d. William Friedkin) Outrageous, occasionally over-the-top black comedy with fine actors & deft direction. Nifty Tracy Letts transgressive script works. ***
KILLER, THE (Le Tueur) (2008, d. Cédric Anger) ** 3/4
KILLING BONO (2011, d. Nick Hamm) ***
KILLING THE DEAD (2021, Paraguay, d. Hugo Giménez) In '78 during upheavals, the dead buried in the jungle. But one lived. ** 3/4
KILLS ON WHEELS (2017, d. Attila Till) *** 1/4
KINDERWALD (2014, d. Lisa Raven) ** 3/4
KING AND CLOWN (2006, d. Lee Jun-ik) *** 1/4
KING ARTHUR (2004, d. Antoine Fuqua) Stirring mideval action film which takes the legend and gives reality to it. Great sequence on ice; but the rest is ordinary. ** 3/4
KING COBRA (2016, d. Justin Kelly) ***
KING IS ALIVE, THE (2001, d. Kristian Levring) ** 1/4
KING KONG (2005, d. Peter Jackson) ****
KING OF ANTS (2003, U.S. d. Stuart Gordon) Weird midnight movie type noir about young guy turned hired killer who wrecks revenge. Gruesome fun. ***
KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND (2011, d. Marius Holst) *** 1/2
KING OF FIRE (2007, d. Chatrichalerm Yukol; Thailand) ***
KING OF KONG (2007, d. Seth Gordon) ***
KING OF PING PONG (Ping Pong Kingen) (2008, d. Jens Jonsson) ** 1/2
KING OF THE HILL (El Rey de la Montaña) (2007, d. Gonzalo López-Gallego) *** 1/4
KING OF THIEVES (2003, d. Ivan Fila) Energetic, splendid drama-2 Ukranian kids sold by father to Berlin circus & into life of thievery & prostitution. ***1/4
KING PETAR THE FIRST (2019, Serbia, d. Petar Ristovksi) Epic of Serbian WWI trek to survive the overwhelming enemy. *** 1/4
KING RICHARD (2022, d. Reinaldo Marcus Green) *** 1/4
KING, THE (Kralj) (2012, d. Dejan Acimovic) V. Docu of Croatian paralympics shot put champion Darko Kralj, war amputee. Uplifting, positive and a little specialized & light on substance. ** 3/4
KING, THE (2006, d. James Marsh) *** 1/4
KING, THE (2018, d. Eugene Jarecki) ****
KING, THE (2019, d. David Michôd) *** 3/4
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (2005, d. Ridley Scott) Bloom is charismatic, if a trifle lightweight in this spectacular period epic which transports. ***
KINGDOM, THE (2007, d. Peter Berg) Berg's docudrama style works; but the film's script is problematical. ** 3/4
KINGS & QUEEN (2005, d. Arnaud Desplechin) Well acted drama with farcial overtones & plot holes: an extended family facing death, taxes & insanity. *** 1/4
KING'S CHOICE, THE (2017, d. Erik Poppe) *** 1/4
KING'S GAME (2005, d. Nicolai Arcel) Beautifully constructed political thriller about high level Danish politics and a reporter caught in the middle. *** 1/4
KINGS OF SUMMER, THE (2013, d. Jordan Vogt-Roberts) *** !/2
KING'S SPEECH, THE (2010, d. Tom Hooper) Just about perfect in tone and historical accuracy & import. Firth & Rush are truly wonderful together. Splendid. *** 1/2
KINGS (2007, d. Tom Collins) Ireland Academy foreign film submission ** 3/4
KINKY BOOTS (2006, d. Julian Jerrold) Predictable, Full Montyish film about making boots for drag queens. Chiwetel Ejiofor fabu! ** 3/4
KINSEY (2004, d. Bill Condon) Another groundbreaking biopic, this time about the polarizing sex researcher. Fine script, acting & direction (I love Peter Sarsgaard here). *** 1/4
KISS KISS BANG BANG (2005, d. Shane Black) **
KISS THE BRIDE (2008, d. C. Jay Cox) **
KISSED BY WINTER (Vinterkyss) (2005, d. Sara Johnsen; Norway) ***
KISSES FOR EVERYONE (2001, d. Jaime Chavarri) *** 1/2
KISSES (2008, d. Lance Daly) *** 1/2
KISSING JESSICA STEIN (2001, d. Charles Herman-Wurmfeld) *** 1/4
KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL (2008, d. Patricia Rozema) Fine depiction of '30s Depression, kid's film with adult resonance. ** 3/4
Kitbull (2020, anim. short, d. Rosana Sullivan) ** 3/4
KITCHEN STORIES (2003, d. Bent Hamer) Minimalist, wry comedy about a '70s Swedish "scientific" study of single men's activities in the kitchen. ** 3/4
KITCHEN, THE (2019, d. Andrea Berloff) ** 1/2
KITE RUNNER, THE (2007, d. Marc Forster) No big name stars; but boy what an emotional wallop. *** 1/2
KITE, THE (2004, d. Randa Chahal Sabbag) Lebanese AFF, bettersweet comedy about girl coming of age on Israel-Lebanon border. ** 3/4
KLAUS (2020, d. Sergio Pablos) ** 1/4
KLONDIKE (2022, Ukraine IFF, d. Maryna Er Gorbach) ** 3/4
KLONDIKE (2014, d. Simon Cellan Jones) ** 1/4
KM. 0 (2001, d. Yolanda Serrano & J.L. Iborra) *** 1/4
KNIFE SKILLS (2018, d. Thomas Lennon) *** 1/4
KNIGHT AND DAY (2010, d. James Mangold) Absurd plot with predictable surprises, good action & star power, but SO OBVIOUSLY FAKE. * 3/4
KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016, d. Terrence Malick) **
KNIGHT'S TALE, A (2001, d. Brian Helgeland) ***
KNIVES OUT (2019, Rian Johnson) ***
KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE (2019, d. Rachel Lears) *** 1/2
KNOCKED UP (2007, d. Judd Apatow) *** 1/4
KNOT, THE (2007, d. Li Yin) China Academy foreign film submission ***
KNOWING (2009, d. Alex Proyas) Good f/x, great sound; but Proyas is no Spielberg. Distubing plot which only fitfully holds water. ** 1/2
KOCH (2013, d. Neil Barsky) ** 1/4
KONG: SCULL ISLAND (2018, d. Jordan Vogt-Roberts) ** 3/4
KONTAKT (2006, d. Sergej Stanojkovski; Macedonia) ** 3/4
KON-TIKI (2012, d. Joachim Ranning & Espen Sandberg, Norway) *** 3/4
KONTROLL (2005, d. Nimród Antal) Hungarian AFF. Well shot but overly bleak and obscure allegory of hell in the Budapest subway. ** 1/2
KOPS (2004, d. Josef Fares) Genuinely funny farce about a small town police force trying to avoid getting shut down for lack of crime. A big step up from Jalla Jalla. ***
KORENGAL (2014, d. Sebastian Junger) *** 1/4
K-PAX (2001, d. Iain Softley) ** 1/2
KRABAT (2009, d. Marco Kreuzpaintner) + *** 1/2
KRABAT (2008, d. Marco Kreuzpaintner) *** 1/2
KREUTZER SONATA, THE - WHAT IS LOVE? (Quale amore) (2007, d. Maurizio Sciarra) *** 1/2
KRYPTONITE! (2012, d. Ivan Cotroneo) ***
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS (2016, d. Travis Knight) *** 1/4
KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER (2014, d. David Zellner) *** 1/4
KUNG FU HUSTLE (2005, d. Stephen Chow) People enjoy this? Not me. Of course I rooted for Willie Coyote against Roadrunner. **
KUNG FU PANDA (2009, d. Osborne & Stevenson) Fine opening dream animation; but rest of film is quite ordinary 3-D with silly story. ** 1/2
KUNG FU PANDA 2 (2012, d. Jennifer Yuh Nelson) Over amped, predictable, unfunny, soporific non-stop action 3D animation had frequent flaws. * 1/2
KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK (2015, d. Brett Morgen) *** 3/4
KYLE (2007, d. John Bradburn) 1/2*
L (2012, d. Babis Makridis). W/O
L.A. PLAYS ITSELF (2004, d. Thom Anderson) V. Fascinating docu of clips from movies about L.A. Anderson's droning, but brilliant narration is key. *** 1/2
L.A.: A QUEER HISTORY (2022, d. Gregorio Davila) Informative, involving document of LGBT activism in L.A. *** 1/2
L.I.E. (2001, d. Michael Cuesta) ** 3/4
LA 92 (2017, d. Daniel Lindsay & T. J. Martin) ****
LA BARE (2014, d. Joe Manganiello) ** 1/2
LA FRANCE (2008, d. Serge Bozon) ** 1/2
LA LA LAND (2016, d. Damien Chazelle) *** 1/2
LA LA LAND (2017, d. Damien Chazelle) + *** 3/4
LA LEÓN (2007, d. Santiago Otheguy) * 1/2
LA LLORONA (2021, Guatemala, d. Jayro Bustamante) A general & family is haunted by ghosts of his genocide victims. *** 1/2
LA MIA CLASSE (2014, d. Daniele Gaglianone) * 1/2
LA SOURCE (2012, d. Patrick Shen) V. Docu of Haitian emigree, janitor at Princeton, who raises money & aid to bring water to his village. Beautifully shot, emotionally fulfilling. *** 1/4
LABOR DAY (2013, d. Jason Reitman) ** 3/4
LABYRINTH OF LIES (Germany) (2015, d. Giulio Ricciarelli) *** 1/2
LABYRINTH (2003, d. Miroslav Lekic) Yugoslavia AFF. Enigmatic political allegory mystery. ** 1/2
LADDER 49 (2004, d. Jay Russell) Straightforward feelgood drama about firefighters with a fine perf by Joaquim Phoenix and some great fire f/x. ***
LADIES IN LAVENDER (2005, d. Charles Dance) Well acted (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Daniel Brüel!) film about 2 old maids & the boy who drops in. ** 3/4
LADY AND THE DUKE, THE (2002, d. Eric Rohmer) ***
LADY BIRD (2017, d. Greta Gerwig) *** 1/2
LADY BIRD (2018, d. Greta Gerwig) + Worth a 2nd look just for the fine script and wonderful acting. *** 3/4
LADY CHATTERLEY (2007, d. Pascale Ferran) A very French take of smoldering love in upper class Britain, a heterosexual Maurice. *** 1/4
LADY EVE, THE (2004, d. Preston Sturges)V. Romantic comedy old style. The abrupt ending breaks the spell of a good Stanwyck-Fonda pairing. ** 3/4
Lady in Number 6, The: Music Saved My Life (2013, d. Malcome Clarke) Doc short: remarkable Alice Herz-Sommer, 109, pianist, optimist, Holocaust survivor. *** 3/4
LADY IN PARIS, A (2013, d. Ilmar Raag) *** 1/4
LADY IN THE VAN, THE (2015, d. Nicholas Hytner) ** 1/4
LADY IN THE WATER (2006, d. M. Night Shyamalan) Boring, simplistic "bedtime story". Giamatti excellent. **
LADY JANE (2008, d. Robert Guédiguian) ***
LADY MACBETH (2017, d. William Oldroyd) ** 1/4
LADY, THE (2011, d. Luc Besson) Conventional, old fashioned biopic of important Myanmar rebel lady with fine perfs by Yeoh and Thewlis. ***
LAGAAN: ONCE UPON A TIME IN INDIA (2001, d. Ashutosh Gowariker) ***
LAILA'S BIRTHDAY (2009, d. Rashid Masharawi) ** 1/2
LAKAWANNA BLUES (2005, d. George Wolfe) Epatha Merkerson should win an Emmy for this marvellous HBO tv movie of life among blacks in a small NY town. *** 1/4
LAKE HOUSE, THE (2006, d. Alejandro Agresti) Unabashed timebinding romance with too many paradoxes. Keanu Reeves surprises. ***
LAKE OF FIRE (2007, d. Tony Kaye) Long, fascinating, apparently neutral docu re abortion. Some hard to take shots! *** 1/4
LAKE TAHOE (2008, d. Fernando Eimbcke) ** 3/4
LAKEVIEW TERRACE (2008, d. Neil LaBute) Crash like dystopian view of L.A., Overwrought & unsettling, if effective filmmaking. Hit too close to home. ** 3/4
LAKSHMI AND ME (2008, d. Nishtha Jain) ** 1/4
LALEE'S KIN: THE LEGACY OF COTTON (2001, d. Deborah Dickson & Susan Frömke) **
LAMB (2022, Iceland, d. Valdimar Jóhannsson) * 3/4
LAMB (Ehiopia) (2015, d. Yared Zeleke) **
LAMBERT AND STAMP (2014, d. James D. Cooper) *** 1/4
L'AMOUR, L'ARGENT, L'AMOUR (2001, d. Philip Gröning) *** 1/4
LAN YU (2002, d. Stanley Kwan) *** 1/2
LAND HAS EYES, THE (2005, d. Vilsoni Hereniko; Fiji) ** 1/2
LAND OF MINE (2016, Denmark, d. Martin Zandvliet) *** 1/2
LAND OF PLENTY (2005, d. Wim Wenders) John Diehl is outstanding as a Viet vet obsessed by a mission to save the U.S. from terrorists. ***
LAND OF STORMS (2014, d. Àdám Császi) *** 1/2
LAND OF THE DEAF (2010, d. Valery Todorovsky) ** 1/2
LAND, THE (2016, d. Steven Caple Jr.) ** 1/4
LANDFILL HARMONIC (2016, d. Brad Allgood & Graham Townsley) ** 1/2
LANDING, THE (2017, d. Mark & David Dodson) *** 1/4
LANDLINE (2017, d. Gillian Robespierre) *** 1/2
LANDLORDS, THE (I Padroni di casa) (2013, d. Edoardo Gabriellini) ***
LANDSCAPE NO. 2 (2009, d. Vinko Möderndorfer; Slovenia) *** 1/2
LANE 1974 (2017, d. SJ Chiro) ** 3/4
LANTANA (2001, d. Ray Lawrence) ***
LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER (2001, d. Simon West) * 3/4
LAREDOANS SPEAK: VOICES ON IMMIGRATION (2011, d. Martinez & Schafer) V. Interview heavy pov docu about fallacies of US southern border policy. ** 1/4
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (2007, d. Craig Gillespie) *** 1/4
LAST AIRBENDER, THE (2010, d. M. Night Shyamalan) Ambitious concept, mediocre performances, lousy 3D, convincing f/x add up to so so. ** 1/4
LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE (2019, d. Joe Talbot) ** 1/2
LAST CAB TO DARWIN (2016, d. Jeremy Sims) *** 1/2
LAST CALL (2002, d. Henry Bromell) **
LAST CALL AT THE OASIS (2012, d. Jessica Yu) V. Docu of world's fresh water crisis, interviews & beautiful photography. Tries to bring hope to a hopeless cause. *** 1/4
LAST CASTLE, THE (2001, d. Rod Lurie) ***
LAST CHANCE HARVEY (Joel Hopkins) Predictable, adult romantic comedy with fine acting. London has rarely looked better. ** 3/4
LAST DANCE (2003, d. Mirra Bank) (V) Docu. Pilobolus dance troupe collaborates with Maurice Sendak on Holocaust ballet. ***
Last Day of Freedom (2015, d. Dee Hibbert-Jones & Nomi Talisman)
LAST DAY, THE (2005, d. Rodolphe Marconi) Very French, very dreamlike film about a teenage boy's coming to understand the mystery of his family. *** 1/2
LAST DAYS IN VIET NAM (2014, d. Rory Kennedy) *** 3/4
LAST DAYS OF DISCO, THE (2014, d. Whit Stillman) *** 1/2
LAST DAYS (2005, d. Gus Van Sant) Slow meditative film about Kurt Cobain wandering to his death. Michael Pitt is fine; film is pretty. ***
LAST DEADLY MISSION, THE (2012, d. Olivier Marchal) V. Gritty French policier, superbly played by Auteuil, Se7en like serial killers & realistic angst. ***
LAST DUEL, THE (2021, d. Ridley Scott) ***
LAST FILM SHOW (2022, India IFF, d. Pan Nalin) *** 1/4
LAST FLAG FLYING (2017, d. Richard Linklater) *** 3/4
LAST FLIGHT HOME (2022, d. Ondi Timoner) *** 3/4
LAST GREAT WILDERNESS, THE (2003, Great Britain d. David Mackenzie) Weird combo of road movie & horror show house. ** 1/4
LAST HAMMER BLOW, THE (Le Dernier coup de marteau) (2015, d. Alix Delaporte) ***
LAST HIJACK (2014, d. Tommy Pallotta, Femke Wolting) ** 1/4
Last Honey Hunter, The (2018, d. Ben Knight) *** 1/4
LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, THE (2006, d. Kevin Macdonald) Whitaker is superbly over the top; McAvoy is my boy. Strong film. *** 1/4
LAST KING, THE (2004, d. Joe Wright) Excellent tv mini-series about Charles II and his court. Rufus Sewel was splendid, as was the production. ***
LAST KING, THE (2016, d. Nils Gaup) *** 1/4
LAST KINGDOM, THE: SEVEN KINGS MUST DIE (2023, d. Edward Bazalgette) *** 1/2
LAST KISS, THE (2006, d. Tony Goldwyn) Dispite iffy casting of leads, great adapted script - better than original Italian film! *** 1/2
LAST KISS, THE (2002, d. Gabriele Muccino) *** 1/4
LAST LAUGH, THE (2017, d. Ferne Pearlstein) ***
LAST LEGION, THE (2007, d. Doug Lefler) ** 1/2
LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE (2003, d. Pen-ek Ratanaruang) Superb, absurdist film about suicidal, obsessive Japanese Yukasa who meets messy Thai B-girl. *** 1/2
LAST MAN ON EARTH, THE (2012, d. Gian Alfanso Pacinotti) **
LAST MAN ON THE MOON, THE (2016, d. Mark Craig) *** 1/2
LAST MEN IN ALEPPO (2017, d. Feras Fayyad, Steen Johannessen) *** 1/2
LAST MIMZY, THE (2007, d. Robert Shaye)V. Pleasant enough fantasy/sf, fine kid actors; not very meaty stuff. ** 3/4
LAST MINUTE MOROCCO (2008, d. Francesco Falaschi) ** 3/4
LAST MISTRESS, THE (Une vieille maîtress) (2007, d. Catherine Breillat) *** 1/2
LAST MOGUL, THE (2005, d. Barry Avrich) Interesting docu about Lou Wasserman with great interviews but fatally marred by the worst mix I've ever heard. **
LAST MOUNTAIN, THE (2011, d. Bill Haney) *** 1/2
LAST NIGHT IN SOHO (2022, d. Edgar Wright) *** 1/4
LAST ORDERS (2002, d. Fred Schepisi) ** 3/4
LAST PATROL, THE (2014, Sebastian Junger) *** 1/4
LAST PULCINELLA, THE (L'ultimo Pulcinella) (2009, d. Maurizio Scaparro) ** 1/2
LAST REEL, THE (Cambodia) (2015, d. Sotho Kulikar) ** 1/4
LAST REPAIR SHOP, THE (Doc. short, d. Ben Proudfoot, Kris Bowers) ****
LAST RUNWAY 2, THE: COMMANDO YAGUARETÉ (2023, Paraguay, d. Mauricio Rial Banti, Armando Aquino) * 3/4
LAST SAMURAI, THE (2003, d. Edward Zwick) Zwick does it again, imbue an action flick with veracity & emotional truth. Maybe Cruise's best role ever. *** 1/4
LAST SCENE (2003, d. Hideo Nakata) Nostalgic, slow drama about an old man, once a successful leading man, returning to his last film acting job. ** 1/2
LAST SENTENCE, THE (2013, d. Jan Troell) *** 1/4
LAST SEPTEMBER, THE (2000, d. Deborah Warner) **
LAST SHELTER, THE (2021, d. Ousmane Samassekou) ** 1/2
LAST SHOT, THE (2004, d. Jeff Nathanson) Occasionally funny comedy about FBI mob sting creating a fake movie. Alec Baldwin especially good. ** 3/4
LAST SONG FROM KABUL (Doc. short, d. Kevin Macdonald) *** 1/4
LAST STATION, THE (2009, d. Michael Hoffman) Superb perfs by Mirren, Plummer & McAvoy make this otherwise tedious, if good looking, historical biopic watchable. ***
LAST STOP 174 (2009, d. Bruno Barreto; Brazil) *** 3/4
Last Storm, The (2019, doc short, d. Liam Saint-Pierre) ** 1/4
LAST SUIT, THE (El último traje) (2018, d. Pablo Solarz) ****
LAST SUMMER (2013, d. Frank Perry) (1969) ** 3/4
LAST SUMMER (2013, d. Mark Thiedeman) ***
LAST SUMMER (2018, d. Mark Thiedeman) + *** 2nd viewing (on Netflix, forgot I'd seen it before). Still arty, beautiful and slow.
LAST TRAIN HOME (2010, d. Lixin Fan) ** 1/2
LAST TRAIN, THE (2004, d. Alexei A German) B&W bleak, brutal, boring Russian WWII film about a German doctor stuck in the winter retreat. **
LAST TRAIN, THE (2003, d. Diego Arsuaga) Uruguay AFF. Old codgers steal a steam locomotive to keep it in Uruaguay. ** 3/4
LAST WEDDING (2002, d. Bruce Sweeney) ***
LAST WEEKEND (2015, d. Tom Dolby, Tom Williams) *** 1/4
LAST WILL & EMBEZZLEMENT (2012, d. Deborah Robinson) V. Informative, dry docu re elder financial abuse by relatives & trustees. Poorly made, but important. ** 1/4
LAST WINTER (2012, d. John Shank) ** 3/4
LAST WORD, THE (2017, d. Mark Pellington) ** 1/4
LASTING (2013, d. Jacek Borcuch) ** 1/2
Late Afternoon (2019, d. Louise Bagnall) Oscar nominated short animated film. ***
LATE BLOOMERS (2007, d. Bettina Oberli; Switzerland) ** 1/4
LATE MARRIAGE (2001, d. Dover Kosashvili) *** 1/2
LATE NIGHT (2019, d. Nisha Ganatra) **
LATE QUARTET, A (2012, d. Yaron Zilbeman) *** 1/2
LATTER DAYS (2004, d. C.J. Cox) The perfect festival gay film, sexy, sweet, sentimental and realistic with some star-making performances. *** 1/4
LAUREL CANYON (2003, d. Lisa Cholodenko) Hi-jinx up the block from me. Dialog so real, acting so spot on, I loved it more than it deserved. *** 1/4
LAURENCE ANYWAYS (2012, d. Xavier Dolan) *** 1/4
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN (2009, d. F. Gary Gray) Intriguing revenge script, well executed; but unrealistic in the real world and a singularly unsavory experience. ** 3/4
LAW IN THESE PARTS, THE (2012, d. Ra'anan Alexandrowicz) V. Difficult, dry, wordy, disturbing docu explores legal contradictions of 45 yrs. of military rule in Palestine "Occupied" territories. ***
LAW OF DESIRE (Pedro Almodóvar) V. +7 The romantic gay melodrama that first defined the genre. *** 1/2
LAWLESS HEART (2002, d. Tom Hunsinger) *** 1/2
LAWLESS (2012, d. John Hillcoat) Splendid direction, perfect evocation of period & several sterling acting jobs (esp. Hardy & LaBeouf) make a fine pop film. *** 1/4
LAWS OF ATTRACTION (2004, d. Peter Howitt) Hideously bad, predictable screwball romantic comedy. Cast chemistry can't save flat direction. Ugh. * 1/4
LAYER CAKE (2005, d. Matthew Vaughn) Stylish Brit noir à la Guy Richie, only better. Daniel Craig wonderful as a smart drug dealer. *** 1/4
LAYOVER (2014, d. Joshua Caldwell) *** 1/4
LBJ (2017, d. Rob Reiner) ***
Lead Me Home (2021, doc short, d. Pedro Kos, Jon Shenk) *** 1/2
LEADING LADY (2014, d. Hank Pretorius) W/O
Leaf, The (2021, doc short, d. William J. Zang) *** 1/4
LEAN ON PETE (2018, d. Andrew Haigh) *** 3/4
LEARNING TO DRIVE (2015, d. Isabel Coixet) *** 1/2
LEARNING TO LIE (2004, d. Hendrik Handloegten) Well constructed romantic comedy about a guy who is unable to forget his first love or commit to any others. *** 1/4
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone [If You're a Girl] (2019, doc short, d. Carol Dysinger) *** 1/2
LEATHERHEADS (2008, d. George Clooney) Clichéd failure proves screwball comedy is harder than it looks. * 1/4
LEAVE NO TRACE (2018, d. Debra Granik) *** 3/4
LEAVE NO TRACE (2022, d. Irene Taylor Bordsky) ** 3/4
LEAVING BARSTOW (2009, d. Peter Paige) ** 1/2
LEAVING METROPOLIS (2003, d. Brad Fraser) Ludicrously pretentious straight melodrama masquerading as a gay film. Beware films from Winnepeg! 1/2*
LEAVING (2010, d. Catherine Corsini) ***
LEBANON (2010, d. Samuel Maoz) *** 1/4
LEDGE, THE (2011, d. Matthew Chapman) Existential moral dilemma drama with luminous perf. by Charlie Hunnam. Somewhat pat - but suspensful & moving. *** 1/4
LEFT SIDE OF THE FRIDGE (2001, d. Philippe Falardeau) *** 1/4
LEGALLY BLONDE 2 (2004, d. Charles Herman-Wurmfeld)V. A script of such colossal stupidity that even Reese Witherspoon can't save the film. * 1/4
LEGALLY BLONDE (2001, d. Robert Luketic) ** 1/2
LEGEND OF 1900, THE (2004, d. Giuseppi Tornatore) V. Sumptuous, sentimental 1998 film about a musical progedy who never left the ship he was born in. ** 3/4
LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE, THE (2000, d. Robert Redford) ** 1/2
LEGEND OF TARZAN, THE (2016, d. David Yates) ** 1/2
LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS (2010, d. Zack Snyder) Looks 10, story 0. Nice 3-D animation. Let's just say I found it overly plotted and unsatisfactory. * 3/4
LEGEND (2015, d. Brian Helgeland) *** 3/4
LEGO BRICKUMENTARY, A (2015, d. Daniel Junge, Kief Davidson) *** 1/2
LEGO MOVIE, THE (2015, d. Phil Lord, Christopher Miller) ** 3/4
LEISURE CLASS, THE (2015, d. Jason Mann) ** 1/4
LEISURE SEEKERS, THE (2018, d. Paolo Virzi) ***
LEMON (2017, d. Janicza Bravo) * 1/4
LEMONADE (2018, d. Ioana Uricaru) *** 1/2
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS (2004, d. Brad Silberling) I was not charmed by Carrey's overacting; but the film worked anyway. ** 3/4
LEÓN AND OLVIDO (2005, d. Xavier Bermúdez) Downer but well-made drama about Downs Syndrome brother & his normal twin sister. ***
LEONARD COHEN - I'M YOUR MAN (2006, d. Lian Lunson) ** 3/4
LEO'S ROOM (2010, d. Enrique Buchichio) ***
LEROY (2008, d. Armin Volckers) ** 1/2
LES COWBOYS (2016, d. Thomas Bidegain) ***
LES MISÉRABLES (2012, d. Tom Hooper) *** 3/4
LES MISERABLES (2019, France, d. Ladj Ly) *** 1/2 A trio of suburban Paris cops are in constant battle with immigrant youths.
LES MISERABLES: 25th ANN. CONCERT (2011 d. Nick Morris) V. I adore the musical and this concert version does it wonderfully. Even Nick Jonas & Matt Lucas. *** 1/2
LESSON PLAN (2011, d. Philip Neel, David H. Jeffrey) *** 1/4
LET IT FALL: LOS ANGELES 1982-1992 (2017, d. John Ridley) ****
LET IT RAIN (Parlez-moi de la pluis) (2010, d. Agnès Jaoui) Mildly funny farce with a game Jean-Pierre Bacri playing denser than usual. ***
LET ME IN (2010, d. Matt Reeves) Slow and intense reworking of original Swedish film. Fine performances & some of the most consistent vampire lore ever. ***
LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN (2004, d. David Petersen) V. Boring docu about a neighborhood church in D.C. and its troubled, but positive, parishoners. * 3/4
LET THE FIRE BURN (2013, d. Jason Osder) *** 1/4
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008, d. Tomas Alfredson) ***
LET THE SUNSHINE IN (2018, d. Claire Denis) ** 1/4
LET THERE BE LIGHT (2019, Slovakia, d. Marko Skop) A modern Slovak family struggles against Fascist villagers and complicit priest. *** 3/4
LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN (2005, d. Xu Jinglei) Gorgeously shot kind of trivial "woman's pic" about a lifetime of unrequited love. ** 1/4
Letter Room, The (2021, d. Elvira Lind) Concerned prison guard censors inmates letters & becomes involved. *** 1/4
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT, A (2017, Afghanistan, d. Roya Sadat) ** 1/2
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (2006, d. Clint Eastwood) ****
LETTERS FROM THE BIG MAN (2011, d. Christopher Münch) ***
LETTERS TO ANGELS (2011, d. Sulev Keedus, Estonia) 3/4*
LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB (2009, d. Klaus Härö; Finland) *** 1/4
LETTERS TO JACKIE: REMEMBERING PRESIDENT KENNEDY (2013, d. Bill Couturié) *** 3/4
LETTERS TO JULIET (2010, d. Gary Winick) Enjoyable chick flick, even though at times excessively absurd. Vanessa Redgrave is truly wonderful. ** 1/2
LETTING GO OF GOD (2008, d. Julia Sweeney) *** 3/4
LEVIATHAN (2013, d. Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Verena Paravel) 1/2*
LEVIATHAN (2014, Russia, d. Andrey Zvyagintsev) *** 1/2
LEVITATED MASS (2014, d. Doug Pray) ***
LEVITY (2003, d. Ed Solomon) Film about redemption with no redeeming qualities. Manipulative, predictable, dreary. Great cast directed on downers. * 3/4
LEWIS - "THE QUALITY OF MERCY" (2010, d. Billie Eltringham) V. Murder in Oxford student theatricals; smart, fairly gripping & better than average. ***
LEWIS: COUNTER CULTURE BLUES (2010, d. Bill Anderson) V. Murders abound around '60s Brit rock royalty. Interesting characters, contrived plot. ** 1/4
LEWIS: POINT OF VANISHING (2009, d. Maurice Phillips) V. Overly convoluted Brit mystery episode. Left me unsure about who did what to whom. ** 1/4
LEWIS: THE DEAD OF WINTER (2010, d. Bill Anderson) V. Hijinx & murder in the lord's manor; unsatisfactory resolution - but Sgt. Hathaway shines here. ** 1/2
LEWIS: DARK MATTER (2011 d. Bille Eltringham) V. Usually competent mystery Oxford whodunit with multiple suspects & MacGuffins. ** 3/4
L'HEURE D'ÉTÉ (Summer Hours) (2008, d. Olivier Assayas) *** 3/4
LIAM (2001, d. Stephen Frears) *** 1/4
LIBERAL ARTS (2012, d. Josh Radnor) ***
LIBERATOR, THE (2014, d. Alberto Arvelo) *** 1/2
LIBERTADOR MORALES, EL JUSTICIERO (2009, d. Efterpi Charalambidis; Venezuela) ** 1/4
LIBERTAS (2007, d. Veljko Bulajic; Croatia) ** 1/4
LIBERTINE, THE (2005, d. Laurence Dunmore) ** 1/2
LIBERTY STANDS STILL (2002, d. Kari Skogland) ** 1/4
LIBERTY: MOTHER OF EXILES (2019, d. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato) *** 1/2
LIBRATION OF SKOPJE (2016, Macedonia, d. Rade Serbedzija, Danilo Serbedzija) *** 1/2
LICENSE TO WED (2007, d. Ken Kwapis) *
LICORICE PIZZA (2022, d. Paul Thomas Anderson) *** 1/2
LICU, A ROMANIAN STORY (2018. d. Ana Dumitrescu) ***
LIFE & DEATH OF PETER SELLERS, THE (2004, d. Stephen Hopkins) V. PoMo and meta biopic. Rush is amazing; but Sellers was an asshole, if this to be believed. ***
LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM (2013, d. Sean Fine, Andrea Nix) *** 1/4
LIFE AFTER WAR (2003, U.S. doc. d. Brian Knappenberger) Re-building a village destroyed in the Afghani war against the Taliban. Propaganda. W/O
LIFE AND TIMES OF YVA LAS VEGAS, THE (2007, d. Wiley Underdown) **
LIFE ANIMATED (2016, d. Roger Ross Williams) *** 3/4
LIFE AQUATIC, THE (2004, d. Wes Anderson) As his budgets go up his films become more hipster, ironic & detached. Cousteau deserves a better satire. **
LIFE AS A HOUSE (2001, d. Irwin Winkler) ** 3/4
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (2010, d. Greg Berlanti) Berlanti is a fine show-runner; but as a director not so much. Predictable, unrealistic plot & mediocre all around. **
LIFE BEFORE HER EYES, THE (2008, d. Vadim Perelman) Difficult. I wanted to escape the theater throughout. ** 1/4
LIFE DURING WARTIME (2010, d. Todd Solondz) ***
LIFE FEELS GOOD (2014, d. Maciej Pieprzyca) *** 3/4
LIFE HITS (2008, d. Christian Christiansen) ***
LIFE IN A FISHBOWL (2014, Iceland, d. Baldvin Zophoniasson) ***
LIFE IN LOOPS (A MEGACITIES RMX) (2007, d. Tina Novotny) * 1/2
LIFE ITSELF (2014, d. Steve James) *** 1/2
LIFE ITSELF (2018, d. Dan Fogelman) *** 1/2
LIFE OF DAVID GALE, THE (2003, d. Alan Parker) Drama about Texas anti-death penalty group and their condemned member. ** 1/2
LIFE OF FISH, THE (2010, d. Matías Bize; Chile) *** 1/4
LIFE OF PI (2012, d. Ang Lee) ****
LIFE ON LIBERTY STREET (2004, d. David Cass) V. Well acted if predictable Hallmark tv movie. Ethan Embry is having a great (2004, and nobody's watching. ** 1/2
LIFE ON THE EDGE (2007, d. Ventura Pons) ** 3/4
LIFE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT (2002, d. Stephen Herek) ** 1/2
Life Overtakes Me (2019, doc short, d. Kristine Samuelson, John Haptas) *** 1/2
LIFE THAT I WANT, THE (La Vita Che Vorrei) (2006, d. Giuseppe Piccioni) *** 1/2
LIFE WITH MY FATHER (2005, d. Sébastien Rose) W/O
LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (2012, d. Johnnie To, Hong Kong) ** 1/2
LIFE (2017, d. Daniel Espinosa) * 3/4
LIFE, ABOVE ALL (2011 d. Oliver Schmitz; South Africa) *** 1/4
Lifeboat (2018, d. Skye Fitzgerald) ** 1/2
LIFT (2001, d. DeMane Davis/Streeter) ** 1/2
LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS, THE (2016, d. Derek Cianfrance) ** 3/4
LIGHT GRADIENT (Rückenwind) (2010, d. Jan Krüger) ** 1/2
LIGHT OF MINE (2011, d. Brett Eichenberger) ** 1/2
LIGHT THIEF, THE (2010, d. Aktan Arym Kubat; Kyrgyzstan) ***
LIGHTHOUSE, THE (2019, d. Robert Eggers) ** 1/4
LIKE A BROTHER (Comme un frère) (2012, d. Alapetite & Legann) V. Boy comes out in Paris while pining for straight chum from past. Involving, cute guys. ** 1/2
LIKE A BROTHER (Comme un frére) (2006, d. Alapetite & Legann) Shortish, disappointment: gay boy in love with straight boy. **
LIKE CRAZY (2011, d. Drake Doremus) Predictable, depressing mash-up of 500 Days of Summer & Green Card. Well acted, if lacking chemistry. ** 3/4
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON (2014, d. Hirokazu Kore-eda) *** 3/4
LIKE MINDS (2007, d. Gregory J. Read) *** 1/4
LIKE YOU KNOW IT ALL (2010, d. Hong Sang-Soo) ** 1/4
LIKE YOU MEAN IT (2015, d. Philipp Karner) ** 1/2
LILJA 4-EVER (2003, d. Lukas Moodysson) Sweden AFF. Drama of child abuse in modern Russia. Downer; but great film. *** 3/4
LILO & STICH (2002, d. Chris Sanders & Dean Deblois) ***
LILTING (2014, d. Hong Khaou) ****
LILY SOMETIMES (Pieds nus sur las limaces) (2011 d. Fabienne Berthaud) ** 1/2
LIMELIGHT (2003, U.S. d. Terry Lukemire) Mocumentary about karaoke competitors gone horribly wrong. *
LIMITLESS (2011 d. Neil Burger) Visually inventive, even exciting. Total wish-fulfillment flick with major plot hole at the center. Still, one of those films down my alley. *** 1/4
LINCOLN (2012, d. Steven Spielberg) *** 3/4
LINCOLN LAWYER, THE (2011 d. Brad Furman) Nicely constructed, ironic lawyer flick. Phillippe & McConaughey well matched. But direction nothing special. ** 3/4
LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE (2019, d. Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman) *** 1/4
LINE OF BEAUTY, THE (2006, d. Saul Dibb) *** 1/2
LINHA DE PASSE (2008, d. Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas) *** 1/2
LINSANITY (2013, d. Evan Leong) ***
LION ARK (2013, d. Tim Phillips) ** 3/4
LION FOR LAMBS (2007, d. Robert Redford) Overly talky & schematic; but brilliant, important and utterly topical! *** 1/2
LION KING, THE (2019, d. Jon Favreau) ** 1/2
LION (2016, d. Garth Davis) *** 3/4
LION'S DEN, THE (2008, d. Pablo Trapero; Argentina) *** 1/2
Lion's Mouth Opens, The (2014, d. Lucy Walker) doc short *** 1/2
LIPSTIKKA (2012, d. Jonathan Sagall) ***
LISTEN TO ME MARLON (2015, d. Stevan Riley) *** 3/4
LITTLE ACCIDENTS (2014, d. Sara Colangelo) ****
LITTLE ASHES (2009, d. Paul Morrison) Overwrought but fascinating hodge-podge,drama of famed true-life gay artists in '30s Spain. Javier Beltran is true find. ** 3/4
LITTLE BIG SOLDIER (2010, d. Ding Sheng) ** 1/2
LITTLE BIT OF FREEDOM, A (2003, d. Yueksel Yavuz) Stunningly real drama: life of illegal Kurd boy in Hamburg. Exciting, relevant filmmaking. *** 3/4
LITTLE BLACK BOOK (2004, d. Nick Hurran) Good acting can't save this stupid film, though it briefly works during the climactic live tv show. * 3/4
LITTLE BOOK OF REVENGE (2007, d. Jean-François Pouliot) ** 3/4
LITTLE BOY (2015, d. Alejandro Monteverde) *** 1/4
LITTLE CHAOS, A (2015, d. Alan Rickman) ** 1/4
LITTLE CHILDREN (2006, d. Todd Field) "Golden Boy" Patrick Wilson & Kate Winslet plus remarkable script! Great film. *** 3/4
LITTLE CITY (2003, d. Roberto Benabib) V. Sympathetic '97 romantic rondelay comedy re young S.F. couples. Worthy Josh Charles & ensemble. ** 3/4
LITTLE CRUMB (2000, d. Maria Peters) * 1/2
LITTLE DANCER (2012, d. George Jecel) V. ** 3/4
LITTLE FUGITIVE (2006, d. Joanna Lipper) ** 3/4
LITTLE GIRL BLUE (2004, d. Anna Luif) Unexceptional, though well acted drama about teenage love thwarted by an affair by the kid's parents. ** 1/2
LITTLE HELP, A (2010, d. Michael J. Weithorn) *** 1/4
LITTLE HOUSE, THE (2014, d. Yoji Yamada) *** 3/4
LITTLE JOE (2009, d.Nichole Haeusser) ** 3/4
LITTLE MEN (2004, d. Nariman Turebayev) Interesting & likable character study of two salesmen in Kazakhstan, one aggressive, one passive. ***
LITTLE MEN (2016, d. Ira Sachs) *** 1/2
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006, d. Dayton & Faris) Good script, acting. Enormously entertaining depressed family comedy. *** 1/4
LITTLE MONK, A (2003, S. Korea d. Joo Kyung-jun) Story of an 8 year old kid in a Buddhist monestary yearning for his mother. ** 1/2
LITTLE ONE (2012, d. Darrell Roodt, South Africa) ** 1/2
LITTLE PRINCE, THE (2016, d. Mark Osborne) *** 1/4
LITTLE RED FLOWERS (2006, d. Zhang Yuan) ** 1/2
LITTLE SECRETS (2002, d. Blair Treu) ***
LITTLE SECRETS (2007, d. Pol Cruchten; Luxembourg) ** 1/2
LITTLE SENEGAL (2000, d. Rachid Bouchareb) ** 1/2
LITTLE SOLDIER (2009, d. Annette K. Olesen) ** 3/4
Little Star, The (2021, short, d. Haley Pine) *** 1/4
LITTLE STRANGER, THE (2018, d. Lenny Abrahamson) ** 1/2
LITTLE THIEF, THE (La petite voleuse) (2010, d. Claude Miller) ***
LITTLE THING CALLED MURDER, A (2006, d. Richard Benjamin) V. Fun, campy retelling of Kimes family of grifters. Judy Davis remarkable as usual. ***
LITTLE TRAITOR, THE (2009, d. Lynn Roth) *** 1/4
LITTLE TRIP TO HEAVEN, A (2010, d. Baltasar Kormákur) V. Atmospheric insurance con thriller with good cast; but plot had enough holes to drive through! * 3/4
LITTLE WHITE LIE (2014, d. Lacey Schwartz) ***
LITTLE WHITE LIES (2012, d. Guillaum Canet) + Saw this thinking I hadn't seen it before. Other than a weird déjà vu at the gay panic scenes, I hardly recalled it. ** 3/4
LITTLE WHITE LIES (Les Petits mouchoirs) (2011, d. Guillaume Canet) ** 3/4
LITTLE WOMEN (2020, d. Greta Gerwig) + *** 3/4
LITTLE WOMEN (2019, d. Greta Gerwig) *** 1/2
LITURGY OF ANTI-TANK OBSTACLES (2023, Doc. short, d. Dmytro Sukholytkyi-Sobchuk) ** 3/4
LIUBI (2006, d. Layia Yiourgou) ***
LIV & INGMAR (2013, d. Dheeraj Akolkar) ** 1/4
LIVE AND BECOME (2008, d. Radu Mihaileanu) Epic story of Ethopian non-Jew kid living & growing up in Israel. Quite moving. *** 1/2
LIVE AND REMEMBER (2009, d. Alexander Proshkin) *** 1/4
LIVE BLOOD (2001, d. Edoardo Winspeare) **
LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD (2007, d. Len Wiseman) Non-stop action, overly convoluted plot. Better than expected. ** 3/4
LIVE FREE OR DIE (2006, d. Gregg Kavet, Andy Robin) ***
LIVE FROM BAGHDAD (2003, d. Mick Jackson) V. HBO film docudrama about CNN crew in Baghdad during Gulf War I. ***
LIVE FROM NEW YORK (2015, d. Bao Nguyen) ***
LIVES OF OTHERS, THE (2006, d. Florian Henckel von Donnersmark; Germany) *** 3/4
LIVING IN EMERGENCY: STORIES OF DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (2009, d. Mark Hopkins) V. Viscerally affecting docu about 4 doctors in dire Africa. *** 1/4
LIVING IS EASY WITH EYES CLOSED (2014, d. David Trueba) *** 3/4
LIVING WAKE, THE (2007, d. Sol Tyson) * 1/2
LIVING (2023, d. Oliver Hermanus) *** 1/2
LIZ & DICK (2014, d. Lloyd Kramer) Virtually impossible to watch TV movie, badly written, directed, acted. I did try...but ultimately after about 45 min. W/O
LJUBLJANA (2002, d. Igor Sterk) ***
LLYN FOULKES ONE MAN BAND (2014, d. Tamar Halpern and Chris Quilty) ** 1/2
LO AND BEHOLD: REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD (2016, d. Werner Herzog) ***
LOBSTER, THE (2016, d. Yorgos Lanthimos) ***
LOCKE (2014, Steven Knight) *** 1/4
LOGAN LUCKY (2017, d. Steven Soderbergh) *** 1/4
LOGAN (2017, d. James Mangold) ** 3/4
LOGGERHEADS (2005, d. Tim Kirkman) *** 1/2
LOLA (2011, d. Jacques Demy) + ***
LOLA VERSUS (2012, d. Daryl Wein) Most self-absorbed heroine ever has 3 attractive men, but never the right one. Joel Killerman is a knock out; but terrible dialog defeats all. **
LOLO (2016, d. Julie Delpy) ** 3/4
LONDON HAS FALLEN (2016, d. Babak Najafi) *** 1/4
LONDON RIVER (2009, d. Richard Bouchareb) *** 1/4
LONE RANGER, THE (2013, d. Gore Verbinski) 1/2*
LONE SURVIVOR (2013, d. Peter Berg) *** 1/2
LONELIEST PLANET, THE (2011, d. Julia Loktev) ** 1/4
LONESOME JIM (2005, d. Steve Buscemi) Depression & despair has never been more amusing. Casey Affleck finally lives up to his promise. ***
LONG DARK NIGHT (2004, d. Anton Vrdoljak) Croatia AFF. Moving and well made WWII epic of the fight between pro-Germans and pro-Communists. ***
LONG DISTANCE REVOLUTIONARY: A JOURNEY WITH MUMIA ABU-JAMAL (2013, d. Stephen Vittoria) *** 1/2
LONG DUMB ROAD, THE (2018, d. Hannah Fidell) *** 1/4
LONG FALLING, THE (Où va la nuit) (2011, d. Martin Prevost) *** 1/4
Long Goodbye, The (2022, short, d. Aneil Karia) ** 1/2
LONG SHOT (2019, d. Jonathan Levine) *** 1/4
LONG SHOT, THE KEVIN LAUE STORY (2013, d. Franklin Martin) *** 1/2
LONG STRANGE TRIP (2017, d. Amir Bar Lev) ***
LONGEST RIDE, THE (2015, d. George Tillman, Jr.) * 3/4
LONGEST YARD, THE (2006, d. Peter Segal) V. Surprisingly entertaining con vs. guards prison football. Sandler actually convincing. ** 3/4
LONGFORD (2007, d. Tom Hooper) V. HBO biopic about dotty, saintly lord (fabulous Jim Broadbent) who visits hopless prisoners. *** 1/4
LONGHORNS (2016, d. David Lewis) 1/2*
LONGING (Saudade-Sehnsucht) (2012, d. Jürgen Brüning)V. Terrible '03 flick: 3 German gays in Brazil, the cute blond longs fetchingly telenovela style. No story, bad acting. *
LONGTIME COMPANION (2003, d. Norman René) V.+++ Remarkable document of '80s, not dated, still rings true. The first & one of the best AIDS films. *** 1/2
LONGWAVE (2014, d. Lionel Baier) **
LOOK & SEE: A PORTRAIT OF WENDELL BERRY (2017, d. Laura Dunn) *** 3/4
LOOK AT ME (2005, d. Agnès Jaoui) Slice of life, bittersweet romantic about a disfunctional French arty family & friends. Quite enjoyable, if minor. ***
LOOK AT US NOW, MOTHER (2016, d. Gayle Kirschenbaum) ** 3/4
LOOK OF SILENCE, THE (2015, d. Joshua Oppenheimer) ****
LOOK, THE (2003, d. David Sigel) Mockumentary about a NY contest for models. Some good bits; but overall pretty average. I've seen worse. ** 1/4
LOOKING FOR ERIC (2009, d. Ken Loach) ** 1/2
LOOKING FOR OUR KULTHUM (2018, d. Shirin Neshat) * 1/4
LOOKING FOR? (2018, d. Tung-yen Chou) *** 1/4
LOOKING: THE MOVIE (2016, d. Andrew Haigh) *** 1/2
LOOKOUT, THE (Le Guetteur) (2013, d. Michele Placido) *** 1/2
LOOKOUT, THE (2007, d. Scott Frank) Nicely written & directed psych. thriller, with 3 super perfs. espec. Joseph Gorden-Levitt *** 1/4
LOOPER (2012, d. Rian Johnson) Dystopian time travel thriller, mostly true to its rules. Another amazing Gordon-Levitt perf. + pitch perfect Emily Blunt. Gritty, sociopathic fun. *** 1/2
LOOSE CANNONS (2010, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) *** 1/4
LOPE (2011 d. Andrucha Waddington) ** 1/4
LORD OF THE RING: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (ext. edition) (2003, d. Peter Jackson)++ Stunningly re-edited with quiet scenes added. Brand new experience on big screen. ****
LORD OF THE RING: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003, d. Peter Jackson) Quibble about too many endings; but exceded expectations. Whole is greatest film of all time. ****
LORD OF THE RING: THE TWO TOWERS (ext. version) (2003, d. Peter Jackson)+ Making it longer didn't help the sagging middle. Helm's Deep still a great set piece. *** 1/2
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE (2001, d. Peter Jackson) *** 1/4
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (2002, d. Peter Jackson) *** 1/2
LORD OF WAR (2005, d. Andrew Niccol) ***
LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005, d. Catherine Hardwicke) Fictionalized story of original Venice, CA skateboard punks. Good acting & action. ** 3/4
LORE (2012, d. Cate Shortland, Australia) *** 1/2
LOREN & ROSE (2022, d. Russell Brown) *** 1/2
LORNA'S SILENCE (Le silance de Lorna) (2008, d. Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne) *** 1/2
L'ORO DE SCAMPIA (2015, d. Marco Ponticorvo) ** 3/4
Los Comandos (2018, d. Joshua Bennett, Juliana Schatz) ****
LOS OLVIDADOS (2005, d. Luis Buñuel) 1950 B&W drama about disaffected teens in Mexico City. Dali's influence felt in dream sequences. Very affecting. *** 1/4
LOSER (2009, d. Amy Heckerling) V. Jason Biggs is pretty good here, but the film is all NYC & collegiant clichés...and unforgivably, sort of boring. ** 1/4
LOSER (2000, d. Amy Heckerling) ** 1/4
LOSERS, THE (2010, d. Sylvain White) Lived up to its title: too frenetic & comic-booky, ridiculous action; more amusing than thrilling - & Chris Evans rules. **
LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND (2009, d. Jodie Markell) Tennessee Williams' script (& Bryce Howard's Southern belle) should've remained lost. But Chris Evans is ideal. ** 1/2
LOSS (2008, d. Maris Martinsons; Lithuania) **
LOST AND DELIRIOUS (2001, d. Léa Pool) ***
LOST BOYS OF SUDAN, THE (2003, d. Megan Mylan & Jon Shenk) V. Documentary about two Sudanese refugees in U.S. Interesting, if somewhat uninvolving. ** 3/4
LOST CHILDREN (2005, d. Ahadi and Stoltz)V. ** 1/4
LOST CITY OF Z (2017, d. James Gray) *** 1/4
LOST COAST, THE (2008, d. Gabriel Fleming) Antoniesque, arty drama of 2 20ish guys reliving hi-school affair in Castro Halloween night. ** 3/4
LOST DAUGHTER, THE (2022, d. Maggie Gyllenhaal) *** 1/4
LOST EMBRACE, A (2004, d. Daniel Burman) Warm, franetic Argentine comedy about a Jewish family and their shopping mall denizen friends. *** 1/4
LOST IN PARADISE (2012, d. Ngoc Dang Vu) ***
LOST IN THE PERSHING POINT HOTEL (2000, d. Julia Jay Pierrepont II) ** 1/2
LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003, d. Sofia Coppola) Minimalist wry comedy; 2 people adrift in Tokyo who fleetingly connect. Beautifully performed & directed. ***1/4
LOST LOVER, THE (L'amante perdulo) (2014, d. Roberto Faenza) *
LOST MAN, A (Un homme perdu) (2008, d. Danielle Artid) ** 1/2
LOST ROOM, THE (2006, d. Baxley & Watkins) V. Fairly original s/f premise until unsatisfactory ending. ** 1/2
LOT LIKE LOVE, A (2005, d. Nigel Cole) Kutcher is turning into a major star...love his line readings. Nicely made, predictable romantic comedy. ** 3/4
LOTS OF KIDS, A MONKEY AND A CASTLE (2018, d. Gustavo Salmeron) * 3/4
LOTTERY, THE (2010, d. Madeleine Sackler) V. Another sad docu on state of eductation & their savior, charter schools. Not as comprehensive as Superman. ***
Lou (2018, d. Dave Mullins) ** 1/2
LOUDER THAN BOMBS (2016, d. Joachim Trier) *** 3/4
LOUDEST VOICE, THE (2019, d. various) Limited bio-series of Roger Ailes & the birth of Fox News. Incredible perf. by Russell Crowe. *** 3/4
LOUISE WIMMER (2012, d. Cyril Mennegun) ** 3/4
LOUISE-MICHEL (2009, d. Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern) *
LOVE & DANCE (Sipur Hatzi Russi) (2007, d. Eitan Anner) ** 3/4
LOVE & MERCY (2015, d. Bill Pohlad) *** 1/2
LOVE & SEX (2000, d. Valerie Breiman) **
LOVE ACTUALLY (2003, d. Richard Curtis) Pleasant enough multi-story romantic comedy. About 1/3 of the stories misfired, the others really worked. ** 3/4
Love and Death of Yosef and Zilli, The (2021, doc short, d. Dean Gold) *** 1/4
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP (2016, d. Whit Stillman) *** 1/2
LOVE AND HONOR (Bushi No Ichibun) (2008, d. Yôji Yamada) ****
LOVE AND HONOR (2014, d. Danny Mooney) ** 3/4
LOVE AND LEMONS (2014, d. Teresa Fabik) ** 3/4
LOVE AND MONSTERS (2021, d. Michael Matthews) ** 3/4
LOVE AND OTHER CRIMES (Liebe und Andere Verbrechen) (2008, d. Stefan Arsenijevic) ** 3/4
LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS (2010, d. Alek Keshishian) My fave film of 2006 & maybe the best straight to video film ever made! *** 1/2
LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS (2006, d. Alek Keshishian) *** 1/2
LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS (2010, d. Edward Zwick) Jake & Anne have real chemistry. Zwick made a rare uneven film. Pfizer is the bad guy. Haha. ** 3/4
LOVE AT 7-11 (2003, Taiwan d. Teng Yung-shing) Languid, moody, arty, boring story of two couples who fail to connect. ** 1/4
LOVE CRIME (2011, d. Alan Corneau) *** 1/4
LOVE DON'T COST A THING (2003, d. Troy Beyer) Nick Cannon, worthy star; but this paean to mindless consumerism and teen conformity is horrendous film. 1/2*
LOVE FOR SHARE (2007, d. Nia Dinata; Indonesia) ** 3/4
LOVE FORBIDDEN (2003, France d. Rodolphe Marconi) Dark drama about a sexually confused young filmmaker who gets hung up on an Italian man. ***
LOVE FREE OR DIE (2012, d. Macky Alston) V. Extremely well made, moving docu featuring gay Episcopal bishop & the advances in the American church. *** 3/4
LOVE GILDA (2018, d. Lisa D'Apolito) *** 3/4
LOVE HAPPENS (2009, d. Brandon Camp) Unoriginal romance; but actors make it work up to a point. John Caroll Lynch is fine in moving supporting role. ** 1/2
LOVE IN A PUFF (2010, d. Pang Ho-Cheung) ** 1/4
LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA (2007, d. Mike Newell) Bardem is really fine, a moving "elderly" love story, but... ** 3/4
LOVE IN THE TIME OF MONEY (2002, d. Peter Mattei) *** 1/4
LOVE IS IN THE AIR (Ma vie en l'air) (2010, d. Rémi Bezançon) ***
LOVE IS IN THE AIR (2013, d. Alexandre Castagnetti) ** 1/4
LOVE IS STRANGE (2014, d. Ira Sachs) *** 3/4
LOVE LIKE POISON (Un Poison violent) (2011 d. Katell Quillévéré) **
LOVE LIZA (2002, d. Todd Louiso) **
LOVE ME IF YOU DARE (2004, d. Yann Samuell) A wildly inventive, super-romantic trip of a film about 2 kids growing up playing an obnoxious game full tilt. ***
LOVE OF SIAM, THE (2008, d. Chukiat Sakveerakul) Thai film about gay boy band singer & his first love. Affecting, but inscrutable. ** 1/2
LOVE SIMON (2018, d. Greg Berlanti) *** 1/4
LOVE SONG FOR BOBBIE LONG, A (2005, d. Shainee Gabel) Gentle, amiable, N.O. peculiar family drama. Fine acting ensemble (Johansson, Macht & Travolta). ***
Love Song for Latasha, A (2021, Doc short, d. Sophia Nahli Allison) ** 3/4
LOVE SONGS (Les chansons d'amours) (2007, d. Christophe Honoré) ***
LOVE SONGS (2008, d. Chtrisophe Honoré) +1; I stand by my TIFF review, only 2nd time around liked it even more. *** 1/4
LOVE THE HARD WAY (2002, d. Peter Sehr) ***
LOVE TO HIDE, A (2006, d. Christian Fauré) Remarkably effective WWII French Jewish/gay Holocaust tv movie. *** 1/4
LOVE, ANTOSHA (2019, d. Garret Price) *** 1/4
LOVE, MARILYN (2012, d. Liz Garbus) V. Gorgeous, illuminating docu of Monroe's life & times told by major stars in Marilyn's own words from recently discovered diaries. Truly affecting. ****
LOVELACE (2013, d. Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman) * 3/4
LOVELESS (2017, Russia, d. Andrey Zvyagintsev) *** 1/2
LOVELORN (2005, d. Yavuz Turgul) W/O
LOVELORN (2006, d. Yavuz Turgul; Turkey) ***
LOVELY AND AMAZING (2002, d. Nicole Holofcener) ** 3/4
LOVELY BONES (2009, d. Peter Jackson) Looks great, but eyerollingly earnest and obvious, emotionally misfiring. ** 1/2
LOVELY LONELINESS (2009, d. Victoria Galardi & Martin Carranza) ** 3/4
LOVER, THE (2003, Russia d. Valery Todorovsky) Involving drama about a man who discovers is recently deceased wife had had a secret long time lover. *** 1/4
LOVERBOY (2012, d. Catalin Mitulescu) ***
LOVERS (Une autre vie) (2014, d. Emmanuel Mouret) *
LOVER'S PRAYER (2004, d. Reverge Anselmo)V. Boringly made pastiche of Turganev & Chekhov. Nick Stahl was good, Kirsten Dunst beautiful, but film sucked. * 3/4
LOVERS, THE (2017, d. Azazel Jacobs) *** 1/2
LOVE'S LABOUR LOST (2000, d. Kenneth Branagh) ** 1/4
LOVESICKNESS (Maldeamores) (2007, d. Carlitos Ruíz Ruíz & Mariem Pérez) ** 3/4
LOVING STORY, THE (2011, d. Nancy Buirski) V. Outstanding, emotionally satisfying docu about interracial couple whose fight changed America. *** 3/4
LOVING VINCENT (2017, d. Dorota Kobiela & Hugh Welchman) ****
LOVING VINCENT (2018, d. Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman) + *** 3/4
LOVING (2017, d. Jeff Nichols) *** 1/2
LOW COST (2011, d. Maurice Barthelemy) ***
LOW PROFILE (Falscher Bekenner) (2006, d. Christoph Hochäusler) ***
LOW PROFILE (2013, d. Cécelia Rouaud) *** 1/2
LOWER CITY (2006, d. Sergio Machado) ***
LUCA (2022, d. Enrico Casarosa) *** 1/4
LUCE (2019, d. Julius Onah) *** 1/2
LUCIE AUBRAC (2007, d. Claude Berri) V. Gripping trueish French Resistance film, like Black Book or Sophie Scholl, only better. *** 1/4
LUCKY BREAK (2002, d. Peter Cattaneo) ** 1/2
LUCKY DAY, A (2002, d. Sandra Gugliotta) *
LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN (2006, d. Paul McGuigan) Peculiar, atmospheric gangster revenge film. Josh Hartnett good; but after 5 min. I figured it all out. ** 1/4
LUCKY NUMBERS (2000, d. Nora Ephron) ** 1/2
LUCKY ONE, THE (2012, d. Scott Hicks) Romance/drama -soldier seeks out woman he thinks saved him. Nicely underplayed by Zac Ephron, or it wouldn't work. ***
LUCKY ONES, THE (2011, d. Neil Burger) V. Touching, beautifully acted, unpredictable road trip of 3 soldiers on leave. McAdams, Peña & Robbins perfect. *** 1/2
LUCKY THEM (2014, d. Megan Griffiths) *** 1/2
LUCKY YOU (2007, d. Curtis Hanson) Predictable romantic drama; but at least they got the poker right. ** 1/2
LUCY IN THE SKY (2019, d. Noah Hawley) * 1/4
LUCY (2014, d. Luc Besson) *** 1/4
LUGAR DONDE ESTUVO EL PARAISO, EL (2003, d. Gerardo Herrero) Diverting melodrama of intrigue in the Peruvian Amazon. ** 3/4
LULA, SON OF BRAZIL (2010, d. Fábio Barreto; Brazil) ** 1/2
LUNACY (2006, d. Jan Svankmajer; Czech Republic) * 3/4
LUNANA: A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM (2022, Bhutan, d. Pawa Choyning Dorji) *** 3/4
LUNATICS, LOVERS & POETS (2009, d. John Scoular) * 3/4
LUNCH (2012, d. Donna Kantar) V. 12 altacocker comedy writers/actors/directors get together every other Wed. at Factors Deli to bat the breeze in this loving & delightful, if minor docu. *** 1/4
LURE, THE (2016, d. Agnieszka Smoczynska) *
LUST (El Shooq) (2012, d. Khaled El Hagar, Egypt) W/O
LUST, CAUTION (2007, d. Ang Lee) Gorgeous, perverse love and revolt story with a phenominal perf by Wei Tang. *** 1/2
LUSTER (2003, d. Everett Lewis) + Forgot I'd seen this primative, sexy, minor gay film effort before. Justin Herwick memorable, not much else. ** 1/2
LUV (2012, d. Sheldon Candis) ** 1/2
LUZHIN DEFENCE, THE (2001, d. Marleen Gorris) **
LUZZU (2021, Malta, d. Alex Camilleri) *** 1/4
LYMELIFE (2009, d. Derick Martini) Culkin brothers are quite fine; but unremitting miserablism overwhelms slender plot. ** 1/2
Lynching Postcards: "Token of a Great Day" (2021, doc short, d. Christine Turner) *** 1/2
LYS (2011, d. Krystof Zlatnik) *
M FOR MOTHER (2007, d. Rasool Mollagholi Poor; Iran) * 3/4
MA MA (2016, d. Julio Medem) *** 3/4
MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (2021, d. George C. Wolfe) ** 3/4
MA' ROSA (2016, Philippines, d. Brillante Mendoza) * 3/4
MA SAISON SUPER 8 (2012, d. Alessandro Avellis) V. Amateurish, plot lite 2003 film about start of Parisian gay liberation/female empowerment movements. * 3/4
MA VRAIE VIE À ROUEN (2003, d. Ducastel and Martineau) Coming of age video diary by a proto-gay ice skater, wonderfully observent, my cuppa! *** 1/2
MAANGAMIZI (2001, d. Martin Mhando and Ron Mulvihill) **
MACBETH (2015, d. Justin Kurzel) **
MACHINES (2017, d. Rahul Jain) ** 1/4
MACHINIST, THE (2004, d. Brad Anderson) This director makes creepy films, and this is one of the most. Christian Bale is phenomenal, but viscerally hard to watch. ***
MACHUCA (2005, d. Andrés Wood) Chilean AFF: an 11 year old privileged boy's pov of society at the end of Allende's regime. Politically slanted left, but powerful stuff. ***
Mack Wrestles (2019, doc short, d. Erin Sanger, Taylor Hess) ****
MACONDO (2014, d. Sudabeh Mortezai) *** 1/2
MAD DETECTIVE (Shentan) (2008, d. Johnnie To & Wai Ka-Fai) ***
MAD HOT BALLROOM (2006, d. Marilyn Agrelo) The kids and their dreams raise this docu out of the ordinary. Wilson is a star. *** 1/2
MAD LOVE (Juana la Loca) (2001, d. Vicente Aranda) *** 3/4
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015, d. George Miller) *** 3/4
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2016, d. George Miller) + *** 1/2
MAD WORLD (2017, Hong Kong, d. Wong Chun) ***
MADAME BOVARY (2015, d. Sophie Barthes) * 3/4
MADAME SATA (2003, Brazil/France d. Karim Ainouz) Period biopic of famous drag queen in Rio in the '30s. Steamy sex, well made film. *** 1/4
MADE IN AMERICA (2008, d. Stacy Peralta) Flashy docu of history of gangs in L.A., affecting, frightening & ultimately uplifting. *** 1/4
MADE IN ASH (2012, d. Iveta Grofova, Slovak Republic) **
MADE IN DAGENHAM (2010, d. Nigel Cole) V. Valiant actors try; but script and direction so pedestrian and predictable even if it is based on real story. ** 1/4
MADE OF HONOR (2009, d. Paul Weiland) V. Horribly clichéed and predictable if slick romantic comedy. Even McDreamy couldn't save this one. * 3/4
MADE OF HONOR (2009, d. Paul Weiland) V. Horribly clichéed and predictable if slick romantic comedy. Even McDreamy couldn't save this one. * 3/4
MADE UP (2003, d. Tony Shalhoub) Clever, well made mockumentary about making a documentary about women aging. *** 1/4
MADE (2001, d. Jon Favreau) ** 1/2
MADEINUSA (2006, d. Claudia Llosa) ** 3/4
MADELEINE (2003, d. Park Kwang-Chung) Korean story of kooky, modern young romance. Simple story, fun and touching. ***
MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON (2010, d. Stéphane Brizé) ** 1/2
MADEMOISELLE PARADIS (2018, d. Barbara Albert) *** 1/2
MADISON (2005, d. William Bindley) Slick, banal, feel-good period (early 70s) film about speed boats in Madison, IN. Nothing original. * 3/4
MADOFF (2016, d. Raymond De Felitta) *** 1/2
MAELSTROM (2002, d. Denis Villeneuve) ***
MAGDALENE SISTERS (2003, UK d. Peter Mullan) Disturbing drama about the abuses of the Catholic "fallen women" nunneries in Ireland. Fine acting. *** 1/4
MAGGIE'S PLAN (2016, d. Rebecca Miller) *** 1/2
MAGIC BOX, THE (2003, d. Ridha Behi) Tunisia AFF. Drama about film director writing a script about his childhood. *** 1/4
MAGIC FLUTE, THE (2006, d. Kenneth Branagh) ** 3/4
MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT (2014, Woody Allen) ** 1/4
MAGIC LIFE, THE (2012, d. Nelson Cheng) V. Very entertaining, if lightweight docu re: art of magic featuring 3 fledgling magicians & their struggles, education etc. *** 1/4
MAGIC MIKE (2012, d. Steven Soderbergh) Until the cop-out ending hard hitting & sexy romp. Tatum is a great dancer, still can't act tho pulls his weight. Guilty pleasure. ***
MAGIC MIKE XXL (2015, d. Gregory Jacobs) **
MAGIC OF BELLE ISLE, THE (2012, d. Rob Reiner) Old fashioned, sentimentalized film- an old man learns from child. Morgan Freeman does Morgan Freeman well. ** 1/2
MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, THE (2005, d. Brent Shields) V. Hallmark romantic feel-good tv pic with an excellent Skeet Ulrich & Keri Russell looking '40's pretty. ** 1/2
MAGIC TRIP: KEN KESEY'S SEARCH FOR A KOOL PLACE (2011, d. Alison Ellwood & Alex Gibney) *** 1/2
MAGICIAN: THE ASTONISHING LIFE & WORK OF ORSON WELLES (2014, d. Chuck Workman) *** 1/2
MAGNETIC FIELDS (2022, Greece IFF, d. Yorgos Goussis) ** 3/4
MAGNIFICENT PRESENCE (2013, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) ***
MAGNUS (2008, d. Kadri Köusaar) ** 3/4
MAGNUS (2016, d. Benjamin Ree) *** 3/4
MAHLER ON THE COUCH (2010, d. Felix O. Adlon & Percy Adlon) ** 3/4
MAID IN MANHATTAN (2002, d. Wayne Wang) * 1/4
MAID, THE (2009, d. Sebastian Silva) ***
MAIDEN (2019, d. Alex Holmes) ****
MAISON DE NIÑA, LA (2006, d. Richard Dembo) *** 1/2
MAJECTIC, THE (2001, d. Frank Darabont) ***
MAJORITY, THE (2011, d. Seren Yüce) ***
MAKING LOVE (2009, d. Arthur Hiller) V.+ Watched again 25 yrs. later at a friend's behest. Still one of the most romantic, realistic gay stories ever; but just misses. ** 3/4
MAKING PLANS FOR LENA (Non, ma fille tu n'iras pas danser) (2010, d. Christophe Honoré) ** 1/4
MAKING THE GRADE (2018, d. Ken Wardrop) *** 1/2
Making Waves (2021, Doc short; d. Laura Zéphirin) *** 1/2
MALAS TEMPORADAS (Hard Times) (2006, d. Manuel Martín Cuenca) ** 3/4
MALEFICENT (2015, d. Robert Stromberg) ** 3/4
MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL (2020, d. Joachim Ronning) ***
MALÈNA (2000, d. Giuseppe Tornatore) *** 1/2
MALFUNKSHUN: THE ANDREW WOOD STORY (2005, d. Scot Barbour) Interesting docu about Seattle grunge rocker Wood, who died at 24. ** 3/4
MALUNDE (2002, d. Stefanie Sychott) ** 3/4
MAMA GÓGÓ (2010, d. Fridrik Thor Fridriksson; Iceland) ***
MAMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN (2018, d. Ol Parker)
MAMAY (2004, d. Oles Sanin) Gorgeous to look at; but fatally pretentious and opaque Cossack legend, or something like that. * 1/4
MAMBO ITALIANO (2003, d. Émile Gaudreault) Gay family comedy, nice performance by Luke Kerby which almost makes up for clichéd ethnic coming out plot. ** 1/2
MAMBO ITALIANO (2007, d. Émile Gaudreault) V.+ Enjoyable gay family dramedy with a nice, sympathetic perf by Luke Kerby. ** 3/4
MAMMA MIA! (2008, d. Phyllida Lloyd) Silly plot, ABBA music which doesn't add to story...the cast gives all; but the direction is so lame. **
MAN ABOUT DOG (2005, d. Paddy Breathnach) Irish film greatly in need of subtitles. An occasionally funny comedy about dog racing betters. **
MAN AT WAR (2012, d. Jacek Blawut) V. Complex docu about multi-national group of virtual air fighters re-creating WWII air battles over Europe by computer. Fun game; but not for me. **
MAN CALLED OVE, A (2016, d. Hannes Holm) *** 1/4
MAN EXPOSED, THE (2007, d. Aku Louhimies) ** 3/4
MAN FROM ELYSIAN FIELDS, THE (2002, d. George Hickenlooper) *** 1/2
MAN FROM LONDON, THE (2008, d. Bela Tarr) ***
MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., THE (2015, d. Guy Ritchie) * 1/4
MAN IN AN ORANGE SHIRT (2018, d. Michael Samuels) *** 1/2
MAN IN THE CHAIR (2007, d. Michael Schroeder) ***
MAN OF MY LIFE, THE (2007, d. Zabou Breitman)+ *** 3/4
MAN OF STEEL (2013, d. Zack Snyder) * 3/4
MAN OF THE HOUSE (2005, d. Stephen Kerek) Utterly stupid and exploitive film about a cop tending cheerleader witnesses. 1/2*
MAN OF THE YEAR (2004, d. José Henrique Fonseca) Fine Brazilian film about a guy who bleaches his hair and turns into a cold killer anti-hero. *** 1/4
MAN ON A LEDGE (2012, d. Asger Leth) V. OK thriller, unlikely story of pains an honest cop goes through to disprove a frame job. Worthington convinces, plot doesn't. ** 1/2
MAN ON FIRE (2004, d. Tony Scott) Another rage/revenge story, stylishly made with another great Denzel performance, though ending a cop out. ** 3/4
MAN ON THE TRAIN (2002, d. Patrice Leconte) *** 1/4
MAN ON WIRE (2008, d. James Marsh) *** 3/4
MAN STANDING NEXT, THE (2021, S. Korea, d. Woo Min-ho) Political thriller of KCIA's assassination of President Park. *** 1/4
MAN WHO LAUGHED, THE (L'Homme qui rit) (2013, d. Jean-Pierre Améris) ** 1/2
MAN WHO LOVED YNGVE, THE (2009, d. Stian Kristiansen; Norway) Confused punk rocker straight boy falls for new boy in class. Beautiful & involving despite. ***
MAN WHO LOVES, THE (L'uomo che ama) (2009, d. Marie Sole Tognazzi) ***
MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN, THE (2021, Tunesia, d. Kaouther Ben Hania) Syrian refugee allows his back to be an artwork. ** 3/4
MAN WHO WASN'T THERE, THE (2001, d. Joel Coen) ** 1/2
MAN WHO WILL COME, THE (2011 d. Giorgio Diritti) *** 1/4
MAN WITHOUT A FACE, THE (2004, d. Mel Gibson) V. Well intended film about a troubled boy & the troubled tutor who helps him. Nick Stahl was wonderful at 13. ***
MAN WITHOUT A PAST, THE (2003, d. Aki Kaurismäki) Finland AFF. Amnesiac man builds a new life. ** 3/4
MAN, THE (2017, d. Charlotte Sieling) *** 1/2
MANAKAMANA (2014, d. Stephanie Spray, Pancho Velez) * 1/2
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (2016, d. Kenneth Lonergan) ****
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (2017, d. Kenneth Lonergan) + ****
MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE (2004, d. Jonathan Demme) OK thriller, except for the incoherent narrative lapses and utter inferiority to the original. **
MANCORA (2008, d. Recardo de Montreuil) ** 3/4
MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (2013, d. Justin Chadwick) ** 1/4
MANDERLAY (2006, d. Lars Von Trier) ***
MANDRAGORA (2012, d. Wiktor Grodecki) V. Czech cautionary fable of 15 yr. old runaway boy prostitute lost to debauchery in Prague in '90s. Well acted, total downer. ** 3/4
MANHOOD AND OTHER MODERN DILEMMAS (2001, d. Ronan Girre) *
MANIC (2001, d. Jordan Melamed) *** 1/2
MANK (2021, d. David Fincher) ***3/4
MANOS VACIAS, LAS (2004, d. Marc Recha) Silly "lost dead body" farce (in French) with a plot I found impossible to follow. * 1/4
MAN'S BEST FRIEND (2003, d. Rob Lundsgaard) Fun, screwball romantic comedy about straight guy who is supposedly gay. . ***
MAN'S JOB, A (2007, d. Aleksi Salmenperä) Finland's foreign film submission ***
MAN'S STORY, A (2012, d. Varon Bonicos) V. Bonicos followed Ozwald Boateng, men's designer, for 10 years+. I knew him from the tv reality series: interesting life, but so-so editing. ** 3/4
MANSFIELD PARK (2008, d. Iain MacDonald) V. Short & sweet. But Blake Ritson made a remarkably good Edmond. ***
MANSFIELD PARK (2008, d. Patricia Rozema)V. Not Austen's best story; but a fine "film of quality". Jonny Lee Miller especially noteworth. *** 1/4
MANSION BY THE SEA (2004, d. Lester James Peries) Sloooooow, well shot but overdrawn Sri Lankan AFF about the economic upheavals in that country. * 1/2
MANSLAUGHTER (Drabet) (2006, d. Per Fly) Another Danish mid-life crisis film...teacher falls for eco-terrorist former student. Stark, fine drama. *** 1/4
MANUELA AND MANUEL (2007, d. Paul Marchand Sanchez) ***
MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES (2007, d. Jennifer Baichwal) ***
MANZANAR FISHING CLUB, THE (2012, d. Cory Shiozaki) V. The bright side of the Japanese WWII internment, sneaking out to trout fish in the lakes & streams. Lovely, heartfelt docu. *** 1/4
MAO'S LAST DANCER (2010, d. Bruce Beresford) *** 1/4
MAP OF SEX AND LOVE (2002, d. Evans Chan) ***
MAP OF THE HEART, A (2002, d. Dominik Graf) *** 1/2
MAPPLETHORPE (2019, d. Ondi Timoner) ** 1/2
MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES (2016, d. Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato) *** 1/2
MARATHON BOY (2011, d. Gemma Atwal) V. Docu "thriller" about massive political controversy surrounding slumdog, Indian 4-year old boy marathon runner. ***
MARATHON: THE PATRIOT'S DAY BOMBING (2016, d. Ricki Stern & Annie Sundberg) ****
MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (2023, d. Dean Fleischer Camp) ***
MARCELLO MARCELLO (2009, d. Denis Rabaglia) *** 3/4
MARCELLO MARCELLO + *** 1/2
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (2005, d. Luc Jacquet) Involving nature docu done beautifully in extraordinarily difficult shooting conditions. *** 1/4
MARE OF EASTTOWN (2021, mini-series, d. Craig Zobel) ****
MARGARET (2011, d. Kenneth Lonergan) A young Anna Paquin plays an unsympathetic, spoiled teenager in this overlong, well-intentioned drama. ** 1/2
MARGIN CALL (2011, d. J.C. Chandor) Talky, stagy film about cut-throat Wall St. firm central to recent derivitive meltdown. Great cast & smart dialog keep it interesting. ***
MARGOT AT THE WEDDING (2007, d. Noah Baumbach) Dysfunctional sisters squared. Fabu acting, ugly story. ***
Marguerite (2019, d. Marianne Farley) Oscar nominated fiction short film. *** 1/4
MARIA FULL OF GRACE (2004, d. Joshua Marston) Straightforward audience pleaser about a Columbian girl who becoms a drug mule. ***
MARIAGES (2002, d. Catherine Martin) ** 1/2
Marian (2017, d. Rick Rodgers) *** short doc telling story of aging Broadway actress Marian Seldes who succumbed slowly to dementia in 2014.
MARIE ANTOINETTE (2006, d. Sofia Coppola) Sort of boring, sort of frivolous, sort of anachronistic. But fun. ** 3/4
MARIE KROYER (2013, d. Bille August) *** 1/4
Marie (2021, Doc short; d. Sam Abbas) * 1/4
MARILYN (2018, d. Martin Rodriguez Redondo) ** 3/4
MARINA ABRAMOVIC: THE ARTIST IS PRESENT (2012, d. Matthew Akers) V. Performance art docu...hypnotic at times, but ultimately insightful. Just not my cuppa. ***
MARINA (2014, d. Stijn Coninx) **
MARINONI - THE FIRE IN THE FRAME (2016, d. Tony Girardin) ** 3/4
MARION BRIDGE (2003, d. Wiebke Von Carolsfeld) 3 sisters play out their neuroses as mother lay dying in bleak Nova Scotia. Molly Parker was fine. ***
MARIO'S WAR ( La Guerra Di Mario) (2006, d. Antonio Capuano) ** 3/4
MARIUS (2014, d. Daniel Auteuil) *** 1/4
MARJORIE PRIME (2018, d. Michael Almereyda) *** 1/2
MARK FELT: THE MAN WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE (2017, d. Peter Landesman) *** 1/2
MARKET - A TALE OF TRADE, THE (2009, d. Ben Hopkins) ** 1/4
MARLEY (2012, d. Kevin Macdonald) V. Long & comprehensive docu of Bob Marley's life & music. Well written & edited with great concert footage & interviews. *** 1/4
MARLINA THE MURDERER IN FOUR ACTS (2018, d. Mouly Surya) * 1/2
MAROA (2006, d. Solveig Hoogesteijn; Venezula) *** 1/4
MARPLE: MURDER IS EASY (2009, d. Hettie Macdonald) V. Dense vedy British whodunit with talky, unsatisfying denoument. ** 1/4
MARPLE: POCKET FULL OF RYE (2009, d. Charles Palmer) V. One of the best of this Mystery series, good plot, nicely acted and directed. ***
MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN, THE (2003, d. W.R. Fassbinder) V. Schygulla's riviting perf lifts this post-WWII German reconstruction epic to greatness. *** 1/2
MARRIAGE STORY (2019, d. Noah Baumbach) ****
MARRIAGE, THE (2018 Kosovo, d. Blerta Zeqiri) **
MARRIED & COUNTING (2013, d. Allan Piper) ***
MARRIED LIFE (2008, d. Ira Sachs) Elegant adult dramedy which copped out and wasted some fine actors. ** 1/4
MARRY MY DEAD BODY (2023, Taiwan, d. Cheng Wei-Hao) ** 1/2
MARS (2005, d. Anna Melikian) A totally incomprehensible allegorical comedy about today's Russia. Sort of poor man's Kusterica. * 1/4
MARSHALL TITO'S SPIRIT (2000, d. Vinko Bresan)
MARSHALL (2018, d. Reginald Hudlin) ** 1/2
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (2011, d. Sean Durkin) Creepy, parania inducing, open-end story of girl escaping cult to stay with middle class sister & husband. ***
Martha Mitchell Effect, The (2022, doc. short, d. Anne Alvergue, Debra McClutchy) ***
MARTIAN CHILD (2007, d. Menno Meyjes) How this script aborted my friend David Gerrold's true story! ** 1/2
MARTIAN, THE (2015, d. Ridley Scott) *** 1/2
MARTIN (HACHE) (2012, d. Adolfo Aristarain) V. Talky, cerebral '97 film, distant father, lost son, gay best friend, druggy girlfriend. Brilliant acting. Luppi! Roth! Botto! *** 1/4
MARUJAS ASESINAS (2008, d. Javier Rebollo) V. 2001 black comedy...murderous, crazy wife, and her loser friends. ** 1/2
MARY POPPINS RETURNS (2018, d. Rob Marshall) ***
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (2013, d. Thomas Imbach) ** 3/4
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (2018, d. Josie Rourke) ** 1/4
MASCULIN FEMININE (2005, d. Jean-Luc Godard) I wanted to like this '60s Godard b&w film; but it's pretty boring. ** 1/2
MASQUERADES (2008, d. Lyes Salem; Algeria) *** 1/4
MASSEUR, THE (Masahista) (2006, d. Brillante Mendoza) Another naive Philipine gay film with bad acting & predictable story. * 3/4
MASTER & COMMANDER (2003, d. Peter Weir) Rip-roaring seafaring epic, no disappointments here. Crowe does it again. A 2nd viewing seems called for. *** 1/4
MASTER, THE (2012, d. Paul Thomas Anderson) Gorgeous (70mm, prod. design perfection), fabu acting. But I don't get its elliptical plot, yet that doesn't matter.. *** 1/4
MATADOR, THE (2005, d. Richard Sheperd) **
MATAHARIS (2008, d. Isiar Bollain) ***
MATCH POINT (2005, d. Woody Allen) *** 1/2
MATCHMAKER, THE (Pa'am ha'yi'ti) (2011 d. Avi Nesher) *** 1/2
MATCHSTICK MEN (2003, d. Ridley Scott) Morally ambiguous multi-level con scam film - good performances and solid direction, but a hole-filled script. ** 1/2
MATEO (2014, Colombia, d. Maria Gamboa) ***
MATRIX RELOADED, THE (2003, d. Bros. Wachowski) About what I expected: fun; but the novelty of invention has worn thin. Dynamite effects, too wordy. ** 3/4
MATRIX RESURRECTIONS, THE (2022, d. Lana Wach owski) ***
MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS, THE (2003, d. Washovski Brothers) Another visual & sonic tour de force. Much better than the 2nd film, though slow parts boring. ***
MATTER OF TASTE, A (2011, d. Sally Rowe) *** 1/2
MATTER OF TASTE, A (2001, d. Bernard Rapp) ****
MATTI (2007, d. Aleksi Mäkelä) ** 1/4
MAUDIE (2017, d. Aisling Walsh) *** 1/2
MAUVAIS SANG (2001, d. Leos Carax) [1986] ** 3/4
MAVIS! (2016, d. Jessica Edwards) ***
MAX HAVELAAR (2007, d. Fons Rademakers) ***
MAX MANUS (2009, d. Espen Sandberg, Joachim Roenning; Norway) *** 3/4
MAX RULES (2004, d. Robert Burke) Silly kids movie, sort of a cheezy Spy Kids without the special effects budget. The audience ate it up, though. * 1/4
MAX (2002, d. Menno Meyjes) * 1/4
MAXED OUT (2006, d. James D. Scurlock) ** 1/2
MAY GOD SAVE US (2017, Rodrigo Sorogoyen) ***
MAYA ANGELOU: AND SITLL I RISE (2016, d. Bob Hercules & Rita Coburn Whack) *** 3/4
MAZE RUNNER, THE (2015, d. Wes Ball) ** 3/4
MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS (2017, d. Wes Ball) ** 3/4
MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE (2018, d. Wes Ball) * 3/4
MAZE (2000, d. Rob Morrow) ***
McLIBEL (2005, d. Franny Armstrong) Docu about famous British libel case won in a truly Pyrrhic victory by McDonalds. Engaging, but familiar stuff. ***
McQUEEN (2018, d. Ian Bonhote Peter Ettedgui) ****
ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL (2015, d. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon) *** 1/4
ME AND ORSON WELLES (2008, d. Richard Linklater) *** 1/4
ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW (2005, d. Miranda July) Uniquely voiced comedy about a broken family & connecting. ***
ME TOO (Yo, también) (2010, d. Alvaro Pastor & Antonio Naharro) ***
ME TWO (La personne aux deux personnes) (2009, d. Bruno Lavaine, Nicolas Charlet) **
ME WITHOUT YOU (2002, d. Sandra Goldbacher) *** 3/4
ME YOU THEM (2001, d. Andrucha Waddington) ** 1/2
ME, MYSELF AND MUM (2014, d. Guilliaume Gallienne) *** 1/4
MEA MAXIMA CULPA: SILENCE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD (2012, d. Alex Gibney) V. Important subject, priest pedophilia. Focus on deaf Milwaukee boys personalizes & narrows. *** 1/2
MEADOWLAND (2015, d. Reed Moreno) ***
MEAN CREEK (2004, d. Jacob Estes) Involving indie, sort of Rivers Edge mixed with Deliverance. Scott Mechlowicz is a find! ***
MEAN GIRLS (2004, d. Mark Waters) Well written, trenchant high school satire reminiscent of Heathers. Silly fun, but smart. ***
MECHANISM (2001, d. Djordje Milosavljevic) ** 3/4
MEDEA (2018, Costa Rica, d. Alexandra Latishev) ** 3/4
MEDEAS (2014, d. Andrea Pallaoro) ** 1/2
MEDIATOR (2009, d. Dito Tsintsadze; Georgia) ***
MEDICINE SELLER, THE (Il venditore di medicine) (2014, d. Antonio Morabito) ** 3/4
MEDICINE SHOW, THE (2001, d. Wendell Morris) ** 3/4
MEDITERRANEAN FOOD (2010, d. Joaquin Oristrell) *** 1/2
MEDORA (2013, d. Andrew Cohn, Davy Rothbart) *** 1/2
MEEK'S CUTOFF (2011, d. Kelly Reichardt) Interesting anti-western take with fine acting. *** 1/4
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (2018, d. Vincente Minnelli) ** 1/2
MEET MONICA VELOUR (2010, d. Keith Bearden) **
MEET THE PARENTS (2000, d. Jay Roach) ** 1/2
MEET THE PATELS (2015, d. Geeta V. Patel and Ravi V. Patel) ** 3/4
MEETING RESISTANCE (2007, d. Connors & Bingham) Excellent, scary docu about Iraqi resistance fighters. *** 1/2
MEGAMIND (2010, d. Tom McGrath) Amusing enough superhero 3D animation with some fine vocal talent. I preferred the similar Despicable Me; but that's just me. *** 1/4
MELANCHOLIA (2011, d. Lars von Trier) Unremitting, lugubrious, if watchable, downer where end of the world comes as a blessed relief. ***
MELINDA AND MELINDA (2005, d. Woody Allen) Will Farrell is a strange Allen avatar; but this overly clever, hit-&-miss dual-plot film worked for me. ** 3/4
MELLOW MUD (2017, d. Renärs Vinba) ***
MELODRAMA HABIBI (2009, d. Hany Tamba) **
MELODY'S SMILE (La chambre des morts) (2008, d. Alfred Lot) ***
MEMENTO MORI (2001, d. Min Kyu-Dong & Kim Tae-Yong) **
MEMENTO (2001, d. Christopher Nolan) *** 1/2
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA (2005, d. Rob Marshall) ** 3/4
Memorable (2020, anim. short, d. Bruno Collet) *** 1/4
MEMORIES OF ANNE FRANK (2010, d. Alberto Negrin) * 1/4
MEMORIES OF MURDER (2004, d. Bong Joon-ho) Diverting, comic Korean policier about a serial killer and the Keystone Kops who hunt him. ** 1/2
MEMORIES OF TOMORROW (Ashita No Kioku) (2006, d. Yukihiko Tsutsumi) ***
MEMORY OF JUSTICE, THE (2017, d. Marcel Ophüls) *** 1/4
MEMORY THIEF, THE (2007, d. Gil Kofman) *** 3/4
MEN AND WOMEN (2005, d. Claude Lelouch) Somewhat foced amalgam of 2 complex relationship films, nicely done until it turns too meta midway. ** 1/4
MEN AT BATH (2011, d. Christophe Honoré) *** 1/4 (personal rating); * 3/4 (objectively as a film)
MEN IN THE NUDE (Férfiakt) (2012, d. Károly Esztergályos) V. Serious, well-played drama: older straight writer falls "Death in Venice" style with teen boy. ** 3/4
MEN IN THE NUDE (2007, d. Károly Esztergályos) ***
MEN OF HONOR (2000, d. George Tillman, Jr.) ***
MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, THE (2009, d.Grant Heslov) Satire of supposed U.S. army psy-ops, half funny, half ridiculous. ** 1/2
MEN WITH BROOMS (2002, d. Paul Gross) ** 3/4
MENASHE (2017, d. Joshua Z. Weinstein) *** 1/4
MENTAL (2013, d. P. J. Hogan) ** 1/2
MENUS-PLAISIRS - LES TROISGROS (2023, Doc., d. Frederick Wiseman) *** 1/2
MERCHANT OF VENICE, THE (2005, d. Michael Radford) "The quality of this film is strained; it droppeth like a gentle thud from pretention." ** 1/2
MERCHANTS OF DOUBT (2014, d. Robert Kenner) *** 3/4
MERCI DOCTEUR REY (2003, d. Andrew Litvack) Farce, a fine international cast but plot holes and a silly resolution kept it from living up to promise. ** 3/4
MERCI POUR LE CHOCOLAT (2002, d. Claude Chabrol) *** 1/4
MERCURY FACTOR (AKA SOMETHING GOOD) (2014, d. Luca Barbareschi) *
MERCY (2010, d. Patrick Hoelck) ***
MERCY (2013, d. Matthias Glasner) *** 1/2
MERMAID, THE (2008, d. Anna Melikyan; Russia) ***
MERRY GENTLEMEN, THE (2009, d. Michael Keaton) ** 3/4
MERU (2015, Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi) ****
MESKADA (2012, d. John Sternfeld) V. Atmospheric straight-to-video policier about murder/robbery in small town & the detective whose roots lead to killer. ** 1/2
MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE (Part 1) (2009, d. Jean-François Richet) *** 1/2
MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE (Part 2) (2009, d. Jean-François Richet) *** 1/4
MESSAGES FROM THE SEA (2010, d. Daoud Abdel Sayed; Egypt) *** 1/4
MESSENGER, THE (2009, d. Oren Moverman) Simple perfection. Nicely understated perfs by Foster & Morton, best perf ever by Harrelson. Touching and relevant. ****
MESSIAH 1: THE FIRST KILLINGS (2005, d. Diarmuid Lawrence) V. *** 1/4
MESSIAH 2: VENGENCE IS MINE (2005, d. David Richards) V. *** 1/4
MESSIAH 3: THE PROMISE (2005, d. David Drury) V. ** 3/4
METALLICA: SOME KIND OF MONSTER (2004, d. Berlinger & Sinofsky) A fascinating documentary that really examines the angsts of aging rock idols. *** 3/4
METRO MANILA (2013, d. Sean Ellis, United Kingdom) ** 3/4
METROSEXUALITY (2001, d. Rikki Beadle Blair) ***
MEXICAN SUITCASE, THE (2012, d. Trisha Ziff) ** 3/4
MEXICAN, THE (2001, d. Gore Verbinski) ** 1/2
MEYEROWITZ STORIES (NEW AND SELECTED) (2017, d. Noah Baumbach) *** 1/2
MIAMI VICE (2006, d. Michael Mann) More plot holes than Swiss cheese; but usual Mann atmosphere makes a good film. ** 3/4
MIAO MIAO (2009, d. Hsiao-Tse Cheng) ***
MICHAEL PETRUCCIANI (2012, d. Michael Radford) *** 1/2
MICHAEL (2011, d. Marcus Schleinzer) *** 1/4
MICHOU D'AUBER (2008, d. Thomas Gilou) *** 1/4
MICMACS (2010, d. Jean-Pierre Jeunet) *** 1/4
MICROBE AND GASOLINE (2016, d. Michel Gondry) *** 1/2
MICROPHONE (2011, d. Ahmad Abdalla) ** 1/4
MID90S (2018, d. Jonah Hill) *** 1/2
MID-AUGUST LUNCH (2009, d. Gianni di Gregorio) ***
MIDDLE MAN (2016, d. Ned Crowley) * 1/2
MIDDLE MEN (2010, d. George Gallo) Overamped, overacted, narration riddled caper flick loosely based on fact...but unlikely and unlikable. * 3/4
MIDDLE OF THE WORLD, THE (2004, d. Vicente Amorim) V. A family bicycles through Brazil in this beautifully shot road film. ** 3/4
MIDDLEMARCH (2012, d. Anthony Page) V. 6-part Masterpiece costume mini-series, complex, informative but rather cold. I've always wanted to read the book. ***
MIDNIGHT FAMILY (2019, d. Luke Lorentzen) *** 1/2
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (2011, d. Woody Allen) Historical, timebinding whimsy, Allen style. Owen Wilson didn't cut it, imo; but the script is clever & costumes great. *** 1/4
MIDNIGHT SKY, THE (2021, d. George Clooney) *** 1/4
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (2016, d. Jeff Nichols) *** 1/2
MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN (2016, d. Lloyd Kramer) *** 1/4
MIDWAY (2019, d. Roland Emmerich) ** 3/4
MIDWIFE, THE (2017, d. Martin Provost) *** 1/4
MIDWINTER'S NIGHT DREAM, A (2005, d. Goran Paskaljevic) Depressing, if beautifully acted, drama about a luckless Serbian man. ** 3/4
MIENTE (2010, d. Rafi Mercado: Puerto Rico) ** 1/2
MIFUNE (2000, d. Søren Kragh-Jacobsen) ** 1/2
MIFUNE: THE LAST SAMURAI (2016, d. Steven Okazaki) ** 1/2
MIGHTY HEART, A (2007, d. Michael Winterbottom) Great docu like feeling; but film failed to affect me emotionally. ** 3/4
MIGHTY WIND, A (2003, d. Christopher Guest) Folksinging mocumentary. Not as funny as Guest's previous...sort of forced. But enjoyable. ** 1/2
MIGRATION OF THE ANGEL, THE (2001, d. Nodar Managadze) 1/2*
MILA FROM MARS (2005, d. Zornitsa Sophia) An involving love story, a Christ allegory, a post-modern road trip all rolled into one. ** 3/4
MILANO PALERMO - IL RITORNO (2008, d. Claudio Fragasso) *** 1/4
MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL (2019, d. Stanley Nelson) *** 1/4
MILES (2016, d. Nathan Adloff) ** 1/2
MILITANT, THE (2014, d. Manuel Nieto) * 3/4
MILK (2009, d. Gus Van Sant) + A 2nd viewing discloses subtleties unseen before. Superb script, direction & acting make this the year's most important film. ****
MILK OF SORROW, THE (2009, d. Claudia Llosa; Peru) ***
MILK (2008, d. Gus Van Sant) *** 3/4
MILLENNIUM MAMBO (2001, d. Hou Hsiao-Hsien) **
MILLION DOLLAR BABY (2004, d. Clint Eastwood) Beautifully realized drama about a female boxer who is all heart. Stunning cinematography & great acting. *** 1/2
MILLIONS (2005, d. Danny Boyle) Gentle fable about a kid finding stolen money. Technically adept & well made; but I'm too cynical for the message. ** 1/2
MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA (2003, U.S. d. Allan Mandel) Quirky character study of greedy people trying to fleece a somewhat retarded young man. *** 1/4
MIN AND BILL (2013, d. George W. Hill) **
MINARI (2021, d. Lee Isaac Chung) *** 1/2
MIND OF MARK DEFRIEST, THE (2015, d. Gabriel London) *** 1/2
MINDHUNTER (season #2) (2019, d. David Fincher et. al.) *** 3/4 Fascinating continuation of the foundations of FBI profiling. Superb acting, deliberate pacing.
MINDING THE GAP (2018, d. Bing Liu) *** 3/4
Minerita (2015, d. Raúl de la Fuente) ** 1/2
MINIMAL STORIES (2003, Argentina d. Carlos Sorin) Road pic about 36 hours of nice ordinary people living ordinary lives, only without irony. ***
MINISTER, THE (2012, d. Olivier Gourmet) ***
MINOR MISHAPS (2004, d. Annette Olesen) An eccentric family comedy which put me to sleep. I couldn't follow it when I awoke so I walked. W/O
MINORITY REPORT (2002, d. Steven Spielberg) ***
MINUS MAN, THE (2003, d. Hampton Fancher) V. Ted Bundy type serial killer (good job Owen Wilson!), great Brian Cox role, stylish well made thriller. ***
MINUTE OF SILENCE, A (Une Minute de silence) (2008, d. Florent Emilio Siri) ** 1/2
MIRACLE ACCORDING TO SALOMÉ, THE (2005, d. Mário Barroso) Lush, beautifully shot tragedy about the affairs of a virtuous prostitute. ** 3/4
MIRACLE OF BERNE, THE (2003, d. Sonke Wortmann) Crowd pleaser about Germany's world cup victory in 1954. Made soccer interesting even to me. ** 3/4
MIRACLE OF MORGAN CREEK (2003, d. Preston Sturges) V. Nicely structured comedy, if too silly for my taste; but almost Capraesque in its earnestness. ** 3/4
MIRACLE SELLER (2010, d. Pawica & Szoda) ** 3/4
MIRACLE (2001, d. Natasha Arthy) *** 1/2
MIRACLE (2006, d. Gavin O'Connor) V. Feel good replay of '80 Olympic hockey team. ** 3/4
MIRAGE (2012, d. Jung-Ho Yang) **
MIRAI (2018, d. Mamoru Hosoda) *** 1/4
MIRAL (2011, d. Julian Schnabel) Arty film about Palistinian travails from 1947 to Oslo accords, political, a tinge of anti-Israel; but I was moved despite myself. ***
MIRANDA (2003, Great Britain d. Mark Munden) Cross between a caper film and a romantic comedy. Enjoyable, but minor. ** 3/4
MIRROR MIRROR (2012, d. Tarsem Singh) Gorgeous costumes, uninspired script & cheesy f/x. Armie Hammer is a convincing prince. **
MIRUSH (2008, d. Marius Holst) ***
MIS: HUMAN SECRET WEAPON (2012, d. Junichi Suzuki) V. Docu of Japanese WWII intelligence soldiers, good interviews, moving, timely but not unique. ***
MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST, THE (2018, d. Desiree Akhavan) ** 3/4
MISERY LOVES COMEDY (2015, d. Kevin Pollak) ** 3/4
MISFORTUNATES, THE (2009, d. Felix van Groeningen; Belgium) ** 3/4
MISHA AND THE WOLVES (2021, d. Sam Hobkinson) *** 1/4
MISS AUSTEN REGRETS (2008, d. Jeremy Lovering)V. Fair if fictionalized biopic in the style of an Austen novel. ** 1/2
MISS BALA (2012, d. Gerardo Naranjo, Mexico) *** 1/4
MISS CONGENIALITY 2 (2005, d. John Pasquin) Slick caper comedy & female buddy pic with a ridiculous plot. Nice use of Enrique Murciano. * 3/4
MISS CONGENIALITY (2000, d. Donald Petrie) **
MISS ENTEBBE (2003, Israel d. Omri Levy) Afterschool Specialish film about Israeli kids running wild during the Entebbe air hijacking. ***
MISS NOBODY (2010, d. Tim Cox) * 1/2
MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (2016, d. Tim Burton) ** 1/4
MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY (2008, d. Bharat Nalluri) Academy audience loved it; but sort of insipid. ** 3/4
MISS POTTER (2006, d. Chris Noonan) Sort of charming, esp. Emily Watson; but a little too sugary for my taste. ** 3/4
MISS SHARON JONES (2016, d. Barbara Kopple) *** 1/2
MISS SLOANE (2016, d. John Madden) *** 1/2
MISSING IN AMERICA (2005, d. Gabrielle Savage Dockterman) Affecting story of lost Viet vet (Danny Glover) and the child that comes into his life. ** 1/2
MISSING LINK (2020, d. Chris Butler) *** 1/4
MISSING PERSON, THE (2009, d. Noah Buschel) **
MISSING PICTURE, THE (2013, d. Rithy Pahh) ***
MISSING STAR, THE (2006, d. Gianni Amelio) ***
MISSING, THE (2003, d. Ron Howard) One of the better westerns of the last few decades, marred only by excessive spiritualty and predictability. *** 1/4
MISSION BLUE (2014, d. Robert Nixon & Fisher Stevens) *** 1/4
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: 2 (2000, d. John Woo) ** 1/2
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT (2018, d. Christopher McQuarrie) *** 1/4
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL (2011, d. Brad Bird) Great stunts, lousy film. I didn't believe one minute of realistic possibility. * 3/4
MISSION TO MARS (2000, d. Brian De Palma) ** 1/2
MISSION, LA (2009, d. Peter Bratt) *** 1/4
MISSION, THE (2000, d. Johnnie To & Cheng Ka-Sang) ***
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION (2015, d. Christopher McQuarrie) **
MISSISSIPPI GRIND (2015, d. Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden) ** 1/2
MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS (2013, d. Tom Berninger) ** 3/4
MISTERIO GALÍNDEZ, EL (2004, d. Gerardo Herrero) Competent, if turgid, political thriller based on true disappearance of Basque nationalist in the Dominican Republic. ** 1/4
MISTRESS AMERICA (2015, d. Noah Baumbach) ** 3/4
MITCHELL 20 (2011, d. Murray & Benson) V. Effective, moving & important advocacy docu for teachers in poor districts progressing from below by board certification. *** 1/2
MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES, THE (2022, d. Michael Rianda) ** 3/4
MITT (2014, d. Greg Whiteley) *** 1/4
MIX (2004, d. Steven Lovy) A sex and music comedy about an American boy who returns to his roots in Hungary and has quite an adventure. Great music! *** 1/4
Mizuko (2021, Doc short, d. Kira Dane, Katelyn Rebelo) ***
MLK/FBI (2021, d. Sam Pollard) *** 1/4
MOANA (2017, d. Ron Clements, John Musker) * 3/4
MOBFATHERS, THE (2016, d. Herman Yau) ** 1/2
MOBILE HOMES (2018, d. Vladimir de Fontenay) *** 1/2
MODRIS (Latvia) (2015, d. Juris Kursietis) ** 3/4
MOI CÉSAR (2004, d. Richard Berry) A kid flick about a 10 year old chubby boy's adventures. Nothing great; but a lark. ** 1/4
MOIRA (Georgia) (2015, d. Levan Turberidze) *** 1/4
MOKA (2017, d. Frédéric Mermoud) *** 1/4
MOLE AGENT, THE (2021, Chile, d. Maite Alberdi) *** 1/2
MOLIÈRE (2007, d. Laurant Tirard) *** 1/4
MOLLY MAXWELL (2013, d. Sara St. Onge) ** 3/4
MOLLY'S GAME (2017, d. Aaron Sorkin) *** 1/2
MOLLY'S WAY (2006, d. Emily Atef) ***
MOMENT IN THE REEDS, A (2018, d. Mikko Makela) ****
MOMENT, THE (2013, d. Jane Weinstock) ** 1/4
MOMMA'S MAN (2008, d. Azazel Jacobs) ** 1/2
MOMMY IS AT THE HAIRDRESSER'S (2009, d. Léa Pool) *** 1/2
MOMMY (2014, Canada, d. Xavier Dolan) *** 1/4
MON ANGE (2007, d. Serge Frydman) V. Farfetched prostitute bonds with teenage boy story. Again, Vincent Rottiers steals a film. ** 1/4
MON COLONEL (2006, d. Laurent Herbiet) *** 1/4
MON RAK TRANSISTOR (2002, d. Pen-Ek Ratanaruang) **
MONA LISA'S SMILE (2003, d. Mike Newell) The Dead Poetesses Society with Julia R in the Williams role. 50's sexual politics too obvious. Pleasant. ** 1/2
MONDAYS IN THE SUN (2003, d. Fernando Leon de Aranoa) Spain AFF. Drab bar-room drama about out-of-work laborors. *** 1/4
MONDAYS WITH WILLIAM (2013, d. Steve Beebe) ** 1/2 (2013, d. William Laga; Marcelle Danan) Doc. about schizophrenic artist.
MONDO ROCCO (2018, d. Pat Rocco) ** 1/2
MONDOVINO (2005, d. Jonathan Nossiter)V. ** 1/2
MONEY FOR NOTHING: INSIDE THE FEDERAL RESERVE (2013, d. Jim Bruce) *** 1/4
MONEYBALL (2011, d. Bennett Miller) Pitt & especially a subdued Jonah Hill are wonderful. Sorkin's hand is obvious: more Social Network than baseball flick. *** 1/2
MONGA (2010, d. Doze Niu; Taiwan) *** 1/4
MONGOL (2007, d. Sergei Bodrov) ** 3/4
MONGOLIAN PING PONG (2005, d. Ning Hao) Like Weeping Camel, a charming tale of culture clash on the Mongolian grasslands featuring 3 young kids. ***
MONK AND THE GUN, THE (2023, Bhutan, d. Pawo Choynig Dorji) *** 1/4
MONK WITH A CAMERA (2014, d. Tina Mascara & Guido Santi) ***
MONK, THE (2012, d. Dominik Moll) ** 3/4
MONKEY KINGDOM (2015, d. Mark Linfield) ***
MONKEY LOVE (2002, d. Mark Stratton) ** 3/4
MONKEY WARFARE (2006, d. Reg Harkema) * 3/4
MONKEYS IN WINTER (2006, d. Milena Andonova; Bulgaria) **
MONKEY'S MASK, THE (2001, d. Samantha Lang) ** 3/4
MONKEY'S MASK, THE (2001, d. Semantha Lang) ** 3/4
MONOGAMY (2010, d. Dana Adam Shapiro) ** 1/4
MONOS (2019, d. Alejandro Landes) *** 1/2
MONROVIA, INDIANA (2018, d. Frederick Wiseman) *** 1/4
MONSIEUR BATIGNOLE (2003, d. Gérard Jugnot) Another Jews vs. Nazis (French colabos) & oldster-learns-life-lesson-from-young-kid film. ** 1/2
MONSIEUR IBRAHIM (2003, d. François Dupeyron) Subtle coming of age film about 16 year old Jewish boy and his elderly Sufi mentor. Pierre Boulanger! *** 1/4
MONSIEUR LAZHAR (2011, d. Philippe Fatardeau, Canada) *** 1/2
MONSIEUR N (2004, d. Antoine de Caunes) Intimate, well made, wide screen epic about Napoleon's last days on St. Helena. ***
MONSIEUR PAPA (2011, d. Kad Merad) ***
MONSOON WEDDING (2002, d. Mira Nair) ***
MONSTER ( 2003, d. Patty Jenkins) Excruciating (for me) to watch "true" story of a female serial killer. Theron was remarkable, but I wanted to walk out. **
MONSTER CALLS, A (2017, d. J. A. Bayona) *** 1/4
MONSTER HOUSE (2006, d. Gil Kenan) Almost perfectly made 3-D animated film with levels of meaning. *** 1/2
MONSTER-IN-LAW (2007, d. Robert Lutetik) V. Totally predictable, forgettable comedy. Unwatchable. W/O
MONSTER'S BALL (2001, d. Marc Forster) *** 1/2
MONSTERS, INC. (2001, d. Pete Docter) ***
MONT REVE (2013, d. Rocky Collins, Lynn Von Kersling) 1/2*
MONTE CARLO (2011, d. Thomas Bezucha) Thoroughly mediocre "teen girls adventures in France" flick. Yet, some fresh faces & an ok script...I enjoyed it. ** 1/2
MONTEVIDEO: TASTE OF A DREAM (2011, d. Dragan Bjelogrlic, Serbia) ** 1/2
MOOD INDIGO (L'écume des jours) (2014, d. Michel Gondry) * 3/4
MOON (2009, d. Duncan Jones) ** 3/4
MOONAGE DAYDREAM (2022, d. Brett Morgen) ****
MOONHUNTER, THE (2001, d. Bhandit Rittakol) *
MOONLIGHT MILE (2002, d. Brad Silberling) ** 1/2
MOONLIGHT (2016, d. Barry Jenkins) *** 1/2
MOONLIGHT (2017, d. Barry Jenkins) + *** 3/4
MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012, d. Wes Anderson) ***
MORE THAN HONEY (2013, d. Markus Imhoof) *** 1/2
MORGAN (2012, d. Michael D. Akers) Occasionally moving, afternoon-specialish gay film about newly paraplegic guy finding love. Attractive straight actors, coy sex. ** 3/4,
MORGAN (2016, d. Luke Scott) ***
MORGEN (2012, d. Marian Crisan, Romania) ** 1/2
MORNING (2010, d. Joseph Mitacek) ** 3/4
MOROCCAN SYMPHONY, THE (2006, d. Kamal Kamal; Morocco) * 3/4
MORRIS FROM AMERICA (2016, d. Chad Hartigan) ** 1/2
MORTAL TRANSFER (2001, d. Jean-Jacques Beineix) ** 3/4
MORVERN CALLAR (2002, d. Lynne Ramsay) *** 1/4
MOSAIC (2018, d. Stephen Soderbergh)
MOSCOW, BELGIUM (2009, d. Christophe van Rompaey) ***
MOSQUITA Y MARI (2012, d. Aurora Guerrero) ** 1/2
MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA (2009, d. Ehrlich & Goldsmith) V. Great year for docus & this one is important, informative & well crafted. *** 3/4
MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS NOT BEING DEAD, THE (2011, d. Pictel, Torrado, Recuenco) ** 1/4
MOST VIOLENT YEAR, A (2014, d. J.C. Chandor) ** 3/4
MOST WANTED MAN, A (2014, d. Anton Corbijn) *** 1/4
MOSTLY MARTHA (2002, d. Sandra Nettelbeck) *** 1/2
MOSTLY UNFABULOUS LIFE OF ETHAN GREEN, THE (2006, d. George Bamber) Bad, bad gay film which I sort of enjoyed. * 1/2
MOSUL (2019, d. Daniel Gabriel) ** 1/4
MOTEL, THE (2006, d. Michael Kang) Chinese-American chubby 13 yr. old motel owner's kid. Truthful, but sort of boring. ** 3/4
MOTHER & CHILD (2010, d. Rodrigo Garcia) Emotionally satisfying complex story of 3 women/mothers/daughters. Garcia, Benning, Watts all incredibly good. *** 3/4
MOTHER (2009, d. Bong Jong-ho; South Korea) *** 1/4
Mother (Madre) (2019, d. Rodrigo Sorogoyen) Oscar nominated fiction short film. *** 1/2
MOTHER OF MINE (2005, d. Klaus Härö; Finland) *** 1/2
MOTHER (2016, Estonia d. Kadri Köusaar) ** 3/4
MOTHER! (2017, d. Darren Aronofsky) * 3/4
MOTHER, I LOVE YOU (2013, d. Janis Nords, Latvia) *** 1/4
MOTHER, THE (2004, d. Roger Michell) A simply extraordinary, wonderfully done drama about an older woman's adjustment when her husband dies. *** 3/4
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS (2009, d. Carl Bessai) *** 1/4
MOTHERS (2011 d. Milco Mancevski; Macedonia) ** 3/4
MOTHMAN PROPHECIES,THE (2002, d. Mark Pellington) *
MOTORCYCLE DIARIES (2004, d. Walter Salles) Moving, beautiful, insightful road pic about young Che Guivara with a career perf. by Gael Bernal. Oscar calibre. *** 3/4
MOULIN ROUGE (2001, d. Baz Luhrmann) ***
MOUNT ST. ELIAS (2010, d. Gerald Salmina) *** 1/2
MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US, THE (2017, d. Hany Abu-Assad) *** 1/4
MOUNTAIN (2018, d. Jennifer Peedom) *** 3/4
MOUNTAIN, THE (2011, d. Ole Glaever) ** 3/4
MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART (2016, d. Jia Zhangke) *** 3/4
MOURNING (2012, d. Morteza Farshbaf) ** 1/2
MOUSTACHE, LA (2006, d. Emmanuel Carrère) Unsettling, atmosphericx film with unreliable narrative, who's insane? ***
MOZART IN THE JUNGLE (2015, d. Paul Weitz et al) Amazon.com series 10 episodes
MR. & MRS. SMITH (2005, d. Doug Liman) Brad Pitt has never been better. Flawed script with some missing pieces; but a super entertainment. ***
MR. BROOKS (2007, d. Bruce A. Evans) Wonderful script, this audacious serial killer as anti-hero film just works. *** 1/2
MR. DEEDS (2003, d. Steven Brill) V. Adam Sandler vehicle which mostly misses due to lame, unfunny script. But I like him, what can I say? * 1/2
MR. GAGA (2017, d. Tomer Heymann) *** 1/2
Mr. Hublot (2014, d. Laurent Witz, Alexandre Espigares) ***
MR. LONELY (2008, d. Harmony Khorine) Inscrutible, occasionally visually interesting, mostly boring...good actors wasted. * 3/4
MR. LONG (2017, d. Sabu) *** 1/2
MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM (2007, d. Zach Helm) Nice special f/x, but nothing else special here. ** 1/2
MR. RIGHT (2009, d. Jacqueline Morris) 3 gay couples live & romance in modern day London. Clunky, confusing exposition, but nifty resolution & well observed. ** 3/4
MR. TURNER (2014, d. Mike Leigh) *** 1/2
MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (2023, d. Anthony Fabian) ** 1/4
MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS (2005, d. Stephen Frears) ** 1/2
MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAIRMONT (2005, d. Dan Ireland) I'd give Joan Plowright the Oscar for this. Plus Rupert Friend is a true find. *** 1/2
MUD (2013, d. Jeff Nichols) *** 1/4
MUDBOUND (2018, d. Dee Rees) *** 1/2
MUDBOUND (2018, d. Dee Rees) W/O
MUDGE BOY, THE (2003, U.S. d. Michael Burke 94 min.) Drama about a sexually confused teen-age farm boy. ***
MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN (2009, d. Bailey & Thompson) V. Shocking docu about violent land reform in Mugabe's Zimbwabe & legal struggles. *** 1/2
MUGGER, THE (2007, d. Pablo Fendrik) **
MULAN (2021, d. Niki Caro) * 3/4
MULE, THE (2018, d. Clint Eastwood) ** 3/4
MULLHOLLAND DRIVE (2001, d. David Lynch) *** 3/4
MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (2008, d. Rob Cohen) Excessive use of every action cliché in the book. Corny, stupid, but good f/x. *
MUNA MADAN (2004, d. Gyanendra Bahadur Deuja) Honestly, one of the worst films I've ever seen, every aspect an embarrassment. WO
MUNDO ALAS (2010, d. Gieco, Molnar, Schindel) V. Docu about a troup of handicapped artists in Argentina. Gratifying for its humanity, sort of boring as a film. ** 1/2
MUNICH (2005, d. Steven Spielberg) *** 1/4
MUPPETS, THE (2011, d. James Bobin) Cleverly meta, nice musical numbers, altogether delightful film even if Muppets have no nostalgic value for me. *** 1/4
MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD, A (2023, mini-series, d. Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij) *** 1/4
MURDER BY NUMBERS (2002, d. Barbet Schroeder) ***
MURDER IN THE PARK, A (2015, d. Shawn Rech, Brandon Kimber) ***
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (2017, d. Kenneth Branagh) ** 3/4
MURDERBALL (2005, d. Rubin & Shapiro) Effective, emotionally satisfying & extremely well shot docu about paraplegic wheelchair rugby at high level. *** 1/4
MURMUR OF THE HEARTS (2016, d. Sylvia Chang) ** 1/4
MURPH: THE PROTECTOR (2013, d. Scott Mactavish) * 1/2
MUSA THE WARRIOR (2003, d. Kim Sung-su) Well constructed epic of 14th Century Mongol-Chinese wars and a Korean delegation caught in the middle. ***
MUSCLE SHOALS (2013, d. Greg "Freddy" Camalier) *** 3/4
MUSHISHI (2007, d. Katsuhiro Otomo) ** 1/2
MUSHROOMING (2012, d. Toomas Hussar, Estonia) *** 1/4
MUSIC AND LYRICS (2007, d. Marc Lawrence) Great fake '80s music videos. Uninvolving romantic comedy. Grant's shtick is getting tired. ** 3/4
MUSIC IS MY LIFE: JOSEPH SHABALALA & LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO (2023, Doc., d. Carolyn Carew, Mpumi Mbele) ** 1/2
MUSIC MAN, THE (2003, d. Jeff Bleckner) (V) Disneyfied tv version. Love Matthew Broderick; but he didn't make it as Harold Hill. * 3/4
MUSIC NEVER STOPPED, THE (2012, d. Jim Kohlberg) V. Amnesiac brought back by 70s rock, true story, moving nostalgia. Lou Pucci & J.K. Simmons really fine. *** 1/2
MUSIC OF STRANGERS, THE: YO YO MA & THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE (2016, Morgan Neville) ** 1/2
MUSLIMS ARE COMING, THE (2013, d. Negin Farsad, Dean Obeidallah) ** 3/4
MUST LOVE DOGS (2005, d. Gary David Goldberg) Cookie-cutter romantic comedy. Good perfs don't make up for clichéd script & lack of chemistry. **
MUSTANG (France) (2015, d. Deniz Gamze Ergüven) *** 1/4
MUSTANG, THE (2019, d. Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre) ***
MUTAFUKAZ (2018, d. Shdjird Nishimi, Guillaume Renard) ** 3/4
Mute's House, The (2016, short, d. Tamar Kay) *** 1/4
MUTUAL APPRECIATION (2009, d. Andrew Bujalski) V. Involving slice of Gen-Y life per a 3-way friends relationship. B&W, talky, ugly: Woody Allen + Cassavetes. ***
MUTUAL FRIENDS (2013, d. Matthew Watts) * 3/4
MY AFTERNOON WITH MARGUERITTE (La Tête in friche) (2011 d. Jean Becker) *** 1/4
MY ARCHITECT (2003, d. Nathaniel Kahn) Touching documentary of an illigitimate son searching for the soul of his famed, but flawed, architect father. *** 1/2
MY AUSTRALIA (2012, d. Ami Drozd) *** 1/2
MY BEST ENEMY (2012, d. Wolfgang Murnberger) *** 1/4
MY BEST FRIEND (2007, d. Patrice Laconte) *** 1/2
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING (2002, d. Joel Zwick) **
MY BIG ITALIAN GAY WEDDING (2018, d. Alessandro Genovesi) ** 1/2
MY BLIND BROTHER (2016, d. Sophie Goodhart) ***
MY BOY JACK (2011, d. Brian Kirk) V. + Watched again for Daniel Radcliffe. Admirable, poetic script about war and loss, and misplaced patriotism (?). ***
MY BOY JACK (2008, d. Brian Kirk) V. Beautifully written (by the actor who plays Rudyard!) teleplay. ***
MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY CHILD (Mio fratello è figlio unico) (2007, d. Daniele Luchetti) *** 1/2
MY BROTHER THE DEVIL (2012, d. Sally El Hosaini) ** 3/4
MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY (2006, d. Laura Poitras) V. Docu about a Sunni Iraqi family leading up to election. Gripping, informative. *** 1/2
My Country, So Beautiful (Moj Kraj Taki Piekny) (2021, Doc short, d. Grzegorz Paprzycki) *** 1/2
MY COUSIN RACHEL (2017, d. Roger Michell) ***
MY DAD IS BARYSHNIKOV (2012, d. Dmitry Povolotski & Mark Drugol) ***
MY DAD IS INTO TERRORISM (La fille du juge) (2006, d. William Karel) Well made docu; reminiscences by 24 yr.old daughter of suicide judge. ***
My Dad Stephanie (2019, doc short, d. Lisa Singer & Harry Haese) *** 3/4
My Dead Dad's Porno Tapes (2018, d. Charlie Tyrell) ****
MY DEAR ENEMY (2009, d. Yoon-Ki Lee) ** 3/4
MY DOG KILLER (2013, d. Mira Fornay) **
MY DOG SKIP (2000, d. Jay Russell) ** 1/2
MY EFFORTLESS BRILLIANCE (2008, d. Lynn Shelton) ** 1/2
My Enemy, My Brother (2015, d. Ann Shin) ***
MY FATHER AND THE MAN IN BLACK (2013, d. Jonathan Holiff) ***
MY FIRST MISTER (2001, d. Christine Lahti) ** 1/2
MY FLESH AND BLOOD (2003, d. Jonathan Karsh) V. Heartbreaking, emotionally devastating doc - a woman raising a family of disabled adopted children. *** 3/4
MY FREEDOM (2023, Latvia, d. Ilze Kunga-Melgaile) * 3/4
MY FRIEND AND HIS WIFE (Naeui Chingu, geneui anae) (2007, d. Shin Dong-il) ***
MY HAPPY FAMILY (2017, d. Nana Ekvtimishvili & Simon Gross) *** 3/4
MY HOME INDIA (2019, d. Anjali Bhushan) ** 1/4
MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA (2003, d. Richard Loncraine) V. Terrorism survivors recovering in sprightly Maggie Smith's home amid gorgeous Italian scenery. ** 1/2
MY ITALIAN SECRET (2015, d. Oren Jacoby) *** 1/4
MY LIFE AS A TROLL (2001, d. Dominick Brascia) *
MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI (2017, d. Claude Barras) ***
MY LIFE WITHOUT ME (2003, d. Isabel Coixet) Wonderful, emotionally shattering film, some great acting, esp. Sarah Polley & Mark Ruffalo. *** 3/4
MY LITTLE SISTER (2021, Switzerland, d. Véronique Reymond, Stéphanie Chuat) Twins, bro dying of cancer, sis coping. *** 1/2
MY LOVE, DON'T CROSS THAT RIVER (2016, d. Moyoung Jin) ** 1/2
MY MAGIC (2008, d. Eric Khoo; Singapore) ** 1/2
My Nephew Emmett (2018, d. Kevin Wilson, Jr.) *** 1/4
MY NIKIFOR (2006, d. Krzystof Krauze) ** 3/4
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER (2021, d. Philippa Ehrlich, James Reed) ****
MY OLD LADY (2014, d. Israel Horovitz) ** 1/4
MY ONE AND ONLY (2009, d. Richard Loncraine) Fun, involving '50s biopic & road flick: Zellweger, Lerman & especially Rendall are fine, but script is formulaic. ***
MY PIECE OF THE PIE (Ma Part du gâteau) (2011, d. Cédric Klapisch) *** 1/4
MY RUSSIA (2003, d. Barbara Gräftner) Family drama about Austrian guy marrying a Ukranian girl & the interactions of the two families. Way too long. * 3/4
MY SCIENTOLOGY MOVIE (2017, d. John Dower) *** 3/4
My Sense of Modesty (Où je mets ma pudeur?) (2015, d. Sébastien Bailly) short film ** 1/4
MY SISTER'S KEEPER (2009, d. Nick Cassavetes) Emotionally over-the-top, but satisfying weeper. Watch "Medium" kid Sofia Vassilieva & Tom Dekker spark. ***
MY SO CALLED ENEMY (2011, d. Lisa Gossels) ***
MY SOUL TO TAKE (2011, d. Wes Craven) Silly horror genre flick obvious & predictabile. But Max Thieriot & John Magaro's chemistry almost make it worth watching. **
MY STEP BROTHER FRANKENSTEIN (2004, d. Valery Todorovsky) Quirky, entertaining film about a psychologically damaged returning soldier & his family. ***
MY SUICIDE (2009, d. David Lee Miller) *** 3/4
MY SUMMER OF LOVE (2005, d. Pawel Pawlikowski) More civil version of Heavenly Creatures, only in the English moors. Nicely acted. ** 3/4
MY TINY UNIVERSE (2004, d. Scantlebury & Phillips) American indie, a wryly clever farce, nicely written and acted, especially by newcomer lead Andy Comeau. ***
My Uncle Tudor (Nanu Tudor) (2021, doc short, d. Olga Lucovnicova) ** 3/4
MY VOICE, MY LIFE (2015, d. Ruby Yang) ** 1/4
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (2011, d. Simon Curtis) Williams' Monroe is an amazing characterization, and Redmayne sold the truth of the story. *** 1/4
MY WIFE IS AN ACTRESS (2002, d. Yvan Attal) ***
MY WINNIPEG (2009, d. Guy Maddin) V. Hypnotic docu-fantasia and amusing psychic personal history of this filmmaker. Michel Gondry + David Lynch + snow. *** 1/4
MY WORST NIGHTMARE (2012, d. Anne Fontaine) A French farce about a low class Belgian man who melts a stuck-up French woman...sort of. Huppert is fine, I just never laughed. ** 1/4
My Year of Dicks (2023, anim. short, d. Sara Gunnarsdóttir) *** 1/2
MY YEAR WITHOUT SEX (2010, d. Sarah Watt) ***
MYN BALA: ARRIORS OF THE STEPPE (2012, d. Akan Satayev, Kazakhstan) *** 1/4
MYSTERIES OF LISBON (2011, d. Raul Ruiz) ***
MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH (2008, d. Rawson Marshall Thurber) ** 3/4
MYSTERIOUS SKIN (2005, d. Greg Araki )V. + *** 1/2
MYSTERIOUS SKIN (2005, d. Gregg Araki) Mindblowingly accurate and well made drama about sexual abuse & its affects on two boys. *** 3/4
MYSTERY ROAD (2014, d. Ivan Sen) ** 3/4
MYSTIC RIVER (2003, d. Clint Eastwood) I'd read the strong book and knew all the surprises, seemed clunky and overwrought. Still, good Hollywood fare. ** 3/4
MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER, THE (2010, d. David Robert Mitchell) ** 1/2
NAGASAKI: MEMORIES OF MY SON (2016, Japan, d. Yoji Yamada) *** 1/4
NAI NAI & WAI PO ("Grandma & Grandma") (Doc. short, d. Sean Wang) ** 1/2
NAIROBI HALF LIFE (2012, d. David "Tosh" Gitonga, Kenya) *** 1/2
NAKED BOYS SINGING (2007, d. Schrock & Christian) Gimmicky staged musical review. Good songs, not cinematic. **
NAKED IN ASHES (2006, d. Paula Fouce) V. Instructive, if slow docu about several yogis in India. ** 1/2
NAKED PROOF (2003, U.S. d. Jamie Hook) Amateurville romantic comedy about a blocked PhD candidate whose life is in upheaval. * 3/4
Nalujuk Night (2022, doc. short, d. Jennie Williams) ***
NAMELESS, THE (Los sin nombre) (2000, d. Jaume Belaguero) W/O
NAMES OF LOVE, THE (2011, d. Michel Leclerc) ** 3/4
NAMESAKE, THE (2007, d. Mira Nair) Terrific immigrant family drama with a surprisingly fine perf by Kal Penn. *** 3/4
NANCY DREW (2008, d. Andrew Fleming) V. Poorly acted, silly, misjudged and failed attempt at a film series for girls. * 1/2
NANKING (2007, d. Guttentag & Sturman) Horrific pictures & well cast readings by actors make effective docu. *** 1/4
NANNY DIARIES, THE (2007, d. Shari Singer Berman, Robert Pulcini) ** 3/4
NAPLES '44 (2017, d. Francesco Patierno) *** 1/2
NAPLES IN VEILS (2018, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) *** 1/4
NAPOLA (2005, d. Dennis Gansel) Story of a teenage boxer given a scholarship to an elite Nazi school. Incredibly involving, one of those films I flip out over. *** 1/4
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (2004, d. Jared Hess) Weirdly episodic, but very funny geek chic teen flick. We laugh at the hick characters; but it works. ** 3/4
NARC (2002, d. Joe Carnahan) ** 1/4
NARCO CULTURA (2013, d. Shaul Schwartz) *** 1/2
NARNIA 2: PRINCE CASPIAN (2008, d. Andrew Adamson) Much better than the 1st; but still pallid & a little boring in the mid section. ** 3/4
NARROWS, THE (2008, d. François A. Velle) ***
NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC (2014, d. One9) ** 1/4
NATE DOGG (2003, U.S. d. Thomas Farone) El cheapo digital production about a boy with ADHD who goes bad. **
NATHALIE (2004, d. Anne Fontaine) Very French adult drama about a wife's strategy for a finagling husband. Overlong and left me cold. ** 1/2
NATIONAL GALLERY (2014, Frederick Wiseman) *** 1/4
NATIONAL PARKS ADVENTURE (2016, d. Greg MacGillivray) ** 1/2
NATIONAL TREASURE (2004, d. Jon Turtletaub) Totally implausable pastiche of Indiana Jones & Da Vinci Code. But I loved it anyway, esp. Justin Bartha, quite a find. ** 3/4
NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (2007, d. Jon Turteltaub) Excessive, ridiculous, a 2 Excedrin mess. * 1/2
NATURAL SELECTION (d. Robbie Pickering) * 1/4
NAVALNY (2022, d. Daniel Roher) *** 1/2
NEARING GRACE (2006, d. Rick Rosenthal) Excellent Gregory Smith & David Morse perfs. raise this coming-of-age story. ***
NEARY'S: THE DREAM AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW (2017, d. Neil Leifer) ** 1/2
NEBRASKA (2013, d. Alexander Payne) ** 3/4
NECESSITIES OF LIFE (Ce quíl faut pour vivre) (2008, d. Benoit Pilon; Canada) *** 1/2
NED KELLY (2004, d. Gregor Jorday) True, though suspiciously sympathetic story of Australian version of Jesse James gang. A downer despite attractive leads. ** 1/2
Nefta Football Club (2020, live short, d. Yves Piat) *** 1/2
Negative Space (2018, d. Ru Kuwahata, Max Porter) ***
NEIGHBORING SOUNDS (2013, d. Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazil) **
Neighbors' Window, The (2020, live short, d. Marshall Curry) ****
NEIL YOUNG JOURNEYS (2012, d. Jonathan Demme) V. Beautifully shot concert docu with road trip interview...but I just wasn't engaged, so I quit watching at half. W/O
NEMESIS GAME (2004, d. Jesse Warn) V. Silly, poorly acted thriller about a group obsessed with a game of riddles which turn fatal. Jay Baruchel is creepy, nerdy here. ** 1/2
NEON DEMON (2016, d. Nicolas Winding Refn) ** 1/4
NERUDA (2016, Chile, d. Pablo Larrain) **
NEST, THE (2005, d. Florent Emilio Siri)V. Above average, tense French action flick about a warehouse under seige with lots of anonymous bad guys. ** 3/4
NET, THE (2017, d. Kim Ki-duk) *** 3/4
NETWORK, THE (2013, d. Eva Orner) *** 1/4
NEVER AGAIN AS BEFORE (Mai più come prima) (2007, d. Giacomo Campiotti) *** 1/4
NEVER BACK DOWN (2008, d. Jeff Wadlow) Karate Kid on steroids. Way better than expected, esp. actingwise. ***
NEVER DIE YOUNG (2014, Luxembourg, d. Pol Cruchten) *** 1/4
NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN (2021, Poland, d. Malgorzata Szumowska) Ukrainian masseur has powers over rich Poles. ** 1/2
NEVER LET HIM GO (2023, Doc. miniseries, d. Jeff Dupre, Jacob Hickey) *** 3/4
NEVER LET ME GO (2010, d. Mark Romanek) Likable, attractive "people" trying to cope. I was interested & involved; but alternate universe aspect bothered. *** 1/4
NEVER LOOK AWAY (2018, Germany, d. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck) *** 1/2
NEVER LOOK AWAY (2019, d. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck) + ****
NEVER STEADY, NEVER STILL (2018, d. Kathleen Hepburn) *** 1/4
NEW BLACK, THE (2013, d. Yoruba Richen) ***
NEW COUNTRY, THE (2001, d. Geir Hansteen Jorgensen) ** 3/4
NEW MAN, THE (2008, d. Klaus Haro) *** 1/4
NEW TURN (2018, d. Doris Wong) ** 1/2
NEW TWENTY, THE (2008, d. Chris Mason Johnson) Involving story of 5 college friends nearing 30 encountering NY business & sex life. ***
NEW WORLD, THE (2005, d. Terrence Malick) ** 3/4
NEW YORK I LOVE YOU (2009, d. Various) Intermittently interesting portmanteau film; NY with no gays? Some sequences worked, most didn't. ** 1/2
NEW YORK SERENADE (2007, d. Frank Whaley) ***
NEWCASTLE (2008, d. Dan Castle) ***
NEWS FROM PLANET MARS (2016, d. Dominik Moll) ** 3/4
NEWS OF THE WORLD ( 2021, d. Paul Greengrass) *** 1/2
NEWTON (2017, India, Amit V. Masurkar) *** 3/4
NEWTOWN (2016, d. Kim A. Snyder) *** 1/2
NEXT DOOR (2005, d. Pol Sletaune) ***
NEXT GOAL WINS (2014, d. Steve Jamison and Mike Brett) ** 1/2
NEXT THREE DAYS, THE (2010, d. Paul Haggis) Fairly taut thriller with a premise just this side of absurd. Crowe is fine. ** 3/4
NEXT TIME, I'LL AIM FOR THE HEART (La Prochaine fois, je viserai le coeur) (2015, d. Cédric Anger) ***
NEXT YEAR JERUSALEM (2014, D. David Gaynes) *** 1/2
NEXT (2007, d. Lee Tamahori) Deja Vu with none of that films brilliant f/x & an inferior Phil Dick concept. **
NICE GUYS, THE (2017, d. Shane Black) ** 1/4
NICELAND (2005, d. Fridrik Thór Fridriksson) A strange but pleasant fable about a boy (Martin Compston) searching for the purpose of life. ** 3/4
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY (2002, d. Douglas McGrath) ***
NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST (2008, d. Peter Sollett) "Nice" NYC version of Superbad. Fun and funny, even smart wasted teens story. Cera's a true pomo hero. ***
NICO AND DANI ( "Krámpack") (2000, d. Cesc Gay) ***
NICOTINA (2003, d. Hugo Rodriguez) Black comedy noir - misadventures of gang of cyberthieves. Diego Luna fine; Lucas Crespi a future latino star. ***
NICOTINA (2003, d. Hugo Rodriguez)+ Worth a 2nd look, never underestimate the babe factor and Lucas Crespi is for me the ultimate. A real audience film. ***
NIGHT BUS (2008, d. Davide Marengo) ***
NIGHT CLERK, THE (Avant l'aube) (2011, d. Raphaël Jacoulot) *** 1/4
NIGHT LARRY KRAMER KISSED ME, THE (2000, d. Tim Kirkman) ***
NIGHT LISTENER, THE (2006, d. Patrick Stettner) Echos of JT Leroy. Collette great. I felt I lived this story once upon a time. ***
NIGHT MOVES (2014, d. Kelly Reichardt) *** 1/2
NIGHT OF THE KINGS (2021, Ivory Coast, d. Philippe Lacôte) Young man sent to prison run by inmates forced to tell a story for his life. ** 3/4
Night Ride (2023, short, d. Eirik Tveiten) ** 1/2
NIGHT SHIFT (2001, d. Philippe Le Guay) ***
NIGHT WATCH (2005, d. Timur Bekmambetov) Messy Russian pastiche of every big f/x film from The Omen to The Matrix. Vampires rule for 1000 years. **
NIGHT WILL FALL (2014, André Singer) *** 1/2
NIGHTCRAWLER (2014, d. Dan Gilroy) *** 1/4
Nightcrawlers, The (2019, doc short, d. Alexander A. Mora) *** 1/2
NIGHTENGALE, THE (2014, China, d. Philippe Muyl) ** 1/2
NIGHTFALL (2013, d. Ray Chow) ** 3/4
NIGHTGUARDS (2010, d. Namik Kabil; Bosnia-Herzegovina) * 1/4
NIGHTINGALE (2015, Elliott Lester) *** 1/4
NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2022, d. Guillermo del Toro) *** 1/4
NIGHTS IN RODANTHE (2008, d. George C. Wolfe) Every romantic cliché. Nicely acted, but unbelieveable, contemptuous script. * 3/4
NIGHTWATCHING (2007, d. Peter Greenaway) ** 1/2
NILE HILTON INCIDENT, THE (2017, d. Tarik Saleh) ** 3/4
NINA & IRENA (2023, Doc. short, d. Daniel Lombroso) *** 3/4
NINA'S TRAGEDIES ( 2003, d. Savi Gavison) Involving coming of age story of 14 year old boy and his crush on his pretty aunt (and weird family dynamic). ***
NINE DEAD GAY GUYS (2003, d. Ky Mo Lab) Fun, frothy comedy: People keep dying all around 2 Irish hustlers in London. Some yuks pretty silly stuff. ** 1/4
NINE QUEENS (2001, d. Fabián Bielinsky) ***
NINE QUEENS (2003, d. Fabián Bielinsky) V. + Fine Argentinian caper film worth a 2nd look via TiVo. I expect a Hollywood remake is in the cards. ***
NINE (2009, d. Rob Marshall) Liked: intercutting of singing with story, Cruz, Fergie's singing and her one song, Day-Lewis's accent. Disliked most everything else. ** 3/4
NINTH DAY, THE (2005, d. Volker Schlöndorff) Dark, slow, philosophical drama about Catholic priest on leave from Dachau & his duel of wits with an SS officer. ** 3/4
NINTH GATE, THE (2000, d. Roman Polanski) **
NIRVANA (2008, d. Igor Voloshin) ***
Nixon: Checkers to Watergate (2016, d. Charles Braverman, Ken Rudolph) *** 1/2 (1976 doc. short)
NN (Peru) (2015, d. Héctor Gálvez) ** 1/4
NO CAMERAS ALLOWED (2014, d. James Marcus Haney) *** 1/2
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007, d. Joel and Ethan Coen) Ultra bloody, almost perfectly achieved thriller. *** 1/2
NO COUNTRY FOR YOUNG MEN (Non è paese per giovani) (2017, d. Giovanni Veronesi) *** 1/4
NO DEBES ESTAR AQUI (2003, d. Jacobo Rispa) Spanish thriller about killings in an internet chat room. Potboiler. *
NO END IN SIGHT (2007, d. Charles Furguson) Impressive docu indicting the Bush administration. *** 1/4
NO GREATER LOVE (2017, d. Justin David Roberts) *** 1/4
NO MAN'S LAND (2001, d. Danis Tanovic) ****
NO NEWS FROM GOD (2002, d. Agustin Diaz-Yanes) * 1/2
NO NIGHT IS TOO LONG (2004, d. Tom Shankland) V. Canadian TV movie: a gay psychological thriller from Ruth Rendell novel. Extraordinary acting. *** 1/4
NO NIGHT IS TOO LONG (2005, d. Tom Shankland) V. + Wonderfully written & acted Ruth Rendell story; a Canadian gay TV film to be cherished. *** 1/2
NO ONE'S SON (Niciji sin) (2008, d. Arsen Ostojic; Croatia) *** 1/4
NO PLACE ON EARTH (2013, d. Janet Tobias) *** 1/2
NO PLACE TO GO (Die Unberührbare) (2000, d. Oskar Roehler) * 1/2
NO PUEDO VIVIR SIN TI (I Can't Live Without You) (2009, d. Leon Dai; Taiwan) ***
NO REGRET (2007, d. Leesong Hee-il) ***
NO REGRETS (2002, d. Benjamin Quabeck) ** 3/4
NO SONGS OF LOVE (2005, d. Lars Kraume) Talky, boring pseudo-docu of a guy making a doc about his brother's affair with his girlfriend. * 3/4
NO SUBTITLES NECESSARY: LASZLO & VILMOS (2008, d. James Chressanthis) Revelatory docu about 2 Hungarian cinematographers. Fine visuals, well constructed. *** 1/4
NO SUCH THING (2002, d. Hal Hartley) * 1/4
NO TIME TO DIE (2022, d. Cary Joji Fukunaga) *** 1/4
NO TRAINS, NO PLANES (2000, d. Jos Stelling) *
NO (2012, d. Pablo Larrain, Chile) *** 1/2
NO. 2 (2006, d. Toa Fraser) ***
NOAH (2014, d. Darren Aronofsky) * 1/4
NOBEL SON (2008, d. Randall Miller) Absurd plot; but stylish enough to keep me interested...but just falls apart in 3rd act. * 3/4
Nobody Dies Here (2017, d. Simon Panay) ** 3/4 low energy doc short: hardscrabble mining for gold in Benin. Even kids struggle. Some die. Low reward.
NOBODY KNOWS HOW TO TALK TO CHILDREN (2004, d. George Roca) The White Stripes playing a NYC club. Poor sound & picture; but the music is great. ** 1/2
NOBODY KNOWS (2004, d. Hirokazu Kore-Eda) Japanese AFF about 3 kids deserted by their mother to fend. Overlong, but powerful critique of neglectful society. ** 3/4
NOBODY TO WATCH OVER ME (2009, d. Ryoichi Kimizuka; Japan) *** 1/2
NOBODY (2011, d. Christos Nikoleris) ***
NOBODY'S BABY (2003, d. David Seltzer) V. Silly, but watchable dumb & dumber comedy melodrama with two fine leads in Gary Oldman and Skeet Urich. ** 1/2
NOCHE, UNA (2013, d. Lucy Mulloy) *** 1/4
NOCTURAMA (2017, d. Bertrand Bonello) *** 1/4
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (2016. d. Tom Ford) *** 1/2
NOI THE ALBINO (2004, d. Kagar Kari) Bleak, but affecting, Icelandic AFF. Coming-of-age story about an underachiever small town boy. ***
NOISE (2007, d. Matthew Saville) ***
NOITE ESCURA (2005, d. João Canijo; Portugal) *
NOMAD (2007, d. Sergei Bodrov; Kazakhstan) *** 1/2
NOMADLAND (2021, d. Chloé Zhao) *** 3/4
NON-FICTION (2019, d. Olivier Assayas) ***
NORDESTE (2006, d. Juan Solanas) ** 3/4
NORMAL HEART, THE (2014, d. Ryan Murphy) *** 1/2
NORMAL PEOPLE (2020, d. Lenny Abrahamson, Hettie Macdonald) *** 1/2
NORMAL (2007, d. Carl Bessai) ***
NORMAN LEAR: JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF YOU (2016, d. Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady) *** 1/4
NORMAN (2011 d. Jonathan Segal) *** 1/2
NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE & TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER (2017, d. Joseph Cedar) ***
NORTH (2009, d. Rune Denstad Langlo) ** 1/2
NORTH COUNTRY (2005, d. Niki Caro) ***
NORTH FACE (2009, d. Philipp Stölzl) *** 3/4
NORTH KOREA-DAY IN THE LIFE (2005, d. Pieter Fleury) Docu with no narration, just showing the activities of typical N. Korean workers in one day. ** 3/4
NORTH SEA TEXAS (2012, d. Bavo Defurne) *** 1/4
NORTH SEA TEXAS (2012, d. Bavo Defurne) + *** 1/4
NORTHANGER ABBEY (2008, d. Jon Jones) V. Most minor of Austin stories despite Andrew Davies script...but JJ Field was great. ** 1/2
NORTHFORK (2003, U.S. d. Michael Polish) Another boring allegory by the Polish brothers. *
NORTHWEST (2013, d. Michael Noer) ***
NOT FADE AWAY (2012, d. David Chase) ** 1/4
NOT HERE TO BE LOVED (Je ne suis pas lã pour être aimé) (2006, d. Stéphane Brizé) Slow, lugubrious; 50ish man redeemed by too much tango. ** 1/2
NOT IN TEL AVIV (2012, d. Nony Geffen) *
NOT MY TYPE (Pas son genre) (2014, d. Lucas Belvaux) *** 1/4
NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT (2013, d. Shasta Grenier, Sabrina Lee) *** 1/4
NOTEBOOK, THE (Le grand cahier) (2013, d. János Szász) *** 3/4
NOTEBOOK, THE (2004, d. Nick Cassavetes) + Emotionally cathartic melodrama, even better the 2nd time around. Rachel McAdams a major find. *** 1/2
NOTEBOOK, THE (2004, d. Nick Cassevetes) 3-hankey weeper, beautifully acted & directed old fashioned romantic drama. ***
NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006, d. Richard Eyre) Creepy, strange, literate writing, fabulous acting by both women. *** 1/4
NOTES ON BLINDNESS (2016, d. Pete Middleton, James Spinney) *** 3/4
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (2008, d. Rod Lurie) Clever, satisfying adaptation of Valerie Plame affair. Superb acting ensemble. *** 1/4
NOTHING IS PRIVATE (2007, d. Alan Ball) ***
NOTHING LEFT UNSAID: GLORIA VANDERBILT & ANDERSON COOPER (2016, d. Liz Garbus) *** 1/2
NOTHING MORE (2002, d. Juan Carlos Malberti) *
NOTHING TO DECLARE (Rien à déclarer) (2011, d. Dany Boon) ***
NOTHING (2003, d. Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti) Cuba AFF+. Wacky comedy set in Cuban post office. Tries too hard * 1/2
NOTHING'S ALL BAD (2010, d. Mikkel Munch-Fals) ** 3/4
NOTHING'S ALL BAD (2011, d. Mikkei Munch-Fals) + ** 3/4
NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE, THE (2006, d. Mary Harron) ** 3/4
NOTRE MUSIQUE (2004, d. Jean-Luc Godard) Overly intellectualized snoozer about Bosnia...but nicer to look at and better than most recent Godard oeuvre. ** 1/4
NOTTURNO (2021, d. Gianfranco Rosi) *** 1/4
NOUVELLE CHANCE (2006, d. Ann Fontaine) ***
NOVEMBER (2017, Estonia, d. Rainer Sarnet) ** 1/4
NOVEMBER (2005, d. Greg Harrison) Pretentious and mysterious recreation of a convenience store robbery. James LeGros & Courtney Cox are just ok. **
NOVIA DE LAZARO, LA (2003, d. Fernando Merinero) Life and loves among the Cuban immegrants in Madrid. ** 3/4
NOVIEMBRE (2004, d. Achero Mañas) Mockumentary about a revolutionary street theater troup in late '90s Madrid. Gorgeous wide screen & fine job all around. *** 1/2
NOVOCAINE (2001, d. David Atkins) ** 1/2
NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (2016, d. John M. Chu) * 1/4
NOW YOU SEE ME (2013, d. Louis Leterrier) *** 1/2
NOW: IN THE WINGS ON A WORLD STAGE (2014, d. Jeremy Whelehan) ** 1/2
NOWHERE BOY (2010, d. Sam Taylor-Wood) *** 1/4
NOWHERE IN AFRICA (2003, d. Caroline Link) German AFF Epic of refugees in Africa during WWII. *** 1/2
NOWHERE TO HIDE (2017, d. Zaradasht Ahmed) *** 3/4
NOY (2010, d. Dondon Santos; Philippines) ** 1/4
NU. (2007, d. Jan-Willem van Ewijk) ** 3/4
NUE PROPRIÉTÉ (2006, d. Joachim Lafosse) *** 1/2
Nuisance Bear (2023, doc. short, d. Jack Weisman, Gabriela Osio Vanden) ** 1/4
NUIT DE CHIEN (Tonight) (2008, d. Werner Schroeter) *
NUITS D'ARABIE (2008, d. Paul Kieffer; Luxembourg) *** 1/4
NUMBER ONE (2018, d. Tanie Marshall) *** 1/2
NURSE BETTY (2000, d. Neil LaBute) ** 1/4
NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY (2009, d. Charles Officer) ***
NUTS! (2016, d. Penny Lane) *** 1/2
NUUMMIOQ (2011 d. Torben Bech, Otto Rosing; Greenland) ** 1/4
NYNKE (2001, d. Pieter Verhoeff) **
Nyo Vweta Nafta (2017, d. Ico Costa) ** B&W vérité short doc.
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? (2000, d. Joel Coen) ***
O DELFIM (2003, d. Fernando Lopes) Portugal AFF. Insufferably pretentious drama about poor suffering rich people. *
O FANTASMA (2001, d. João Pedro Rodrigues) *
O (2001, d. Tim Blake Nelson) ** 3/4
O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA (2016, d. Ezra Edelman) *** 1/2
OA, THE (2016, TV mini-series, d. Zal Batmanglij) *** 1/2
OASIS (Doc. short, d. Justine Martin) ** 1/2
OASIS (2002, d. Lee Chang-dong) *** 3/4
OATH, THE (2017, d. Baltasar Kormäkur) *** 1/4
OBABA (2005, d. Montxo Armendariz; Spain) ** 3/4
OBLIVION (2013, d. Joseph Kosinski) ** 3/4
OBSERVE AND REPORT (2009, d. Jody Hill) Very black, obscene, mostly unfunny comedy...however surprisingly entertaining with Rogan & Anna Faris standouts. ***
OBVIOUS CHILD (2014, d. Gillian Robespierre) *** 1/4
OC87 (2012, d. Bud Clayman et al) V. Clayman has had mental illness, OCD, bipolar etc., and this self-funded docu follows him & explores his life POV. Painful to watch, I had to stop. W/O
OCCUPATION DREAMLAND (2005, d. Olds and Scott; docu) V. ***
OCCUPY THE FARM (2014, d. Todd Darling) ***
OCEANS (2010, d. Perrin & Cluzaud) Great nature footage of ocean & shore life, a little too obvious narration...all in all a big screen experience to treasure. *** 1/4
OCEANS 12 (2004, d. Steven Soderbergh) A ridiculous plot, off-hand acting and sloppy direction made for an overblown disaster, IMHO * 1/4
OCEAN'S ELEVEN (2001, d. Steven Soderbergh) ** 3/4
OCTOBER (2011, d. Daniel Vega Vidal, Peru) ** 3/4
OCULTO (2008, d. Antonio Hernández) V. Woman's revenge thriller. Leonardo Sbaraglia & Angie Cepeda have real chemistry. ***
ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, THE (2012, d. Peter Hedges) Innocuous, watchable fantasy about a "real" cabbage patch kid. Good cast, premise almost works. ** 3/4
ODD LITTLE MAN (Da jeg traff Jesus... med sprettert) (2000, d. Stein Leikanger) ***
ODE, THE (2008, d. Nilanjan Neil Lahiri) Overwrought, heavy handed So. Asian/American gay drama. Guilt, screwed up childhood. Ugh. * 1/4
ODYSSEY, THE (2017, d. Jérôme Salle) *** 1/4
OF FATHERS AND SONS (2018, d. Talal Derki) ****
OF GODS AND MEN (2010, d. Xavier Beauvois; France) ** 3/4
OF HORSES AND MEN (2013, d. Benedikt Erlingsson, Iceland) ** 3/4
OF LOVE AND LAW (2018, d. Hikaru Toda) *** 1/2
OF LOVE AND OTHER DEMONS (2010, d. Hilda Hidalgo; Costa Rica) ***
OF MEN AND WAR (2015, d. Laurent Bécue-Renard) ** 1/2
OF TWO MINDS (2012, d. Blush & Klein) V. Docu featuring 4 bi-polar persons, all interesting characters. But even though they're verbal, I still don't connect entirely with them & the film. ** 3/4
OFF HOURS, THE (2011, d. Megan Griffiths) **
OFF SCREEN (2006, d. Pieter Kuijpers) ** 1/4
OFF THE MAP (2004, d. Campbell Scott) Wonderfully atmospheric coming of age story of young girl in a close rural New Mexico family. *** 1/2
OFFSCREEN (2007, d. Christopher Boe) ** 1/4
OGU & MAMPATO ON EASTER ISLAND (2003, d. Alejandro Teilez) Chile AFF. Children's cartoon. WO
OH BOY (2012, d. Jan-Ole Gerster) ***
OH HAPPY DAY (2007, d. Ian Poitier) * 3/4
OH IN OHIO, THE (2006, d. Billy Kent) Ograsmic hi-jinx in Cleveland. OK script, good acting, end sort of peters out. ** 3/4
O'HORTEN (2008, d. Bent Hamer; Norway) ***
OKAY (2002, d. Jesper W. Nielsen) *** 1/4
OKJA (2017, d. Bong Joon-Ho) ** 3/4
OKLAHOMA CITY (2017, d. Barak Goodman) *** 1/2
OLD GOATS (2011, d. Taylor Guterson) *** 1/4
OLD JOY (2006, d. Kelly Reichardt) ***
OLD MAN & THE GUN, THE (2018, d. David Lowery) ** 3/4
OLD MAN, THE (Shal) (2013, d. Ermek Tursunov, Kazakhstan) *** 3/4
OLEG (2022, d. Nadia Tass) *** 1/2
OLGA (2004, d. Jayme Monjardim) Interesting, if overblown production based on true events about a Jewish Communist woman revolutionary caught in a Nazi net. ** 1/2
OLIVE HARVEST, THE (2004, d. Hanna Elias) Overwrought triangle romantic drama about 2 Palestinian brothers & the woman they both covet. * 3/4
OLIVE KITTERIDGE (2014, d. Lisa Cholodenko) *** 1/4
OLIVE TREE, THE (2016, d. Iciar Bollain) ** 1/2
OLIVER SHERMAN (2011, d. Ryan Redford) ** 3/4
OLIVER TWIST (2005, d. Roman Polanski) *** 1/4
OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (2013, d. Antoine Fuqua) ** 3/4
OMAGH (2004, d. Pete Travis) Muted dramatic re-enactment of '98 N. Ireland bombing & aftermath with quietly great performance by Gerard McSorley. ***
OMAR (2013, d. Hany Abu-Assad, Palestine) *** 1/4
ON BODY AND SOUL (2017, Hungary, d. Ildikó Enyedi) *** 3/4
ON CHESIL BEACH (2018, d. Dominic Cooke) *** 1/2
ON EDGE (2001, d. Karl Sloven) **
ON GUARD (2002, d. Philippe De Broca) [1997] ** 1/2
ON HER SHOULDERS (2018, d. Alexandria Bombach) *** 1/2
On My Mind (2022, short, d. Marin Strange-Hansen) *** 1/4
ON NATIVE SOIL: THE DOCUMENTARY OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT (2005, d. Linda Ellman; docu) *** 1/2
ON THE BASIS OF SEX (2018, d. Mimi Leder) ** 3/4
ON THE BUS (2001, d. Dustin Lance Black) *** 1/4
ON THE DOWNLOW (2004, d. Tadeo Garcia) Latino gangs do an ugly gay West Side Story. Utterly talentless cast & crew. Why are we subjected to these terrible films? 1/2*
ON THE ICE (2011, d. Andrew Okpeaha MacLean) ***
ON THE ROAD WITH JUDAS (2007, d. JJ Lask) ***
ON THE ROAD (2012, d. Walter Salles) V. * 3/4
ON THE ROAD (2017, d. Michael Winterbottom) *** 1/4
ON THE SEA (2012, d. Alessandro D'Altari) ***
ON THE TOWN (2010, d. Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly) ** 1/2
ON THE WATERFRONT (2004, d. Elia Kazan) Missed this when I was 13. For my tastes overly melodramatic with an annoyingly heavy Bernstein score. I do get Brando, tho. ** 1/2
ON THE WINGS OF DREAMS (2008, d. Golem Rabbany Biplop; Bangladesh) **
ON TOUR (2011, d. Mathieu Amalric) *** 1/4
ON_LINE (2003, d. Jed Weintrob) Digitally shot indie drama about relationships made and broken on a net sex line. Clever, innovative and involving. ***
ONCE IN A LIFETIME (Les Héritiers) (2015, d. Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar) *** 3/4
ONCE IN A LIFETIME: STORY OF NEW YORK COSMOS (2006, d. Crowder & Dower) V. Fast moving, involving docu about pro soccer. *** 1/4
ONCE IN A LULLABY: THE PS22 CHORUS STORY (2012, d. Jonathan Kalafer) V. Immensely entertaining docu: 5th grade chorus doing 83rd Oscar show. Wonderful, uplifting stuff. *** 3/4
ONCE IN THE LIFE (2000, d. Laurence Fishburne) **
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA (2012, d. Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey) ** 1/2
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL: SPIRIT OF JEET KUNE DO (2004, d. Ha Yu) Sang woo Kwong great as shy high school student beset by bullies. *** 1/4
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019, d. Quentin Tarantino) ** 3/4
ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO (2003, d. Robert Rodriguez) Some good set-pieces and interesting acting; but ultra-violent and shrill. ** 1/2
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS (2003, Great Britain d. Shane Meadows) Predictable British family drama with inaudible dialog. ** 1/4
ONCE YOU'RE BORN YOU CAN NO LONGER HIDE (2006, d. Marco Tullio Giordana) *** 1/4
ONCE (2007, d. John Carney) ***
ONDINE (2010, d. Neil Jordan) ** 1/2
ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE (2021, d. Thea Sharrock) *** 1/4
ONE CHANCE (2013, d. David Frankel) ** 1/2
ONE CHILD NATION (2019, d. Nanfu Wang, Zhang Jia-Ling) *** 3/4
One Child (2014, d. Zijian Mu) doc short After 2008 Chinese quake which killed 90,000, among them 5,000 only children, 3 families cope with recovering. ** 3/4
ONE CUT, ONE LIFE (2015, d. Lucia Small, Ed Pincus) *** 1/4
ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER (2000, d. Kevin Macdonald) *** 1/2
ONE DAY LIKE RAIN (2007, d. Paul Todisco) 1/2*
ONE DAY ON EARTH (2012, d. Kyle Ruddick) V. 3,000 hours were gorgeously shot on 10/10/10 & this was edited from that. Informative, but mostly a stunt. *** 1/4
ONE DAY (2011, d. Lone Scherfig) Old fashion star power can't elevate contrived script. But Jim Sturgess is truly wonderful, Hathaway's Brit accent distracting. ** 3/4
ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (2013, d. Morgan Spurlock) ***
ONE HOUR PHOTO (2002, d. Mark Romanek) ** 3/4
ONE HUNDRED NAILS (Centochiodi) (2007, d. Ermanno Olmi) ** 1/4
ONE I LOVE, THE (2014, d. Charlie McDowell) **
ONE KISS (2016, d. Ivan Cotroneo) ** 3/4
ONE NIGHT AT MCCOOL'S (2001, d. Harald Zwart) *
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI... (2021, d. Regina King) *** 1/2
ONE NIGHT WITH SABRINA LOVE (2001, d. Alejandro Agresti) ***
ONE OF A KIND (Mon âme par toi guérie) (2014, d. François Dupeyron) **
ONE OF US (2017, d. Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady) *** 3/4
ONE PM CENTRAL STANDARD TIME (2013, d. Alastair Layzell) Doc. about JFK assassination from Walter Cronkite's perspective. Quite well done, moving. *** 1/2
One Small Step (2019, d. Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas) Oscar nominated short animated film. *** 1/4
ONE WEEK (2008, d. Michael McGowan) ***
ONE-HANDED TRICK, THE (2009, d. Santiago Zannou) **
ONLY GOD FORGIVES (2013, d. Nicolas Winding Refn) ***
ONLY GOD KNOWS (2006, d. Carlos Bolado) *** 1/4
ONLY HUMAN (2006, d. Dominic Harari and Terisa Pelagri) Occasionally silly Spanish family farce...Jewish girl/Palestinian man. ** 3/4
ONLY JOURNEY OF HIS LIFE, THE (2002, d. Lakis Papasthathis) * 1/2
ONLY JOURNEY OF HIS LIFE, THE (2003, d. Lakis Papasththis) Greece AFF. Magical realism with no coherent plot. * 1/2
ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK, THE (2017, d. Marc Webb) *** 3/4
ONLY REAL GAME, THE (2014, d. Mirra Bank) *** 1/4
ONLY THE DEAD SEE THE END OF WAR (2015, d. Bill Guttentag & Michael Ware) *** 1/2
ONWARD (2021, d. Dan Scanlon) *** 1/4
OPEN HEARTS (2003, d. Susanne Bier) Denmark AFF. Dogma drama about fear of loss and love. ***
OPEN RANGE (2003, d. Kevin Costner) Gorgeously photographed western - almost overcomes cliché plot with some superb acting esp. by Robert Duval. ** 1/2
OPEN ROAD, THE (2009, d. Michael Meredith) Jeff Bridges, in best dissipated Dude mode & game Timberlake do road trip clichés. Predictable; but better than expected. ** 3/4
OPEN WATER (2004, d. Chris Kentis) Viscerally disturbing, small film about a scuba diving couple lost at sea. ** 3/4
Opera (2021, d. Erick Oh) A spectacle zooming in and out of a performance ziggurat. Complexly animated, but meaningless to me. ** 3/4
OPERATION FINALE (2018, d. Chris Weitz) ** 3/4
OPERATION HOMECOMING (2007, d. Richard Robbins) Out of the tragedy of war, true art in the best of this years docus. ****
OPIUM - DIARY OF A MADWOMAN (2008, d. János Szász) ***
OPIUM WAR (2008, d. Siddiq Barmak; Afghanistan) * 3/4
OPPENHEIMER (2023, d. Christopher Nolan) *** 3/4
OPPONENT (2023, d. Milad Alami) ** 3/4
OPPONENT, THE (2000, d. Eugene Jorecki) ***
ORA DI PUNTA, L' (2007, d. Vincenzo Marra) ** 3/4
ORA O MAI PIÚ (2003, d. Lucio Pellegrini) Energetic & well made coming of age story-leftist group during Genoa 8 fracas. Jacopo Bonvicini actor to watch. ***
ORANGE COUNTY (2002, d. Jake Kasdan) ***
ORANGE HONEY (2013, d. Imanol Uribe) ** 1/2
ORATOR, THE (2011, d. Tusi Tamasese, New Zealand) W/O
ORCHESTRA OF EXILES (2012, d. Josh Aronson) V. Docu of violin prodigy Bron Huberman & his efforts to save musicians from the Holocaust. Re-enactments detract; but film elates.*** 3/4
ORCHESTRA SEATS (Fauteuils d'Orchestre) (2006, d. Danièle Thompson) Nicely edited, involving Parisian mult-character romantic comedy. *** 1/4
ORDEAL BY INNOCENCE (2018, d. Sandra Goldbacher) *** 1/2
ORDER OF CHAOS (2010, d. Vince Vieluf) Strong, snarky, atmospheric thriller. Fine perfs (Coiro and Ventimiglia). Vieluf is writer/director/composer to watch! *** 1/2
ORDER, THE (2003, d. Brian Helgeland) Dark parable of black popes and sin eaters. Surprisingly not bad filmically, though ludicrously overwrought & cheesy. *
ORDINARY EXECUTION, AN (Une exécution ordinaire) (2010, d. Marc Dugain) ***
ORDINARY MIRACLES: THE PHOTO LEAGUE'S NEW YORK (2012, d. Nina Rosenblum) V. Narration heavy docu with gorgeous photos & leftist politics. ** 3/4
ORFEU (2000, d. Carlos Diegues) ** 1/2
ORIGINAL SIN (2001, d. Michael Cristofer) ***
ORLY (2010, d. Angela Schanelec) ** 1/4
ORNITHOLOGIST, THE (2017, d. Joäo Pedro Rodrigues) *** 1/4
ORPHAN, THE (2002, d. Sun-fung Lee) **
ORPHANAGE, THE (2007, d. J.A. Bayona) Spain's foreign film submission ** 1/2
OSAMA (2004, d. Siddiq Barmak) Highly politicized, simplistic indictment of Taliban as anti-women to extreme. Involving story of girl masquerading as boy. ** 1/4
OSLO, AUGUST 31 (2011, d. Joachim Trier) *** 3/4
OSO ROJO, UN (2003, d. Israel Adrián Caetano) Loner outlaw, larger than life character in a film noir notable for its cruelty and compassion. ***
OSS 117: NEST OF SPIES (2006, d. Michel Hazanavicius) * 1/4
OSSESSIONE (2005, d. Luchino Visconti)V. Fine, neo-realist B&W noir based on Postman Always Rings Twice. Massimo Girotti is revelatory. *** 1/4
OT: OUR TOWN (2003, d. Scott Hamilton Kennedy) V. Docu feature about 1st high school play in Compton in 20 years. *** 1/4
OTHER BANK, THE (2009, d. George Ovashvili) *** 1/2
OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, THE (2008, d. Justin Chadwick) Bad history, great jewelry. ** 1/4
OTHER DREAM TEAM, THE (2012, d. Marius Markevicius) V. Docu of Lithuanian statehood thru metaphor of their '92 Bronze metal Olympic basketball team. Heartening, uplifting. *** 1/2
OTHER END OF THE LINE, THE (2008, d. James Dodson) Every romantic cliché in the book; but Jesse Metcalfe isn't half bad. **
OTHER GIRLS, THE (2001, d. Caroline Vignal) ** 3/4
OTHER GUYS, THE (2010, d. Adam McKay) I simply have no tolerance for dumb comedies. I did laugh...but the action sequences were boring & it didn't work for me. * 3/4
OTHER MAN, THE (2008, d. Richard Eyre) ***
OTHER PEOPLE (2016, d. Chris Kelly) + *** 3/4
OTHER PEOPLE (2016, d. Chris Kelly) *** 3/4
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN, THE (2005, d. Mitch Davis) V. ***
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN, THE (2002, d. Mitch Davis) ** 1/2
Other Side of Home, The (2016, short, d. Naré Mkrtchyan) ** 3/4
OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, THE (2004, d. Marcos Bernstein) Fine film romance about an elderly lady who gets involved in witnessing a possible crime. *** 1/4
OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND, THE (2018, d. Orson Welles) * 1/4
OTHER SIDE, THE (Al Otro Lado) (2005, d. Gustavo Loza) ** 1/2
OTHER SON, THE (2012, d. Lorraine Levy) Lots of food for thought in this intriguing "switched at birth" Israeli/Palestinian story. Fine script, a few flaws; but realistic & human. *** 1/2
OTHERS, THE (2001, d. Alejandro Amenábar) ** 3/4
OTRO LADO DE LA CAMA, EL (2003, d. Emilio Martinez-Lazaro) Spanish sex comedy with music & dance, about couples playing musical beds.. ***
OUR BELOVED MONTH OF AUGUST (2008, d. Miguel Gomes; Portugal) W/O
OUR BOYS (2019, limited series, d. Joseph Cedar, Tawfik Abu Wael) *** 3/4
OUR CHILDREN (2012, d. Joachim Lafosse, Belgium) ***
Our Curse (2014, d. Tomasz Sliwinski) doc short *** 3/4
OUR DAY WILL COME (Notre jour viendra) (2011 d. Romain Gavras) ** 1/4
OUR EVERYDAY STORY (Bosnia & Herzegovina) (2015, d. Ines Tanovic) *** 1/2
OUR HEROES DIED TONIGHT (Nos héros sont morts ce soir) (2014, d. David Perrault) ** 1/4
OUR HOMELAND (2012, d. Yong-hi Yang, Japan) ***
OUR IDIOT BROTHER (2011, d. Jesse Peretz) Rudd is especially fine, but film sputters from unrealistic relationships & situations. ** 3/4
OUR KIND OF TRAITOR (2016, d. Susanna White) ** 1/4
OUR LADY OF THE ASSASSINS (2001, d. Barbet Schroeder) *** 3/4
OUR LADY OF THE ASSASSINS (2001, d. Barbet Schroeder) + *** 1/2
OUR LAND (La Terra) (2006, d. Sergio Rubini) *** 1/4
OUR LAST TANGO (2016, d. German Kral) *** 1/4
OUR LIFE (2011, d. Daniele Luchetti) *** 1/2
OUR NIXON (2013, d. Penny Lane) *** 1/4
OUR OWN (2005, d. Dmitry Meskhiyev) Interesting, involving variant on the Russian WWII film, about escaped soldiers behind German lines. ***
OUR PARADISE (Notre paradis) (2012, d. Gaël Morel) 30ish hustler meets gorgeous young thing & sex & murder ensue. Gripping. Visceral. Dimitri Durdaine...my god! *** 1/2
OUT AT THE WEDDING (2007, d. Lee Friedlander) *
OUT IN THE DARK (2013, d. Michael Mayer) *** 3/4
OUT OF ORDER (2003, Pilot d. Wayne Powers) V. This works as a standalone feature. Realistic family drama of a pair of screenwriters. Outstanding acting. ***
OUT OF SIGHT: STOP THE STIGMA, START A CONVERSATION (2017, d. Kyle Mahaney) *** 1/2
OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY (2012, d. Danielle Gardner) V. As tastefully done as a 9/11 tribute docu can be, by & for the families etc. of decimated Cantor Fitzgerald. *** 1/4
OUT OF THE CLOSET: THE WILLIAM HAINES STORY (2001, d. Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbado) ** 1/2
OUT OF THE FURNACE (2013, d. Scott Cooper) * 3/4
OUT OF TIME (2003, d. Carl Franklin) A policier/sting film with more plot holes than a pound of swiss cheese. Diverting at times, but predictable. * 3/4
OUT OF TIME (2007, d. Harald Friedl) ** 3/4
OUT STEALING HORSES (2019, Norway, d. Hans Petter Moland) *** 1/2 A grieving old man returns to the forest of his youth & reminisces.
OUT (2002, d. Hideyuki Hirayama) ***
OUT (2003, d. Hideyuki Hirayama) Japan AFF. Black comedy reminiscent of Weekend at Bernie's only emontionally resonant. ***
OUTBREAK (2003, d. Wolfgang Peterson) V. Catching up (yes, just got TiVo, which explains the videos). Viral thriller. Good suspense, lousy science. ** 1/2
OUTING RILEY (2007, d. Pete Jones) ***
OUTPATIENT (2002, d. Alec Carlin) *** 1/4
OUTRAGE (2009, d. Kirby Dick) V. Confrontational docu, intriguingly edited, about hypocritical gay Congresscritters and the harm they foist on the Republic. *** 1/2
OUTRAGE (Autoreiji) (2011 d. Takeshi Kitano) ** 1/2
OUTRAGE AT GLEN RIDGE (2004, d. Guy Ferland)V. Earnest, effective TV message movie with outstanding Heather Matarazzo as retarded girl raped by footall team. ** 3/4
OUTRAGEOUS SOPHIE TUCKER, THE (2015, d. William Gazecki) *** 1/4
OUTSIDE THE LAW (Hors la loi) (2010, d. Rachid Bouchareb; Algeria) *** 1/2
OUTSOURCED (2006, d. John Jeffcoat) **
OVER THE HILL BAND (2010, d. Geoffrey Enthoven) ** 1/2
OVER THE MOON (2021, d. Glen Keane) Old fashioned musical, 2D animation of quest for moon goddess with garish watercolor art. * 3/4
OVER YOUR CITIES GRASS WILL GROW (2011, d. Sophie Fiennes) * 3/4
OVERBROOK BROTHERS (2009, d. John Bryant) ***
OVERHEARD 2 (2012, d. Alan Mak & Felix Chong) ** 3/
OVERLORD (2005, d. Stuart Cooper) 1975 B&W docudrama about a Brit soldier preparing and participating in D-Day. No Private Ryan, sort of blah. ** 1/4
OVERNIGHT (2003, U.S. doc. d.Mark Brian Smith) Excellent documentary about a megalomanic filmmaker/rock singer who tangles with Harvey Weinstein. *** 1/2
OVERNIGHTERS, THE (2014, d. Jesse Moss) *** 1/2
OVERTURE, THE (2004, d. I Vichailak) Well made, if overwrought, Thai film about a traditional musician's life from child prodigy to regime threatening elder master. ** 3/4
OWNING MAHOWNY (2003, d. Richard Kwietniowski) Hoffman is great as banker-gambler. The film struck close to home to this gambling addict. Good job. ***
OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (2013, d. Sam Raimi) **
p.s. (2004, d. Dylan Kidd) Kidd makes movies smack dab in my wheelhouse. I loved the film (and Grace and Linney) more than its problematic script deserved. ***
P.T.U. (2003, Hong Kong d. Johnny To) Stylized policier/comedy about one frenzied night in the streets of Hong Kong. Great fun. ***
PACIFIC RIM (2013, d. Guillermo del Toro) *** 1/2
PACIFIC, THE (2010, d. various) Major HBO miniseries, not quite as good & memorable as Band of Brothers, but ultimately moving in its own right with a fine cast. *** 1/2
PAD YATRA: A GREEN ODYSSEY (2013, d. Wendy J.N. Lee) ** 1/4
PADRE NUESTRO (2007, d. Rodrigo Sepulveda; Chile) ***
PAGE EIGHT (2018, d. David Hare) *** 1/4
PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES (2011, d. Andrew Rossi) *** 1/4
PAHELI (2005, d. Amol Palekar; India) **
PAIN AND GLORY (2019, d. Pedro Almodóvar) *** 3/4
PAIN IN THE ASS, A (2009, d. Francis Veber) **
PAINT IT BLACK (2017, d. Amber Tamblyn) ** 1/4
PAINTED BIRD, THE (2019, Czech Republic, d. Václav Marhoul) Degraded young Jewish boy wanders thru WWII torn E. Europe. *** 3/4
PAINTED HOUSE, A (2003, d. Alfonso Arau) (V.) Faithful adaptation, spare & underplayed TV movie. Scott Glenn's grandfather very strong. ** 3/4
PAINTED SKIN (2008, d. Gordon Chan; Hong Kong) ** 1/4
PAINTED VEIL, THE (2006, d. John Curran) Old fashioned story telling, but beautiful and nicely done. ***
PAINTER AND THE THIEF, THE (2021, d. Benjamin Ree) *** 1/4
PALAIS ROYAL! (2006, d. Valérie Lemercier) * 3/4
PALE HORSE, THE (2020, d. Sarah Phelps) 2-part BBC series, NOT Christie-ish mystery, rather horror/witchcraft nonsense. * 3/4
PALENDROMES (2005, d. Todd Solondz) Ebony black comedy with Solondz's patented mordant sardonic wit. Uneven, but always interesting. ** 3/4
PALM BEACH STORY (2005, d. Preston Sturges) V. Amiable, wordy, classy screwball comedy with finally made me see why Sturges has such a rep for wit. ***
PANDORA'S PROMISE (2013, d. Robert Stone) *** 3/4
PANIC ROOM (2002, d. David Fincher) *** 1/4
PAN'S LABYRINTH (2006, d. Guillermo del Toro) *** 1/2
PAPA (2006, d. Maurice Barthélémy) Touching, nicely made, well observed French road pic, sort of young boy Ponette travels with his father. ***
PAPADOPOULOS & SONS (2013, d. Marcus Markou) *** 1/4
PAPER BIRDS (2011, d. Emilio Aragón) *** 1/2
PAPER DOVE (2003, d. Fabrizio Aguilar) Campañeros in the Andes: gorgeously photographed drama about a small town & boy 11 under seige by terrorists. ***
PAPER HEART (2009, d. Nicholas Jasenovec) *** 1/4
PAPER PLANES (2015, d. Robert Connolly) ** 1/4
PAPER WILL BE BLUE, THE (Hirtia va fi Albastra) (2007, d. Radu Muntean) ***
PAPERBOY, THE (2012, d. Lee Daniels) Despite great cast (esp. Kidman), the script is laughable in a bad way. Narration structure fails & everything seems excessive. **
PAPILLON (2018, d. Michael Noer) ***
PAPRIKA (2007, d. Satoshi Kon) **
PA-RA-DA (2008, d. Marco Pontecorvo) *** 1/4
PARADE (2010, d. Isao Yukisada) *** 1/2
PARADE, THE (Parada) (2015, d. Srdan Dragojevic) * 1/4
PARADE'S END (2013, d. Susanna White) V. Admirably produced & acted miniseries that's a slog to get through. Upperclass accents are indecipherable & so are motivations. ** 3/4.
PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY (2011, d. Berlinger & Sinofsky) V. That rarity, a docu series that changed history. Perfect filmmaking at every level. ****
PARADISE NOW (2005, d. Hany Abu-Assad; Palestine) *** 1/2
PARADISE SUITE (2016, d. Joost van Ginkel) *** 3/4
PARADISE (2016, Russia, d. Andrei Konchalovsky) *** 34
PARADISE: FAITH (2013, d. Ulrich Seidl) **
PARADISE: LOVE (2013, d. Ulrich Seidl) ** 1/2
PARALLEL MOTHERS (Madres paralelas) (2022, d. Pedro Almodóvar) *** 3/4
PARALLEL WORLDS (dir: Petr Vaclav) **
PARALYTIC (2016, d. Joey Johnson) * 3/4
PARANOIA (2013, d. Robert Luketic) ** 1/4
PARANOID PARK (2008, d. Gus Van Sant) Spare, non-acted skate board epic. Gabe Nevins a natural. *** 1/2
PARANOIDS, THE (Los Paranoicos) (2008, d. Gabriel Medina) ** 3/4
PARANORMAN (2013, d. Chris Butler, Sam Fell) ***
PARASITE (2019, d. Bong Joon-Ho) *** 1/2
PARC (2008, d. Arnaud des Pallières) * 1/2
PARENTS (2008, d. Ragnar Bragason) *** 1/4
PARIS (2009, d. Cédrick Klapisch) Sprawling romcom with large, fine cast but too many characters and unfocused script and direction. Too bad. ** 1/4
PARIS 05:59: THÉO & HUGO (2017, Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau) *** 1/2
PARIS BY NIGHT (2012, d. Philippe Lefebre) *** 1/4
PARIS OPERA, THE (2017, d. Jean-Stéphane Bron) ** 1/4
PARIS PRESTIGE (2017, d. Hamé Bourokba, Ëkoué Labiley) W/O
PARIS RETURN (2010, d. Yossi Aviram) *** 1/4
PARIS, JE T'AIME (2007, d. various) *** 1/4
PARKER (2023, Doc. short, d. Sharon Liese, Catherine Hoffman) ** 1/4
PARKOUR (2010, d. Marc Rensing) *** 1/2
PARSLEY DAYS (2001, d. Andrea Dorfman) *** 1/4
PARTICLE FEVER (2014, d. Mark Levinson) *** 1/2
PARTICLES OF TRUTH (2004, d. Jennifer Elster) V. Insufferably pretentious film with amateurish direction, though the actors are interesting. W/O
PARTING SHOT, A (2007, d. Pas douce) (2007, d. Jeanne Waltz) *** 1/4
PARTLY PRIVATE (2009, d. Danae Elon) V. Excellent, if discomforting docu of a secular Jewish family's struggles with idea of circumcision. My reaction was visceral. *** 3/4
PARTS LEFT OVER, THE (2009, d. Roy Wageman) ** 3/4
PARTY MONSTER (2003, d. Bailey & Barbato) Witty, trueish story of '80s legendary partyboy & murderer. Seth Green superb, Macaulay Culken less so. ** 3/4
PASSCHENDAELE (2008, d. Paul Gross) ** 1/2
PASSENGERS (2016, d. Morten Tyldum) *** 1/2
PASSION OF THE CHRIST, THE (2004, d. Mel Gibson) Effective filmmaking, if long on sadism. But too many repetitive images, and left me cold. ** 1/2
PASSION OF THE MIND (2000, d. Alain Berliner) **
PASSIONADA (2002, d. Dan Ireland) *** 1/4
PAST IS A FOREIGN LAND, THE (Il passato e'una terra straniera) (2008, d. Daniele Vicari) *** 1/2
PAST, THE (El Pasado) (2007, d. Héctor Babenco) *** 1/2
PAST, THE (2013, d. Asghar Farhadi, Iran) *** 1/2
PATAGONIA (2010, d. Marc Evans) ***
PATAGONIA (2011, d. Marc Evans, United Kingdom) + ***
PATER FAMILIAS (2004, d. Francisco Patierno) Complex multi-threaded drama about a group of doomed Neapolitan ragazzi. ***
PATERNAL INSTINCT (2004, d. Murray Nossei) Wonderful, emotionally satisfying doc. about a gay couple who employ a surrogate mother to have children. *** 1/2
PATERSON (2017, d. Jim Jarmusch) ** 3/4
PATHOLOGY (2010, d. Marc Schoelermann) V. Michael Weston & Milo Ventimiglia are well matched as smart adversaries in this stylish, evil-doing thriller. ***
PATHS OF THE SOUL (2016, d. Zhang Yang) ***
PATIENCE STONE, THE (2012, d. Atiq Rahimi, Afghanistan) ** 1/4
PATIENT, THE (2022 miniseries, d. Chris Long, Kevin Bray) *** 1/2
PATRICK'S DAY (2015, d. Terry McMahon) *** 1/4
PATRIK, AGE 1.5 (2008, d. Ella Lemhagen) *** 1/2
PATRIK, AGE 1.5 (2008, d. Ella Lemhagen) + Second time around even better...this time I could appreciate more the outstanding filmmaking. *** 1/2
PATRIOT, THE (2000, d. Roland Emmerich) ***
PATRIOTIC MAN, A (2014, d. Arto Halonen) ** 1/4
PATRIOTS DAY (2016, d. 'Peter Berg) ***
PAUL À QUÉBEC (2016, d. François Bourier) *** 1/2
PAUL WILLIAMS STILL ALIVE (2012, d. Stephen Kessler) V. Combo of celebrity bio-doc and bromance. Maybe too much Kessler. Williams is fascinating subject. *** 1/2
PAULINE & PAULETTE (2001, d. Lieven Debrauwer) ** 3/4
PAULINE AT THE BEACH (Pauline à la plage) (2010, d. Eric Rohmer) *** 1/2
PAULISTA (2010, d. Roberto Moreira) ** 3/4
PAW PROJECT, THE (2013, d. Jennifer Conrad) **
PAWN SACRIFICE (2015, d. Edward Zwick) *** 1/4
PAY 2 PLAY: DEMOCRACY'S HIGH STAKES (2014, d. John Wellington Ennis) *** 1/2
PAY IT FORWARD (2000, d. Mimi Leder) ** 1/2
PAYCHECK (2003, d. John Woo) Phil Dick story, full of paranoia & plot holes; but Woo does great action flicks, even if the slo-mo dove is forced here. ** 1/4
PEACE OFFICER (2015, d. Scott Christopherson & Brad Barber) ***
PEACEFUL WARRIOR (2006, d. Victor Salva) Setting aside the New Agey hokum, thrilling film. Mechlowicz amazes. ***
PEACHES (2001, d. Nick Grosso) ** 1/4
PEANUT BUTTER FALCON, THE (2019, d. Tyler Wilson and Michael Schwartz) ***
Pear Cider and Cigarettes (2017, d. Robert Valley & Cara Speller) ***
PEARL HARBOR (2001, d. Michael Bay) ***
Pearl (2017, d. Patrick Osborne) ** 1/4
PEAS AT 5:30 (2004, d. Lars Buechel) Richly rewarding, intensely moving romantic road pic about a newly blind stage director & the blind woman that fate brings him. *** 3/4
PEASANTS, THE (2023, Poland, d. DK Welchman, Hugh Welchman) *** 1/2
PEDRO (2009, d. Nick Oceano) V.+ MTV is a natural place to show this superior biopic. Dustin Lance Black should now add an Emmy to his Oscar for Milk. *** 1/2
PEDRO (2008, d. Nick Oceano) *** 1/2
PEEPLI LIVE (2010, d. Anusha Rizvi; India) ** 1/4
PELICAN BRIEF, THE (2006, d. Alan Pakula) V. Finally saw this; holds up well, tho Grisham stories are predictable. ** 3/4
PELICAN DREAMS (2014, d. Judy Irving) ** 3/4
PENELOPE (2008, d. Mark Palansky) Modern fairy tale with great production design, but what's with the accents? ** 3/4
PENITENT MAN, THE (2010, d. Nicholas Gyeney) ** 3/4
PEOPLE LIKE US (2012, d. Alex Kurtzman) Film about screwed up family, marvelous perfs by Pine & especially Banks. Keeps improving to beautiful, emotional ending. ***
PEOPLE VS. FRITZ BAUER, THE (2016, d. Lars Kraume) *** 1/2
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE (2018, d. Hao Wu) ** 1/4
PEPPERMENT (2000, d. Castas Kapakas) ** 1/2
PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF (2010, d. Chris Columbus) More fun than Harry Potter 1; but some plot holes detract. ** 3/4
PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS (2014, d. Thor Freudenthal) **
PERFECT AGE OF ROCK 'N' ROLL, THE (2011, d. Scott Rosenbaum) Jason Ritter is enormously likable & Zegars is sexy; RnR film works until unmotivated ending. ***
PERFECT DAY, A (Un Giorno perfetto) (2008, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) *** 1/4
PERFECT DAY, A (2007, d. Peter Levin) V. Sappy TV movie wannabe Wonderful Life. * 3/4
PERFECT GETAWAY, A (2009, d. David Twohy) Gorgeous Kawaii scenery is all that's good about this predictable Natural Born Killers wannabe. **
PERFECT MATCH (2008, d. Anne-Marie Étienne) ***
PERFECT SCORE, THE (2004, d. Brian Robbins) Unoriginal, but enjoyable Hughesish teener flick. Chris Evans shines and Leonardo Nam is very funny as an Asian stoner. ** 3/4
PERFECT SCORE, THE (2005, d. Brian Robbins) V. ** 3/4
PERFECT SENSE (2011, d. David Mackenzie) ** 3/4
PERFECT SON, THE (2001, d. Leonard Farlinger) *** 1/4
PERFECT SPORT (2008, d. Anthony O'Brien) ***
PERFECT STORM, THE (2000, d. Wolfgang Petersen) ** 3/4
PERFECT STRANGERS (2004, d. Gaylene Preston) Romantic thriller about a woman kidnapped to a desert island. Unlikely, but well made. ** 1/2
PERFECTIONIST, THE (La perfezionista) (2009, d. Cesare Lanza) 1/2*
PERFUME - THE STORY OF A MURDERER (2006, d. Tom Tykwer) Amazing gorgeous production, creepy, original concept. *** 1/2
PERFUME DE VIOLETAS, NADIE TE OYE (2001, d. Marisa Sistach) ***
PERHAPS LOVE (2005, d. Peter Ho-Sun Chan; Hong Kong) ** 3/4
Period. End of Sentence. (2018, d. Rayka Zehtabchi) ** 3/4
PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, THE (2012, d. Stephen Chbosky) Brilliant hi-school film, early '90s nerd culture expressed with keen eye & great writing & acting. *** 3/4
PERPETUUM MOBILE (2009, d. Nicolas Pareda) * 1/4
PERRIER'S BOUNTY (2010, d. Ian FitzGibbon) ** 1/4
PERRO DEL HORTELANO, EL (2003, d. Pilar Miro 1996) Historical Lope de Vega comedy about a fickle countess. ** 1/2
PERSEPOLIS (2007, d. Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi; France) *** 1/4
PERSON TO PERSON (2017, d. Dustin Guy Defa) ***
PERSONAL SHOPPER (2017, d. Olivier Assayas *** 1/2
PERSONAL VELOCITY (2002, d. Rebecca Miller) *** 1/4
PERSONALS, THE (2001, d. Chen Kuo-fu) ** 1/2
PERSUASION (2008, d. Adrian Shergold) V. Austin is well served by this tv prod. cast, esp. Sally Hawkins. ***
PERSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, THE (2006, d. Gabriele Muccino) Too much miserablism for too long; but Smith & son are quite good. ***
PETER PAN (2003, d. P.J. Hogan) Wasn't enchanted by this honorable, boring attempt at authentic Pan. Sorry, every aspect seemed forced & artificial. * 3/4
PETERLOO (2019, d. Mike Leigh) *** 1/4
PETIT LIEUTENANT, LE (2006, d. Xavier Beauvoir) Spare, Bressonian French policier...sublimely realistic, Nathalie Baye great. *** 1/2
PETITE CHAMBRE, LA (2010, d. Stéphanie Chuat & Véronique Reymond; Switzerland) *** 1/2
PETITE LILI, LA (2004, d. Claude Miller) Amiable trifle about a group of film people cavorting in a French chateau whose story is then made as a film within a film. ** 3/4
PETYA ON THE WAY TO HEAVEN (2010, d. Nikolai Dostal) * 1/2
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (2004, d. Joel Schumacher) Maybe I'm just not into Lloyd Weber; a visual treat, great sets, costumes etc...but I was bored. ** 1/2
PHANTOM THREAD (2017, d. Paul Thomas Anderson) ** 3/4
PHARMAKON (2012, d. Joni Shanaj, Albania) W/O
PHARMICIST, THE (2004, d. Jean Veber) Entertaining claptrap, thriller/buddy comedy/policier. Guillaume Depardieu and Vincent Perez have true chemistry. ** 3/4
PHILANTHROPY (2003, d. Nae Caranfil) Romania AFF. Black comedy about begging as theater in modern Romania. ** 3/4
PHILOMENA (2013, d. Stephen Frears) *** 1/2
PHNOM PENH LULLABY (2011, d. Pawel Kloc) V. Stressful docu follows poor Israeli man & Cambodian woman as they try to find a home for one of their daughters. ** 1/4
PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND (2009, d. Daniel Barnz) Simplistic psycho stuff well presented. Fine acting; but just not all that original. ** 3/4
PHOENIX (2015, d. Christian Petzold) *** 1/2
PHONE BOOTH (2003, d. Joel Schumacher) Taut, tense thriller about a psycho sniper in NY. Colin Farrell is great here...remember at awards time. *** 1/4
PHOTOPHOBIA (2023, Doc., d. Ivan Ostrochovsky, Pavol Pekarcik) ***
PIANIST, THE (2002, d. Roman Polanski) *** 3/4
PIANO SOLO (2011 d. Riccardo Milani) *** 1/4
PIANO TEACHER, THE (2001, d. Michael Haneke) *** 3/4
PIAZZA FONTANA (2013, d. Marco Tullio Giordana) *** 1/4
PICK OF THE LITTER (2018, d. Don Hardy Jr. Dana Nachman *** 1/2
PIECES OF A WOMAN (2021, d. Kornél Mundruczó) *** 1/4
PIECES OF APRIL (2003, d. Peter Hedges) Another cliché disfunctional family/Thanksgiving trifle until a neat ending ties it all up. Somehow it worked. ***
PIECES OF HER (2022, limited series, d. Minkie Spiro) ** 1/2
PIEDRAS (2003, d. Ramon Salazar) Rapturously romantic parallel story of several women and gay men. My kind of film! *** 1/2
PIERRE RISSIENT: MAN OF CINEMA (2008, d. Todd McCarthy) ** 1/4
PIERREPOINT - THE LAST HANGMAN (2010, d. Adrian Shergold) V. Somber, well acted (Timothy Spahl!) story of man who hung 608 criminals. ***
PIERROT LE FOU (2010, d. Jean-Luc Goddard) **
PIETA (2012, d. Kim Ki-duk, South Korea) ***
PIG (2018, d. Mani Haghighi) *** 1/4
PIG (2022, d. Michael Sarnoski) *** 1/2
PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE, A (2015, d. Roy Andersson) ***
PILLERS OF THE EARTH, THE (2010, d. Sergio Mimica-Gezzan) V. A miracle of novel adaptation to a superb mini-series. Ideal cast & extraordinary prod'n. values. ****
PINA (2011, d. Wim Wenders, Germany) *** 1/4
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (2008, d. David Gordon Green) Genuinely funny stoner chase comedy with brain, wit & originality. *** 1/4
PIÑERO (2001, d. Leon Ichaso) **
PINGPONG (2007, d. Matthias Luthardt) *** 1/4
PINK RIBBONS, INC. (2012, d. Léa Pool) V. Issue docu (breast cancer charities are businesses) which isn't hard hitting enough, although well made. *** 1/4
PINNOCHIO (VO) (2003, d. Roberto Benigni) Italy AFF. Even with subtitles, a major train wreck of a film. *
PINOCCHIO (2021, d. Matteo Garrone) ** 1/4
PINOY SUNDAY (2011, d. Wi Ding-Ho) ** 3/4
PIPE DREAM (2002, d. John C. Walsh) ** 3/4
Piper (2017, d. Alan Barillaro & Marc Sondheimer) ** 1/2
PIRATE RADIO (2009, d. Richard Curtis) Wonderful evocation of the mid-60's with a dynamite song score (gotta get the CD). Great double bill with Across the Universe! *** 1/2
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2 (2007, d. Gore Verbinski) Exhaustingly repetitive, boring empty calories. * 1/2
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 3 (2008, d. Gore Verbinski) Better than #2, not saying much. **
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (2003, d. Gore Verbinski) 1st half is wonderful, then sort of topples from excesses; but Depp and Bloom are great. ** 3/4
PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS, THE (2013, d. Peter Lord) * 1/4
PIT STOP (2013, d. Yen Tan) ***
PIT, THE (Bedre) (2021, Latvia, d. Dace Puce) *** 1/2
PITCH PERFECT (2012, d. Jason Moore) Fun "Glee" style college flick (less campy, more like the film Camp). But who decided that "a capella" contests included instrument backing? ** 1/2
PIVELLINA, LA (2010, d. Tizza Covi & Rainer Frimmel; Austria) ***
PIZZA (2004, d. Mark Christopher) DV eccentric comedy: one night's adventure of a lonely fat girl turning 18 & a 30ish pizzaboy (sparkling turn by Ethan Embry). ** 1/4
PLACE AT THE TABLE, A (2013, d. Kristi Jacobson & Lori Silverbush) ***
PLACE BEYOND THE PINES, THE (2013, d. Derek Cianfrance) *** 1/2
PLACE IN HEAVEN, A (2014, d. Yossi Madmoni) *** 1/2
PLACE NEARBY, A (2000, d. Kaspar Rostrup) ** 3/4
PLACE OF EXECUTION (2010, d. Daniel Percival) V. 1964 murder investigation revisited by present day docu crew in gripping & surprising policier thriller. *** 1/2
PLACE VENDÔME (2000, d. Nicole Garcia) * 1/2
PLACE, THE (2018, d. Paolo Genovese) ** 3/4
PLAN B (2010, d. Marco Berger) *** 1/4
PLANET OF SNAIL (2012, d. Yi Seung-jun) V. Docu about blind/deaf Korean poet Young-Chan & his loving, physically challenged wife. Interesting, but lack of explanatory narration hurt. ***
PLANET OF THE APES (2001, d. Tim Burton) *
PLAY (2006, d. Alicia Scherson; Chile) *** 1/4
PLAYGROUND (Un monde) (2022, Belgium, d. Laura Wandel) ***
PLAYLIST, THE (2022 miniseries, d. Per-Olav Sorensen and Hallgrim Haug) *** 3/4
PLAYTIME (2004, d. Jacques Tati) 70mm presentation of this Chaplanesque (i.e. Modern Times) large canvas, subtle, visually extraordinary slapstick comedy. *** 1/2
PLAZA CATEDRAL (2022, Panama, d. Abner Benaim) *** 1/2
PLEASANT MOMENTS (2007, d. Vera Chytilová) *** 1/2
PLEASE GIVE (2010, d. Nicole Holofcener) Holofcener & her avatar Catherine Keener + Oliver Platt in fine fettle in this NY tale. *** 1/4
Please Hold (2022, short, d. K. D. Dávila) *** 1/2
PLEASE VOTE FOR ME (2007, d. Weijun Chen) Illuminating Chinese docu: 3rd graders' 1st election of class monitor. *** 1/4
PLEASE, PLEASE ME (Fais-moi plaisir!) (2010, d. Emmanuel Mouret) *** 1/4
PLEASURE BOY KOMOLA (2012, d. Humayun Ahmed, Bangladesh) * 1/4
PLEASURES OF BEING OUT OF STEP, THE (2014, d. David L. Lewis) *** 1/4
PLEDGE, THE (2001, d. Sean Penn) ***
PLENILUNIO (2000, d. Imanol Uribe) ** 3/4
PLIMPTON! STARRING GEORGE PLIMPTON AS HIMSELF (2013, d. Tom Bean & Luke Poling) ** 1/2
PLONING (2008, d. Dante Nico Garcia; Philippines) **
PLOT FOR PEACE (2014, d. Carlos Aguillo & Mandy Jacobson) *** 3/4
PLOY (2008, d. Pen-ek Ratanauang) ** 1/4
Pluck (2021, Doc short, d. Kirsty Griffin, Viv Kernick) ** 1/4
PLUS TARD, TU COMPREHENDRA (2008, d. Amos Gitaï) ** 1/2
POCO PIÚ DI UN ANNO FA (2003, d. Marco Filiberti) Oddly affecting drama about an upper class Italian gay porn star & his familial relationships. ** 3/4
POET AND THE BOY, THE (2018, d. Yang-hee Kim *** 1/4
POINT AND SHOOT (2014, d. Marshall Curry) *** 1/4
POINT BLANK (2011, d. Fred Cavayé) Non-stop action thriller with crooked Parisian police, pregnant wife in peril, kitchen sink stuff; but well mounted. *** 1/4
POINT BREAK (2017, d. Ericson Core) W/O
POIROT: MRS. MCGINTY'S DEAD (2009, d. Ashley Pearce) V. Fussy & talky British Agatha Christie whodunit with a ridiculous plot, but a nice noir look. **
POISON FRIENDS (Les amitiés maléfique) (2009, d. Emmanuel Bourdieu) V. Literary, unpleasant story of college students taken in by a pathological liar friend. ***
POLA X (2000, d. Leos Carax) *** 1/2
POLAR EXPRESS (2005, d. Robert Zemeckis) Nice animation, trite story...but it works on an elemental level. I enjoyed more than I expected from the lousy reviews. ***
POLICE BEAT (2005, d. Robinson Devor) Stream of consciousness experiences of a Seattle cop originally from Senegal. Wide screen video transfer. ** 1/4
POLICE ROMANCE, A (2009, d. Stéphanie Duvivier) *** 1/4
POLICE, ADJECTIVE (2009, d. Corneliu Porumbolu; Romania) ***
POLICEMAN (2012, d. Nadav Lapid) ***
POLIGONO SUR (2004, d. Dominique Abel) Doc. about Gypsy flamenco artists living in the projects and making a life of music. *** 1/2
POLISSE (2012, d. Maïwenn) *** 1/4
POLL DIARIES, THE (2011, d. Chris Kraus) *** 1/2
POLLOCK (2000, d. Ed Harris) ***
PONIENTE (WESTERN) (2003, d. Chus Gutierrez) Drama about labor strife in rural greenhouse farms in Andelusia. ** 1/4
PONTO FINALE (2023, Doc short, d. Miguel López Beraza) ** 3/4
PONYO (2009, d. Hayao Miyazaki) Gorgeous 2-D animation; but I just couldn't relate to the plot's flights of fancy, inscrutable message and dare I say boring characters. ** 1/2.
PONZI SCHEME (Le Système de Ponzi) (2015, d. Dante Desarthe) TV series * 1/4
POOR THINGS (2023, d. Yorgos Lanthimos) ****
POP & ME (2000, d. Chris Roe) ** 1/2
POP STAR ON ICE (2009, d. David Barba) ***
POPE'S TOILET, THE (2007, d. Enrique Fernández) Uruguay foreign film submission. ** 3/4
POPULAIRE (2013, d. Regis Roinsard) ** 1/2
POR EL CAMINO (2011, d. Charly Braun) ** 3/4
PORCELAIN HORSE, THE (2013, d. Javier Andrade, Ecuador) ** 1/2
PORN THEATER (2003, France d. Jacques Nolot) Very sexy film about men making it with other men in a straight porn theater in today's Paris. ***
PORNOGRAFIA (2004, d. Jan Jakub Kolski) Another WWII story, a drama about a group of Poles on a country farm. **
PORNOGRAPHY (2009, d. David Kittredge) Disquieting, arty thriller/ghost story set in porno world...a gay EYES WIDE SHUT as if directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. *** 1/4
PORT OF CALL (2016, Hong Kong, d. Philip Yung) * 3/4
PORT OF SHADOWS (2013, d. Marcel Carné) ***
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (2019, d. Céline Sciamma) ***
PORTRAIT OF WALLY (2012, d. Andrew Shea) V. Fascinating docu of restitution of stolen Shiele painting. Great use of artwork + complex legal story told well. *** 1/2
POSEIDON (2006, d. Wolfgang Petersen) Well directed old fashioned disaster thriller, if predictable and ridiculous. ** 1/2
POSSESSION (2002, d. Neil LaBute) *** 1/2
Possessions (2014, d. Shuhei Morita) ** 1/2
POSSIBLE LOVES (2001, d. Sandra Werneck) *** 1/4
POST GRAD (2009, d. Vicky Jenson) Attractive, interesting actors wasted in a totally cliché ridden family comedy. Whoever greenlit this waste of celluloid should be fired. * 3/4
POST, THE (2017, d. Steven Spielberg) *** 1/2
POSTCARD (2011, d. Kaneto Shindo, Japan) ** 1/2
POSTCARDS FROM LENINGRAD (2007, d. Mariana Rondón; Venezuela) **
POSTER BOY (2004, d. Zak Tucker) Well acted, romantic political film about a Jesse Helms-ish senator's closeted gay son & his encounter with gay activists. ** 3/4
POTICHE (2011 d. François Ozon) ** 3/4
POUPOUPIDOU (Nobody Else But You) (2011, d. Gerald Hustache-Mahieu) *** 3/4
POWER OF THE DOG, THE (2022, d. Jane Campion) *** 3/4
POWER TRIP (2003, U.S. doc. d. Paul Devlin) Well edited documentary about an American company which buys the ex-Soviet Georgian power utility. *** 1/2
PRAGUE (2007, d. Ole Christian Madsen) *** 1/2
PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION (2006, d. Robert Altman) ** 1/2
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL (2008, d. Gini Reticker) Talky docu with important subject: women getting together to stop bloodshed in Liberia. ** 3/4
PRAYERS FOR BOBBY (2009, d. Russell Mulcahy)V. Well acted tear jerker tv movie based on true story of gay boy's suicide. Emotionally devistating.. *** 1/4
PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN (Noche de fuego) (2021, Mexico, d. Tatiana Huezo) ** 1/2
PRECINCT, THE (Ilgar Safat; Azerbaijan) ** (W/O)
PRECIOUS LIFE (2010, d. Shlomi Eldar) V. Personal docu of Gaza bubble baby's fight for life in Israeli hospital. Symbolic of mideast situation & emotionally shattering. *** 3/4
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL "PUSH" BY SAPPHIRE (2009, d. Lee Daniels) Difficult to watch drama, but quite fine & amazingly well acted and ultimately uplifting. *** 3/4
PREMIUM RUSH (2012, d. David Kopp) Superior adrenalin rush flick with cohesive script. Another winner for Gordon-Levitt & "Baba O'Riley" should have a new life. *** 1/2
Present, The (2021, d. Farah Nabulsi) Palestinian man & daughter go shopping for a refrigerator present & get tangled in red tape. *** 1/2
PRESENTING PRINCESS SHAW (2016, d. Ido Haar) ** 3/4
PRESIDENT (2021, d. Camilla Nielsson) *** 3/4
PRESSURE COOKER (2009, d. Becker & Grausman) V. Inspiring docu about an inner city high school, a dedicated Culinary Arts teacher, & 3 students. ***
PRESTIGE, THE (2006, d. Christopher Nolan) Wonderfully scripted enigmatic period mystery which really delivers the goods. *** 1/4
PRESTON TYLK (2000, d. John Jon Bokenkamp) ** 1/2
PRETTY ONES, THE (2016, d. Melisa Liebenthal) 1/2* W/O
PRETTY PERSUASION (2005, d. Marcos Siega) Teen black comedy satire designed to offend everybody; with a great perf. by Evan Rachel Wood. ** 1/2
PRICE CHECK (2012, d. Michael Walker) *** 1/2
PRICE OF EVERYTHING, THE (2018, Nathaniel Kahn) *** 1/2
PRICE OF GLORY (2000, d. Carlos Avila) ** 1/2
PRICE OF SUGAR, THE (2007, d. Bill Haney) Admirable docu which also works: Priest in Domin.Rep. vs. sugar industry. *** 1/4
PRICELESS (Hors de prix) (2008, d. Pierre Salvadori) Typical French romantic comedy, sumptuous but uninspired. ** 1/2
PRIDE & PREJUDICE (2005, d. Joe Wright) ****
PRIDE AND GLORY (2008, d. Gavin O'Connor) Good acting and produciton values don't make up for plot clichés. ** 1/2
PRIDE (2014, d. Matthew Warchus) ** 1/2
PRIME MINISTERS, THE: SOLDIERS & PEACEMAKERS (2015, d. Richard Trank) *** 1/2
PRIME MINISTERS, THE: THE PIONEERS (2013, d. Richard Trank) *** 1/2
PRIME SUSPECT (2011 d. Christopher Menaul) V. Catching up in order. 1st series about female cop empowerment. Mirren truly a revelation. *** 1/2
PRIME SUSPECT 2 (2011 d. John Strickland) V. Nicely twisty, turny policier with a racial element. Intricate police work, marred by predictable, messy resolution. ***
PRIME SUSPECT 3 (2011 d. David Drury) V. Complex rent boys plot with nothing neatly sewn up. Some fascinating future stars in minor roles. I expected more. ***
PRIME SUSPECT 5 (2011, d. Philip Davis) V. Steven Mackintosh makes a convincing prime suspect, D.S. Tennison banashed to the sticks. Predictable script. ** 3/4
PRIME SUSPECT: INNER CIRCLES (2011, d. Sarah Anderson) V. Minor, not very involving story of political corruption & murder. ** 1/4
PRIME SUSPECT: LOST CHILD (2011, d. John Madden) V. Well acted policier of a pedophile accused of kidnapping a baby. ** 3/4
PRIME SUSPECT: SCENT OF DARKNESS (2011, d. Paul Marcus) V. Police intrigue & infighting over copycat murders. Gripping & best of current (#4) group. *** 1/4
PRIME TIME SOAP (2012, d. Odilon Rocha) **
PRIME (2005, d. Ben Younger) *** 1/2
PRIMER (2004, d. Shane Carruth) Fascinating, realistic low-budget time-machine-built-in-a-garage story. I couldn't follow it; but it was entertaining as hell. *** 1/4
PRIMUM NON NOCERE (2012, d. James Reynolds) V. Latin for "first do no harm", doctor's oath. Docu has dozens of testaments that blood transfusions harm. Even if true, film is turgid. ** 1/2
PRINCE & THE PAGODA BOY, THE (2011, d. Luu Trong Ninh, Viet Nam) * 1/2
PRINCE AVALANCHE (2013, d. David Gordon Green) ** 1/2
PRINCE OF PERSIA (2010, d. Mike Newell) A film of monumental badness, although Jake G. wasn't terrible. Flashy F/X, cringeworthy dialog. * 1/4
PRINCE OF TEARS, THE (2010, d. Yonfan) ** 3/4
Prince's Tale (2018, d. Jamie Miller) *** 3/4
PRINCESA (2001, d. Henrique Goldman) ** 3/4
PRINCESS AND THE FROG, THE (2010, d. Clements & Musker) Nicely imagined 2D Disney animation & a reasonably amusing musical comedy. ** 3/4
PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR, THE (2001, d. Tom Tykwer) *** 1/4
PRINCESS DIARIES 2 (2004, d. Garry Marshall) Inane teenage girl wish fullfillment fantasy even dumber than part 1. Chris Pine a find, however. * 1/4
PRINCESS DIARIES, THE (2001, d. Garry Marshall) * 1/2
PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER, THE (2011 d. Bertrand Tavernier) + Even better on 2nd viewing, superbly written & acted costume drama of French court amours. *** 3/4
PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER, THE (2010, d. Bertrand Tavernier) *** 1/2
PRINCESS OF THE SUN (La reine soleil) (2008, d. Philippe Leclerc) * 1/2
PRINCESS RACOON (2006, d. Seijun Suzuki) **
PRINCESSES (2006, d. Fernando de Aranoa) ** 1/2
PRINT THE LEGEND (2014, d. Luis Lopez, Clay Tweel) *** 1/2
Prison Terminal: the Last Days of Private Jack Hall (2013, d. Edgar Barens): Doc short: Iowa Prison lifer slowly dies in prison hospice. Pretty lugubrious. ** 3/4
PRISONER OF PARADISE (2003, d. Malcolm Clarke, Stuart Sender) (V) Great Holocaust docu. about Thereisenstadt & actor/director Kurt Gerron *** 3/4
PRISONERS (2013, d. Denis Villeneuve) ***
PRIVATE LESSONS (2010, d. Joachim Lafosse) Story of a teen boy's education, both academic and sexual, by an older man. Riveting, shocking, and yes, truthful. *** 1/2
PRIVATE VIOLENCE (2014, d. Cynthia Hill) ** 1/2
PRIVATE WAR, A (2018, d. Matthew Heineman) ** 3/4
PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE OHIO, THE (2006, d. Jane Alexander) V. Sentemenatl & hokey, but Julianne Moore is fine, Woody H. is a hambone. ** 1/2
PRIZE, THE (Il Premio) (2018, d. Alessandro Gassman) *** 1/2
PROBLEM WITH FEAR, A (2004, d. Gary Burns) Urban angst runs riot in this funny satire set in Canada in the near future. *** 1/4
PROCESSION (2022, d. Robert Green) ** 1/4
PRODUCING ADULTS (2004, d. Aliksi Salmenperä) Complex Finnish relationship drama about a woman's desire to have a child with a partner unable to commit. *** 1/4
PROFESSIONAL, THE (2003, d. Dusan Kovacevic) Black comedy - secret policeman's raprochement with his prey in "new" Serbia. Obscure Balkan politics.** 1/4
PROFESSOR, THE (Il camorrista) (2012, d. Giuseppe Tornatore) ***
PROJECT NIM (2011, d. James Marsh) V. Involving docu with so many re-creations that it comes off as a clone of new Planet of the Apes flick. ***
Prologue (2016, d. Richard Williams) *** 1/4
PROM KING (2017, d. Christopher Schaap) *** 3/4
PROMETHEUS (2013, d. Ridley Scott) ** 1/4
PROMISE KEPT, A (2004, d. Daniel Milligan) Turgid, predictable, badly acted and directed policier about a child molester and a mysterious avenger. 1/2 *
PROMISE TO THE DEAD, A (2007, d. Peter Raymont) Docu: Ariel Dorfman's paean to Pinochet's Chilean disappeared. ***
PROMISE, THE (Wuji) (2005, d. Chen Kaige; China) ***
PROMISED LAND (2012, d. Gus Van Sant) ** 1/2
PROMISED LAND, THE (Ziemia obiecana) (2008, d. Andrzej Wajda) V. Epic masterpiece of 19th Century capitalism in Lodz, Poland. *** 3/4
PROMISED LAND, THE (2023, Denmark, d. Nikolaj Arcel) *** 1/2
PROMISES (2002, d. Justine Shapiro & B.Z. Goldberg) *** 1/2
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (2021, d. Emerald Fennell) *** 1/4
PROOF OF LIFE (2000, d. Taylor Hackford) ***
PROOF (2005, d. John Madden) ** 3/4
PROPHET, A (Un prophète) (2010, d. Jacques Audiard; France) *** 3/4
PROPOSAL, THE (2009, d. Anne Fletcher) Adequate, if predictable romcom with revelatory leading man perf by Ryan Reynolds. ** 3/4
PROPOSITION, THE (2006, d. John Hillcost) ***1/4
PROSECUTION OF AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT (2012, d. Burke & Hagen) V. Vince Bugliosi prosecutes Bush et al for murder over Iraq. No defense; but the case is air tight. ACTION! *** 1/2
PROSPECT (2018, d. Zeek Earl, Chris Caldwell) **
PROSPERITY (2017, d. Mark Van Wijk) ** 1/2
PROSTOR IZMEDJU NAS (2017, d. Masa Neskovic) 1/2* This turkey 17 min. short on Amazon Prime as "The Space Between Us." It isn't.
PROTEKTOR (2009, d. Marak NajbrtCzech Republic) ** 1/2
PROTEUS (2004, d. John Greyson) Remarkably crude, but somehow effective drama about gay prisoners in 18th century South Africa. ** 1/4
PUBLIC ENEMIES (2009, d. Michael Mann) Mann's direction is claustrophobic & confusing - but visually striking. Lots of shoot-em-ups, little emotional involvement. ** 3/4
PUBLIC ENEMY (2003, S. Korea d. Kang Woo-suk) Satisfying, well written and acted policier about a slovenly policeman getting his man. *** 1/4
PUFFY CHAIR, THE (2007, d. Jay Duplass) V. Typical talky indie, sort of annoying but occasionally quite amusing. ** 1/2
PULSAR (2011, d. Alex Stockman) Belgian Matthias Schoenaerts plays internalized paranoia to perfection in this weird, aimless film about a rampant computer intrusion. ** 1/2
PULSE (2001, d. Kiyoshi Kurosawa) **
PUMP UP THE VOLUME (2003, d. Alan Moyle) V.+ Slater's definitive perf of teen alienation still relevant & thrills. Among my top 5 fave teen films. *** 1/4
PUMP (2014, d. Josh Tickell & Rebecca Harrell Tickell.) *** 1/2
PUMPKIN (2002, d. Adam Larson Broder & Tony R. Abrams) ***
PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2002, d. Paul Thomas Anderson) *** 1/4
PUNISHER, THE (2004, d. Jonathan Hensleigh) Another revenge comic novel/film. Much better than expected. Thomas Jane is perfect. ** 3/4
PUNK IS NOT DEAD (2011, d. Vladimir Blazevski, Macedonia) **
PUNK SINGER, THE (2013, d. Sini Anderson) ***
PUNKS (2001, d. Patrik-Ian Polk) ** 1/2
PUNTO ROSSO, IL (2008, d. Marco Carlucci) ** 1/4
PUNTO Y RAYA (2005, d. Elia Schneider) Silly Venezuelan black comedy about two opposing soldiers, one corrupt, one pure, & their adventures in the jungle. * 1/4
PUPENDO (2003, d. Jan Hrebejk) DV slice-of-life: '80s Czech society centering on out-of-favor sculptor and circle around him. Pleasant, but minor. ** 3/4
Pupille, Le (2023, short, d. Alice Rohrwacher) * 1/4
PUPS (2000, d. Ash) ***
PURGE (2012, d. Antti Jokinen, Finland) ** 1/2
PURPLE NOON (Plein soleil) (2014, d. René Clément) *** 1/2
PURPLE STORM (Chi yu fungbo) (2000, d. Teddy Chan) **
PUSH (2009, d. Paul McGuigan) Psi powers thriller with muddled, contradictory plot but some nifty acting, especially Fanning and Evans. ** 1/2
PUSHER II (2006, d. Nicolas Winding Refn) *** 1/4
PUSHER III (2006, d. Nicolas Winding Refn) *** 1/4
PUSHER (2006, d. Nicolas Winding Refn) ** 3/4
PUSS IN BOOTS (2012, d. Chris Miller) Story & vocal acting well done; flawless 3D animation. Too many familiar chase scenes! (but unusually inventive). ** 3/4
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (2023, d. Joel Crawford) ***
PUSSY RIOT: A PUNK PRAYER (2013, d. Mike Lerner & Maxim Pozdorovkin) *** 1/4
PUTZEL (2013, d. Jason Chaet) * 3/4
PYROMANIAC (2017, d. Erik Skjoldbjaerg) ** 1/2
PYTHON, THE (2004, d. Laila Pakalnina) Boring Latvian comedy about a school where several wild animals are loose. The metaphor was beyond me. * 1/4
QUAI DES ORFÈVRES (2003, d. Henri-George Clouzot) '47 light hearted murder mystery among the Music Hall crowd. ** 3/4
QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008, d. Mark Forster) High production values & a fine Bond don't make up for hyperactive cutting and horrendously confusing plot. * 1/2
QUARTET (2012, d. Dustin Hoffman) ** 3/4
QUEEN & SLIM (2019, d. Melina Matsoukas) * 3/4
QUEEN AND COUNTRY (2015, d. John Boorman) *** 1/4
QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY (2023, mini-series, d. Tom Verica) *** 3/4
Queen of Basketball, The (2021, doc. short, d. Ben Proudfoot) *** 1/4
QUEEN OF HEARTS (2019, Denmark, d. May el-Toukhy) *** 3/4 Middle age, married lawyer has affair with her 19 yr.old step son.
QUEEN OF IRELAND, THE (2016, d. Conor Horgan) *** 1/2
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT (2001, d. Branco Schmidt) * 1/2
QUEEN OF THE SUN: WHAT BEES ARE TELLING US? (2011, d. Taggart Seigel) Beautifully shot, on nose docu of yet another horrible example of man vs. nature. ***
QUEEN OF VERSAILLES (2012, d. Lauren Greenfield) V. Riveting docu that follows a classic hubristic fall, riches to rags story. Incredible "get" by filmmaker. *** 1/2
QUEEN TO PLAY (2010, d. Caroline Bottaro) ** 1/2
QUEEN, THE (2006, d. Stephen Frears) Superb script, great performances by Mirren and Michael Sheen. Remarkable film. *** 1/2
QUEENS (Reinas) (2006, d. Manuel Gómez Pereira) + ***
QUEENS (Reinas) (2005, d. Manuel Gomez Pereíra) *** 1/4
QUEEN'S GAMBIT, THE (2020, d. Scott Frank) *** 3/4
QUEERAMA (2018, d. Daisy Asquith) *** 1/4
QUEST FOR HONOR (2010, d. Mary Ann Smothers Bruni) V. Straighforward interview docu of women victims of honor killings in Iraqi Kurdistan. Old news; but important. ** 3/4
QUICK & THE DEAD, THE (2004, d. Sam Raimi)V. Spaghetti western takeoff with great cast (Russell Crowe!, Leo DiCaprio); Raimi channeling Richard Rodriguez. ** 1/4
QUIET AMERICAN, THE (2002, d. Phillip Noyce) *** 1/2
QUIET CHAOS (2009, d. Antonello Grimaldi) *** 1/2
QUIET GIRL, THE (2023, Ireland IFF, d. Colm Bairéad) *** 3/4
QUIET LIFE, A (2011, d. Claudio Cupellini) *** 1/4
QUIET PASSION, A (2017, d. Terence Davies) ** 1/2
QUIET PLACE II, A (2022, d. John Krasinski) *** 1/2
QUIET PLACE, A (2018, d. John Krasinski) *** 1/2
QUILLS (2000, d. Philip Kaufman) ** 3/4
QUINCEAÑERA (2006, d. Wash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer) *** 1/4
QUINCY (2018, d. Alan Hicks, Rashida Jones) *** 1/2
QUIT STARING AT MY PLATE (2017, Croatia, Hana Jusic) * 1/2
QUITTING (2002, d. Zhang Yang) ** 3/4
QUO VADIS (2001, d. Jerzy Kawalerwicz) ** 3/4
QUO VADIS, AIDA (2021, Bosnia, d. Jasmila Zbanic) *** 3/4
QUO VADIS, BABY (2010, d. Gabriele Salvatores) ***
QUOD ERAT DEMONSTRANDUM (2014, d. Andrei Gruzsniczski) ** 1/2
R (2010, d. Tobias Lindholm & Michael Noer) ***
RABBIT HOLE (2010, d. John Cameron Mitchell) Moving film about loss, incredible acting ensemble. Honestly, I thought I was watching a wonderful Todd Field film. *** 1/2
RABBIT ON THE MOON (2004, d. Jorge Suárez) Superior, gripping political thriller about Mexican government corruption & its affect on innocent people. ***
RABBIT-PROOF FENCE (2002, d. Phillip Noyce) *** 1/4
RABINDRANATH TAGORE: THE POET OF ETERNITY (2014, d. Partha S. Bhattacharya) *
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN (2009, d. Andy Fickman) Loveably dumb scrip and just ok f/xt; but then I'm not the target audience. ** 1/2
RACE YOU TO THE BOTTOM (2005, d. Russell Brown) Surprisingly enjoyable, caustic affair of bi-guy & faghag in wine country. Nicely written. ***
RACER & THE JAILBIRD (2018, d. Michaël R. Raskam) *** 1/2
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED (2008, d. Jonathan Demme) Superbly acted and perfectly executed Dogme 95 filmmaking. *** 1/2
RACHIDA (2003, d. Yamina Bachir-Chouikh) Algeria AFF. Melodrama about terrorism & its effect on a young lady teacher. ** 3/4
Racially Charged: America's Misdemeanor Problem (2021, Doc short, d. Robert Greenwald) ****
RACING DREAMS (2009, d. Marshall Curry) V. Superb, involving docu about three 12-13 year old circuit go-kart racers & their dreams during a year of racing. *** 3/4
RACING EXTINCTION (2015, d. Louie Psihoyos) ** 3/4
RADIO (2003, d. Mike Tollin) Like Patch Adams, a true story which should pull the heartstrings, but so much liberal crap that it fails on every level. * 3/4
RAGE IN PLACID LAKE, THE (2003, d. Tony McNamara) Coming-of-age film about a non-conformist (a wonderful turn by Ben Lee)...an Australian Rushmore. *** 1/4
RAGE, THE (La Rabbia) (2008, d. Louis Nero) * 1/4
RAGING SUN, RAGING SKY (2009, d. Julián Hernández) *** 1/2
Railroad Lady, The (La Femme et le TGV) (2017, d. Timo von Gunten & Giacun Caduff) *** 1/4
RAIN (2002, d. Katherine Lindberg) **
RAINBOW TIME (2016 d. Linas Phillips) *** 1/4
RAINBOW (2016, d. Nagesh Kukunoor) ** 3/4
RAISE YOUR HEAD (Alza la testa) (2010, d. Alessandro Angelini) *** 1/4
RAISING VICTOR VARGAS (2003, d. Peter Sollett) Cocky latino boy courts romance and his family copes. Well intentioned; but didn't do it for me. ** 1/2
RAJA (2004, d. Jacques Doillon) V. Strange, incomprehensible love affair between a Frenchman & his Moroccan maid. ** 1/4
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (2019, d. Rich Moore, Phil Johnston) ***
RAM DASS, GOING HOME (2018, d. Derek Peck) ** 1/2
RAMCHAND PAKISTANI (2008, d. Mehreen Jabbar) ***
RAMIN (2012, d. Audrius Stonys, Lithuania) **
RAMPART (2011, d. Oren Moverman) V. Subdued, minimalist corrupt policeman story with fine naturalistic perfs. But doesn't really go there. ** 3/4
RAMS (Iceland) (2015, d. Grimur Háikonarson) *** 3/4
RANG DE BASANTI (2006, d. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra; India) *** 1/4
RANGO (2012, d. Gore Verbinsky) Inventive animal characters & fine animation doesn't make up for director's excesses & hackneyed fake western plot. ** 1/2
RAPE OF EUROPA, THE (2007, d. Berge & Cohen) Well researched docu: WWII and stolen art. Unique footage. *** 1/4
RAPT (2010, d. Lucas Belvaux) *** 1/2
RARA (2016, d. Pepa San Martin) ** 3/4
RAT RACE (2001, d. Jerry Zucker) ** 1/2
RATATOUILLE (2007, d. Brad Bird) My fave of all the Pixar films; its basically adult theme exalting foodie culture appeals. *** 1/2
RATCATCHER (2000, d. Lynne Ramsay) *** 3/4
RATIONAL SOLUTION, A (2010, d. Jörgen Bergmark) ** 1/2
RAY (2004, d. Taylor Hackford) One of all-time best biopix with a searingly great perf by Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. Well structured script, top flight credits all around. *** 1/2
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON (2022, d. Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada) **1/4
RAZOR (BSG-4) (2010, d. Fé lix Enriquez Alcalá) V. Backstory TV movie covering Pegasus & Adm. Kane's prior loony obsessions. High production values, but confusing. ** 1/2
RBG (2018, d. Betsy West, Julie Cohen) *** 3/4
RE:GENERATION (2012, d. Amir Bar-Lev) V. Docu of making of 5 songs, created by modern masters in different categories. Interesting view of creative processes. *** 1/4
READ MY LIPS (2002, d. Jacques Audiard. France) *** 3/4
READER, THE (2008, d. Stephen Daldry) Exquisite film, tender, moving; with astounding central perfs. David Kross fulfills promise of Krabat. *** 1/2
READY PLAYER ONE (2018, d. Steven Spielberg) *** 3/4
READY PLAYER ONE (2019, d. Steven Spielberg) + *** 3/4
READY? OK! (2009, d. James Vasquez) ***
REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN, THE (2005, d. Taggart Siegel) Liberal crowd-pleaser docu about an organic farmer & his collective farm in Illinois. ***
REAL STEEL (2011, d. Shawn Levy) Predictable script (sci-fi re-imagining of The Champ) trumps nicely done f/x and effective robot boxing scenes. ** 1/2
REAL TIME (2008, d. Randall Cole) ** 3/4
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES (2003, d. Patricia Cardoso) (V) Latina Star Maps, only college vs. sweatshop. ** 3/4
REALITY (2013, d. Matteo Garrone) ** 3/4
Reaper, The (La parka) (2014, d. Gabriel Serra Argüello) doc short ** 1/2
REASON (2019, d. Anand Patwardhan) W/O
REBEL IN THE RYE (2017, d. Danny Strong) *** 1/4
REBEL TRUCE: HISTORY OF THE CLASH (2011, d. Alan G. Parker) Not my band at the time, their story is tragic & still fresh. Too sketchy; but made its points. ***
REBELLION (2012, d. Mathieu Kassovitz) ***
REBIRTH (2011, d. Jim Whitaker) V. Mostly interview docu showing 10 years progression of several survivors of 9/11. Great time lapse of site, interesting & moving*** 1/4
RECALLED (2012, d. Michael Connors) *** 1/4
RECKONING, THE (2004, d. Paul McGuigan) An almost can't miss genre and cast...and it misses. Too murky, though quite faithful to 14th Century. ** 1/4
RECLAIM YOUR BRAIN (Free Rainer -- Dein Fernseher Lügt) (2007, d. Hans Weingartner) ** 1/2
Recollections (2013, d. Nathanael Carton) Doc short: restoring photos after Japan tsunami ruined thousands. Moving tribute to the power of old photos. *** 1/4
RECONSTRUCTION (2004, d. Christoffer Boe) Danish wide screen experimental drama about writer manipulating a man in a love affair. ** 3/4
RECOUNT (2009, d. Jay Roach) V. The 2000 election still hurts & it's taken me several false starts to finish this fine, well acted, well written tv film. *** 1/4
RECOVERY BOYS (2018, d. Elaine McMillion Sheldon) *** 3/4
RECRUIT, THE (2003, d. Roger Donaldson) Formulaic thriller, no surprises. But Colin Farrell is a star who leaps off the screen. ** 3/4
RED 2 (2013, d. Dean Parisot) *
RED ARMY (2014, d. Gabe Polsky) *** 1/4
RED AWN, THE (2008, d. Cai Shangjun) ** 3/4
RED CLIFF (2009, d. John Woo) Even the truncated US version is fantastic filmmaking. Leung & Kaneshiro are so fine, the battle scenes lucid & unsurpassed in memory. *** 3/4
RED DRAGON (2002, d. Brett Ratner) ***
RED DUST (2005, d. Tom Hooper) Very well made and well acted, though familiar plotwise, drama about the S.African reconciliation. ***
RED EARS (Das rotohr) (2023, Doc short, d. Paul Drey) *** 1/4
RED EYE (2005, d. Wes Craven) ** 3/4
RED EYES (2011, d. Juan Pablo Sallato, Ismael Larrain, Juan Ignacio Sabatini) * 1/2
RED GRINGO (2016, d. Paulina Obando) Turgid Chilean docu about Communist 1950s singer Dean Reed. *
RED KNOT (2014, d. Scott Cohen) ** 1/4
RED LIGHTS (2004, d. Cedric Kahn) Cautionary, spellbinding drama about a marriage in trouble and a drunken road trip where it all comes to a head. *** 1/4
RED MACHINE, THE (2010, d. Stephanie Argy, Alec Boehm) ** 1/2
RED OBSESSION (2013, d. Warwick Ross, David Roach) *** 3/4
RED PLANET (2000, d. Antony Hoffman) ** 1/2
RED RIDING: 1974 (2009, d. Julian Jarrold) ***
RED RIDING: 1980 (2009, d. James March) *** 1/4
RED RIDING: 1983 (2009, d. Anand Tucker) ** 3/4
RED ROAD (2007, d. Andrea Arnold) Moral ambiguity abounds in this well made, subtle thriller. *** 1/4
RED ROCKET (2022, d. Sean Baker) ***
RED SPARROW (2018, d. Francis Lawrence) ** 3/4
Red Suitcase, The (La valise rouge) (2023, short, d. Cyrus Neshvad) *** 1/2
RED TURTLE, THE (2017, d. Michael Dudok de Wit) ** 3/4
RED WITHOUT BLUE (2007, d. Brooke Sebold, Todd & Benita Sills) *** 1/4
RED (2011, d. Robert Schwenke) V. Idiosyncratic actioner with a top cast...but a narrative mess. ** 1/4
RED, WHITE AND BLUES (2003, d. Mike Figgis) Full length film from The Blues series, fascinating stuff about the '60s British invasion re-introducing blues to U.S. *** 1/2
REDBELT (2008, d. David Mamet) Typical venial and corrupt Mametworld, but even more so than usual. **
REDEEMER (2005, d. Claudio Torres) A wildly uneven, but ultimately too far-out film about a crooked real estate empire in Rio and how God got even. * 3/4
REDEMPTION STREET (2013, d. Miroslav Terzic) ***
REDLAND (2011, d. Asiel Norton)
REDWOODS (2012, d. David Lewis) V. Borderline sappy gay affair among the redwoods. But legitimately moving, tight script overcomes some mediocre acting. ***
REEL PARADISE (2005, d. Steve James) V. ***
RE-EMERGING: THE JEWS OF NIGERIA (2013, d. Jeff L. Lieberman) *** 1/4
REFLET, LE (2012, d. Morgane Rousseau) Handsome, studious bourgeois teen crushes on young farmboy. Bucolic, pretentious meditation on Narcissus myth & class conflict. **
RÈGLE DU JEU, LA (2007, d. Jean Renoir) ++ A gem, beautifully constructed social satire/French farce. *** 3/4
REIGN OF FIRE (2002, d. Rob Bowman) **
REIGN OVER ME (2007, d. Mike Binder) Binder bites off a lot; but Cheadle & Sandler (nervy, spot on perf) make it work. ***
RELIGULOUS (2008, d. Larry Charles) I agree with everything in this film; but Maher's script depends too much on editing cheats, unlike much superior Letting Go of God. . ** 3/4
RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST, THE (2013, d. Mira Nair) *** 1/2
REMEMBER ME, MY LOVE (2004, d. Gabriele Muccino) Fast paced troubled family drama with some great performances. *** 1/4
REMEMBER THE TITANS (2000, d. Boaz Yakin) ***
REMOTE AREA MEDICAL (2014, d. Jeff Reichert & Ferihah Zaman) *** 1/4
RENART, THE FOX (2005, d. Thierry Schiel; Luxembourg) *
RENDITION (2007, d. Gavin Hood) Another well directed film with a story that just doesn't add up. ** 3/4
RENNIE'S LANDING (2001, d. Marc Fusco) ** 1/4
RENOIR (2013, d. Gilles Bourdos) *** 1/2
RENT (2005, d. Chris Columbus) * 3/4
RENT (2019, d. Alex Rudzinski) * 1/2
REPLACEMENTS, THE (2000, d. Howard Deutch) ** 1/2
REPO MEN (2010, d. Michael Sapochnik) Absurd plot, terribly wrenching surprise ending. Yet production values quite high & all in all a diverting sci-fi dystopia. ** 3/4
REPORT, THE (2019, d. Scott Z. Burns) *** 1/4
REPORTER (2009, d. Eric Metzgar) V. Committed docu about NY Times journalist Nicholas Kristof & his trip with two young contest winners to war ravaged east Congo. ** 3/4
REPORTS ON SARAH AND SALEEM THE (2018, d. Muayad Alayan) *** 1/2
REPRISE (2007, d. Joachim Trier; Norway) *** 1/2
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (2000, d. Darren Aronofsky) ** 3/4
REQUIEM OF SNOW (2005, d. Jamil Rostami; Iraq) **
REQUIEM (2006, d. Hans Christian Schmid) ***
RESCUE DAWN (2006, d. Werner Herzog) *** 3/4
RESCUE IN THE PHILIPPINES: REFUGE FROM THE HOLOCAUST (2013, d. Russell C. Hodge, Cynthia Scott) ** 1/4
RESCUE, THE (2022, d. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin) ****
RESERVATION ROAD (2007, d. Terry George) Unlikely coincidence mars a well told, predictable story. ** 3/4
RESOLVED (2007, d. Greg Whiteley) Gripping & a little scary docu about HS debaters now (so different from the '50s when I was one.) *** 1/2
RESPECTABLE FAMILY, A (2013, d. Massoud Bakhshi) ***
RESPIRO (2002, d. Emanuele Crialese) *** 1/4
REST IS SILENCE, THE (2008, d. Nae Caranfil; Romania) *** 1/4
RESTLESS (2011, d. Gus Van Sant) Terrible script, maudlin, precious dialog that no actor should have to deliver. But Henry Hopper is an interesting young actor. * 3/4
RESTORING TOMORROW (2018, d. Aaron Wolf) *** 1/4
RESTREPO (2010, d. Tim Hetheringon & Sebastian Junger) *** 1/4
RESURRECTING THE CHAMP (2007, d. Rod Lurie) *** 1/4
RESURRECTION OF THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL (2003, d. Sun-Woo Jang) Korean Matrix like videogame playing adventure film. ** 1/2
RETABLO (2019, Peru, D. Alvaro Delgao Aparicio) *** 1/2 A native Peruvian artisan is teaching his son his craft when the Andean townsfolk turn deadly.
RETRIBUTION (Sakebi) (2007, d. Kiyoshi Kurosawa) ** 3/4
RETRIEVAL (2006, d. Slawomir Fabiciki; Poland) *** 1/4
RETROGRADE (2023, d. Matthew Heineman) *** 1/2
RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER, THE - FEATURING BRANDI CARLILE (2022, d. Kathlyn Horan) *** 1/4
RETURN OF THE STORKS (2007, d. Martin Repka; Slovakia) ***
RETURN TO CRANFORD (2010, d. Simon Curtis) V. Treakly sequel, ows much to Dickens. Pretty & authentic but too sentimental compared to original. ** 1/2
RETURN TO ME (2000, d. Bonnie Hunt) **
RETURN TO SEOUL (2023, Cambodia IFF, d. Davy Chou) ***
RETURN, THE (2003, d. Andrei Zvagintsev) Russia's AFF: a beautiful, moody road picture about 2 kid brothers and their long absent father. *** 1/2
RETURN, THE (2018, d. Malene Choi) * 3/4
Return, The (2019, d. John Fish) *** 1/2
RETURNING TO THE "A" (2011, d. Egor Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky, Kazakhstan) *
REUNION, THE (2002, d. Mans Hemgren) ***
REVANCHE (2008, d. Götz Spielmann) *** 1/2
REVENANT, THE (2015, d. Alejandro G. Iñárritu) *** 1/2
REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR, THE (2011, d. Chris Paine) *** 1/4
REVERSE (Rewers) (2009, d. Borys Lankosz; Poland) *** 1/2
REVERSING ROE (2018, d. Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg) *** 1/2
REVISIONARIES, THE (2012, d. Scott Thurman) V. Docu about battle in Texas Bd. of Education to affect Science & History textbooks for next 8 years. The rightists are so tedious. ** 1/2
Revolting Rhymes (2018, d. Jan Lachauer, Jakob Schuh) ** 1/4
REVOLUTION OF OUR TIMES (2021, d. Kiwi Chow) *** 1/4
REVOLUTION OF PIGS (2004, d. Kilmi & Reinumägi) Ambitious, but sprawling film about an '85 Young Communist camp gone to riot in Estonia. ** 1/4
REVOLUTION (2013, d. Rob Stewart) *** 1/2
REVOLUTIONARY OPTIMISTS (2013, d. Maren Grainger-Monsen, Nicole Newnham) W/O
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (2008, d. Sam Mendes) Kate is pheomenal, Leo less so; but unpleasant film is caustic, dramatic dynamite with ring of truth. *** 1/4
REWIND & PLAY (2023, Doc, d. Alain Gomis) *** 1/2
REY, EL (2005, d. Antonio Dorado) Involving history of a '60s Columbian drug lord, Scarface revisited. ** 3/4
REYKJAVIK-ROTTERDAM (2010, d. Oskar Jonasson; Iceland) *** 1/4
RICE RHAPSODY (2005, d. Kenneth Biroli) Singapore woman with 3 gay sons tries to get one to turn straight. A fun, lush foodie confection of a film. ** 3/4
RICH HILL (2014, d. Tracy Droz Tragos & Andrew Droz Palermo) *** 3/4
RICHARD JEWELL (2019, d. Clint Eastwood) *** 1/2
RICKI AND THE FLASH (2015, d. Jonathan Demme) *** 1/4
RICKY ON LEACOCK (2012, d. Jane Weiner) V. Docu following Ricky Leacock around for years, his films & life shot verité style. Leacock is wonderful, the film sort of an editing mess. ** 3/4
RIDER, THE (2018, d. Chloé Zhao) *** 1/4
RIDING GIANTS (2004, d. Stacy Peralta) A documentary about the history and addiction of riding the biggest waves in the world. *** 1/4
RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS (2001, d. Penny Marshall) **
RIEN A FAIRE (2000, d. Marion Vernoux) ***
Rifleman, The (2021, Doc short, d. Sierra Pettengill) ** 1/2
RIGHT OF THE WEAKEST, THE (La Raison du plus faible) (2007, d. Lucas Belvaux) *** 1/2
RIGHT TO LOVE, THE: AN AMERICAN FAMILY (2012, d. Cassie Jaye) V. Docu of the Leffew family & the struggle for same-sex marriage. Immensely moving & truthful & beautiful. ****
RING OF DARKNESS (2004, d. David DeCoteau) Overamped Satinist "boy band" potboiler. The guys are very good looking; but the film is pretty bad. * 3/4
RING TWO, THE (2005, d. Hideo Nakata) A truly ridiculous premise so outlandish that it's impossible to be scared. Still, effective acting & direction. * 3/4
RING, THE (2002, d. Gore Verbinski) ** 3/4
RIO (2012, d. Carlos Saldanha) 3D animated film with some fast, pretty sequences (esp. jungle birds flocking), but a silly, predictable story. ** 1/4
RIPLEY UNDER GROUND (2005, d. Robert Spottiswoode) ** 3/4
RIPLEY'S GAME (2003, d. Liliana Cavani) V. Unaccountably STV murder-for-hire and sociopathic intrigue plot from Highsmith. Quite stylish and well made. ***
RIPPLES OF DESIRE (2013, d. Zero Chou) * 1/2
RISE OF THE GUARDIANS (2012, d. Peter Ramsey) Nice 3D visuals & good vocal talent don't make up for overly frenetic action sequences and too young kid orientation. ** 1/2
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, THE (2011, d. Rupert Wyatt) The best of the summer tentpoles with a clear narrative & excellent f/x. *** 1/2
RISING FROM THE ASHES (2013, d. T. C. Johnstone) ***
RISK (2017, d. Laura Poitras) ** 1/2
RISOTTO (2002, d. Olga Malea) ** 1/2
RITCHIE BOYS, THE (2004, d. Christian Bauer) Nicely made docu about German Jews who served in army intelligence during WWII. Great interviewees. *** 1/2
RITTENHOUSE SQUARE (2005, d. Robert Downey) V. ** 1/2
RIVALS (Les Liens du sang) (2008, d. Jacques Maillot) ***
RIVER CHANGES COURSE, A (2013, d. Kalyanee Mam) *** 1/2
RIVER, THE (2010, d. Jean Renoir) ** 3/4
RIVER, THE (2001, d. Jarmo Lampela) ** 1/2
RIVER, THE (2001, d. Tsai Ming-liang) [1997] *** 1/4
RIVERMAN, THE (2004, d. Bill Eagles) V. Murky, poor man's Manhunter tv movie about the Green River serial killer and Ted Bundy's last days on death row. **
RIVERS WASH OVER ME (2009, d. John G. Young) Nicely shot and acted issue film about gay black boy returned to small town South. ***
RIZE (2005, d. David LaChapelle; docu) V. ** 1/4
ROAD FROM ELEPHANT PASS, THE (2009, d. Chandran Rutnam; Sri Lanka) ** 1/2
ROAD HOME, THE (2001, d. Zhang Yimou) ** 3/4
ROAD MOVIE (2003, d. Kim In-Sik) Mediocre but visually interesting Korean melodrama - an itinerate gay man's love for a failed straight stockbroker. ** 1/2
ROAD NORTH (2013, d. Mika Kaurismäki) ** 1/2
ROAD TO EL DORADO, THE (2000, d. Eric "Bibo" Bergeron & Don Paul) **
ROAD TO GUANTANAMO (2006, d. Michael Winterbottom) ****
ROAD TO PERDITION (2002, d. Sam Mendes) *** 1/2
ROAD TRIP (2000, d. Todd Phillips) ** 1/2
ROAD, THE (2009, d. John Hillcoat) Bleak story drenched in miserablism & puzzling causality. Impressive acting, especially cameos by Robert Duval & unrecognizable Guy Pearce. ***
ROAD, THE (2006, d. Zhang Jiarui) ** 3/4
ROADIE (2011, d. Michael Cuesta) *** 1/2
ROADS TO KOKTEBEL, THE (2004, d. Khlebnikov & Popogrebsky) OK, if slow, kid and father road-trip-to-nowhere Russian flick. ** 3/4
ROBBER BRIDE, THE (2007, d. David Evans) V. Canadian tv thriller with plot gyrations, but rather predictable, if well acted. ** 1/4
ROBBER, THE (2010, d. Benjamin Heisenberg) *** 1/4
ROBERT CAPA: IN LOVE AND WAR (2003, US doc. d. Anne Makepeace) Uninspired documentary about the photo-journalist. ** 1/2
ROBERT ZIMMERMANN IS TANGLED UP IN LOVE (2009, d. Leander Haussmann) ***
ROBERTO BOLLO - THE ART OF THE DANCE (2017, d. Francesca Pedron) *** 1/2
ROBERTO SUCCO (2004, d. Cedric Kahn) Frighteningly real true story of an insane Italian who charms women and serial kills randomly in France. *** 1/4
ROBIN HOOD (2010, d. Ridley Scott) So a-historical, overamped, even boring that some good acting & prod. design are wasted. * 3/4
Robin Robin (2022, anim. short, d. Michael Please and Daniel Ojari) ***
ROBIN WILLIAMS: COME INSIDE MY MIND (2018, d. Marina Zenovich) ****
ROBOT & FRANK (2012, d. Jake Schreier) Insightful well cast combo of Alzheimer & family melodrama plus heist comedy. SciFi elements add to fun; but plot too pat. ***
ROBOTS (2005, d. Chris Wedge) Kinetic, beautifully designed 3-D animated roller-coaster with a predictable script. Marred by Greg Kaneer's incipidly voiced villainy. ***
ROCK SCHOOL (2005, d. Don Argott) Enormously entertaining docu about a Philadelphia school for kids to learn to perform rock. *** 1/2
ROCK STAR (2001, d. Stephen Herek) ** 1/2
ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS (2012, d. Hernán Jabes, Venezuela) *** 1/4
ROCKET SCIENCE (2007, d. Jeffrey Blitz) *** 1/4
ROCKET, THE (2013, d. Kim Mordaunt) ***
ROCKETMAN (2019, d. Dexter Fletcher) *** 1/2
ROCKNROLLA (2008, d. Guy Ritchie) Some clever bits looking for a coherent narrative. Typical Ritchie, not a good thing imo. ** 1/2
ROCKS IN MY POCKETS (2014, Latvia, d. Signe Baumane) * 1/2
ROCKY BALBOA (2006, d. Sylvester Stallone) I may be the sole ideal demographic for this film; but Stallone hits a perfect tone here. *** 1/4
ROGER DODGER (2002, d. Dylan Kidd) *** 3/4
ROGER DODGER (2006, d. Dylan Kydd) V+ 2nd viewing not as great as remembered. Searing performances, though. ***
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016, d. Gareth Edwards) ***
ROI DANSE, LE (2001, d. Gérard Corbiau) ** 1/2
ROLE MODELS (2008, d. David Wain) Sweet comedy with a perfect cast. ***
ROLE OF A LIFETIME, THE (2005, d. François Favat) Pleasant, involving dramidy about a famous film actress & the woman she makes her assistant. ***
ROLE/PLAY (2010, d. Rob Williams) ** 1/2
ROLLERBALL (2002, d. John McTiernan) **
ROLLING FAMILY (2005, d. Pablo Trapero) Earthy road pic about an extended family's 1000km journey by camper through north Argentina. *** 1/4
ROLLING STONES, THE OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ: A TRIP ACROSS LATIN AMERICA (2016, d. Paul Dugdale) ** 1/2
ROMA (2019, d. Alfonse Cuarón) + ****
ROMA (2005, d. Adolfo Aristarian) Poignant, lovely, wonderful epic drama about an elderly writer's reminiscences of his mother. Juan Diego Boto rules! ****
ROMA (2018, Mexico, d. Alfonso Cuarón) ****
ROMAN ARK [short] (2011, d. Seth Larney) **
ROMAN DE GARE (2008, d. Claude Lelouch) ***
ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. (2017, d. Dan Gilroy) ** 1/2
ROMANCE & CIGARETTES (2007, d. John Turturro) Virtually unwatchable embarrassment for all. *
ROMANCING IN THIN AIR (2012, d. Johnnie To) *** 1/2
ROMANOVS: AN IMPERIAL FAMILY (2001, d. Gleb Panfilov) *** 1/2
ROMEO IS BLEEDING (2004, d. Peter Medak) V. Nihilistic, stylish, '93 film noir with memorable performances by Gary Oldman and Lena Olin. ***
ROMEOS (2011, d. Sabine Bernardi) ***
ROMULUS, MY FATHER (2008, d. Richard Roxburgh) Superb acting, spare, slow, but beautifully made weeper. *** 1/2
RON CLARK STORY, THE (2006, d. Randa Haines) V. Matthew Perry is good as inspiring teacher in Harlem. Predictable. ** 3/4
RONDA NOCTURNA (2005, d. Edgardo Cozaninsky) Delightful rondelay of one enchanted night of an attractive male hustler in Buenos Aires. *** 1/4
ROOKIE, THE (2002, d. John Lee Hancock) ***
ROOM 237 (2012, d. Rodney Ascher) V. Docu expounding with voice-over & clips some wacked out film theory stuff about Kubrick's The Shining. Silly fun; but they're serious! Oops. ** 1/4
ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, A (2000, d. Shane Meadows) ***
ROOM IN ROME (2010, d. Julio Médem) *** 1/4
Room on the Broom (2014, d. Jan Lachauer, Max Lang) ** 3/4
ROOM WITH A VIEW, A (2008, d. Nicholas Renton) V. Andrew Davis's unnecessary remake; still, enjoyable. ** 1/2
ROOM (2015, d. Lenny Abrahamson) *** 3/4
ROOSTER'S BREAKFAST, THE (Petalinaji zajtrk) (2008, d. Marco Nabersnik; Slovenia) ***
ROOTS (2006, d. Pavel Lungin) *** 1/2
RORY O'SHEA WAS HERE (2004, d. Damien O'Donnell) Moving, uplifting disabled youths story with some great acting (James McAvoy!) and a story which sticks to the ribs. *** 1/2
ROSARIO (2011, d. Alberto Martinez) *** 1/4
ROSENSTRASSE (2003, d. Margarethe von Trotta) Somehow uninspiring, earnest Holocaust drama about Aryan wives of German Jewish men taken in 1943. ** 1/2
ROSE'S SONGS (2003, d. Andor Szilágyi) Excellent, unique Hungarian Holocaust film: group of Jews trying to avoid living in the ghetto. *** 1/4
ROSEWATER (2014, d. Jon Stewart) *** 1/4
ROSIE (2013, d. Marcel Gisler) *** 1.4
ROSIE (2014, d. Marcel Gisler) *** 1/2
ROUGH DRAFT, A (2018, d. Sergey Mokritskiy) ** 1/2
ROUND DA WAY (Lascars) (2010, d. Albert Pereira Lazaro, Emmanuel Klotz) *
ROUND TWO (2006, d. Daniel Cebrián) *** 1/4
ROUTE, LA (2002, d. Darezhan Omirbaev) W/O
ROVER, THE (2014, d. David Michôd) 3/4*
ROYAL AFFAIR, A (2012, d. Nikolaj Arcel, Denmark) *** 3/4
ROYAL TENENBAUMS, THE (2001, d. Wes Anderson) ***
RRR (2023, d. S. S. Rajomouli) *** 3/4
RUBEN BLADES IS NOT MY NAME (2018, d. Abner Benaim) **
RUBY SPARKS (2012, d. Dayton & Faris) Ultimate solipsistic wish fulfillment fantasy, except from the female pov of the wishee. Well made; but I didn't enjoy it. ** 3/4
RUDDERLESS (2014, d. William H. Macy) *** 1/2
RUDO Y CURSI (2009, d. Carlos Cuarón) Bernal & Luna are good enough; but soccer story and direction don't ignite. ** 3/4
RUINS, THE (Rusevine) (2005, d. Janez Burger) ** 1/2
RUINS, THE (2010, d. Carter Smith) V. Even I know better than to wander to a lost Mayan pyramid. The actors, all attractive, pretty good horror flick. ** 3/4
RULE OF THE GAME, THE (2002, d. Ho Ping) * 1/2
RULE, THE (2014, d. Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno) ** 1/4
RULES DON'T APPLY (2016, d. Warren Beatty) *** 1/4
RULES OF ATTRACTION, THE (2002, d. Roger Avary) *** 1/4
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (2000, d. William Friedkin) ***
RUMBLE OF THE STONES (2011, d. Alejandro Bellame Palacios, Venezuela) ***
RUMOR HAS IT... (2005, d. Rob Reiner) ***
RUMOR OF ANGELS, A (2003, d. Peter O'Fallon) V. Vanessa Redgrave & Trevor Morgan shine in this melodrama of grieving. Minor, but moving for all that. ** 3/4
RUN FOR MONEY, A (2000, d. Reha Erdem) *** 1/4
RUN IF YOU CAN (2010, d. Dietrich Brüggemann) *** 1/4
RUN (Ivory Coast) (2015, d. Philippe Lacôte) * 1/2 W/O
RUNAWAY JURY (2003, d. Gary Fleder) A screen adaptation which is superior to the original book. Good acting, direction & editing save a hole filled plot. ***
RUNAWAYS, THE (2010, d. Fiona Sigismondi) Loved the music. Dakota was great, Kristen less so; script too typical of biopic genre. ** 1/2
RUNNER RUNNER (2013, d. Brad Furman) *
RUNNING FROM CRAZY (2013, d. Barbara Kopple) *** 1/4
RUNNING ON EMPTY (2007, d. Akinci Bülent) ** 3/4
RUNNING ON KARMA (2004, d. Johnny To, Wai Ka-fai) A female cop and a karma seeing ex-monk expiate past lives in this grizzly, confusing thriller. ** 1/2
RUNNING WITH SCISSORS (2006, d. Ryan Murphy) Excessive bio which struck gold for me. Great performances. ***
RUNWAY, THE (2011 d. Ian Power) ** 1/2
RUPERT'S LAND (2000, d. Jonathan Tammuz) ***
RUSH (2013, d. Ron Howard) ** 3/4
RUSSIAN ARK (2003, d. Aleksandr Sokurov) Brilliant tour de force 1-take Russian historical pageant. *** 1/2
RUSSIAN DOLLS (2006, d. Cédric Klapisch) *** 1/4
RUSSIAN FIVE, THE (2018, d. Joshua Riehl) *** 1/2
RUSSIAN TRIANGLE, THE (2007, d. Aleko Tsabadze; Georgia) *** 1/4
RUSSIAN WOODPECKER, THE (2015, d. Chad Gracia) ** 1/2
RUST AND BONE (2012, d. Jacques Audiard) *** 1/4
RX: Early Detection - A Cancer Journey with Sandra Lee (2018, d. Cathy Chermol Schrijver) *** 3/4
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
SAAWAN (2017, Pakistan, d. Farhan Alam) 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. **
SACRO GRA (2017, d. Gianfranco Rosi) ** 3/4
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) ***
SADIE (2018, d. Megan Griffiths) *** 3/4
SAFE CONDUCT (2002, d. Bertrand Tavernier) ** 3/4
SAFE HOUSE (2012, d. Daniel Espinosa) Endless spy/chase flick about corruption high up in CIA etc. etc. Reynolds best foil for Denzel in a while. ** 1/4
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 NOT GUARANTEED (2012, d. Colin Trevarrow) ***
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. **
SAIGON ELECTRIC (2011, d. Stephane Gauger) ** 1/4
SAINT LAURENT (2014, France, d. Bertrand Bonello) ***
SAINT OMER (2023, France IFF, d. Alice Diop) **
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
SAL (2012, d. James Franco) ** 1/2
SALAWATI (2008, d. Marc X. Grigoroff) ***
SALESMAN, THE (2016, Iran, d. Asghar Farhadi) *** 1/4 [due to Academy regulations no reviews of foreign language submissions]
SALINGER (2013, d. Shane Salerno) ** 3/4
SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN (2012, d. Lasse Hallström) Smart, heartwarming, entrancing & ecumenical ecological adventure. Fine script & direction. *** 1/4
SALOME (2003, d. Carlos Saura) Film about the creation of a Spanish ballet of Salome, mostly the performance. * 3/4
SALT OF LIFE, THE (2012, d. Gianni Di Gregorio) ** 1/2
SALT OF THE EARTH, THE (2014, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado & Wim Wenders) *** 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
SALTING THE BATTLEFIELD (2018, d. David Hare) *** 1/4
SALTON SEA, THE (2002, d. D.J. Caruso) ***
SALTY AIR (2007, d. Alessandro Angelini) *** 1/2
SALVADOR (2007, d. Manuel Huerga) ***
SALVATION ARMY (2014, d. Abdellah Taia) * 1/4
SALVATION BOULEVARD (2011, d. George Ratliff) ** 1/2
SALVATORE: SHOEMAKER OF DREAMS (2022, d. Luca Guadegnino) ***
SALVATORE: THIS IS LIFE (2007, d. Gian Paolo Cugno) ***
SALVO (2014, d. Fabio Grassadonia) *** 1/4
SAM & AMIRA (2014, d. Sean Mullen) *** 1/2
SAMSARA (2012, d. Ron Fricke) Gorgeous cinematography around world, docu emphasizing people's achievements for good and evil and just life. I wish context was more obvious. *** 1/4
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
SAND STORM (2016, d. Elite Zexer) *** 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
Sanjay's Super Team (2016, d. Sanjay Patel) *** 1/4
Sankofa (2019, d. Princess Garrett) ***
SANSHO THE BAILIFF (2018, d. Kenji Mizoguchi) *** 1/2
SANTA & ANDRES (2017, d. Carlos Lechuga) ** 3/4
SAPPHIRES, THE (2013, d. Wayne Blair) *** 1/4
SARABAND (2005, d. Ingmar Bergman) Starts slow; but accumulates great strength with story of disaffected family. *** 1/4
SARAH'S KEY (2011, d. Gilles Parquet-Brenner) Another moving take on Holocaust story in France, with interesting contemporary angle. Good cast, well directed. *** 1/4
Saria (2020, live short, d. Bryan Buckley) *** 1/4
SAS ROGUE HEROES (2023, mini-series, d. Tom Shankland) *** 3/4
SASHA (2010, d. Dennis Todorovic) ** 1/2
SASS (2002, d. Carlo Rola) ***
SATAN & ADAM (2019, d. V. Scott Balcerek) ***
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
Saule Marceau (2018, doc short d. Juliette Archard) *
SAUVAGE/WILD (2019, d. Camille Vidal-Naquet) *** 3/4
SAVAGE GRACE (2008, d. Tom Kalin) *** 1/4
SAVAGES (2012, d. Oliver Stone) Over the top & ridiculous drug war story; but it holds together, has a great cast, and is entertaining as hell. Aaron Johnson is so fine. *** 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 AMERICA'S HORSES: A NATION BETRAYED (2012, d. Katia Louise) V. Advocacy docu with an admirable message, but told with a repetitive, flat, chopped up, amateurish style. **
SAVING BRINTON (2018, d. Tommy Haines, Andrew Sherburne) *** 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
SAVING MR. BANKS (2013, d. John Lee Hancock) * 3/4
Say His Name: Five Days For George Floyd (2021, doc short, d. Cy Dodson) *** 1/2
SAY UNCLE (2005, d. Peter Paige) Strangely discomforting film about a naive gay man whose innocent love for children is misunderstood. **
SAY YOU WILL (2017, d. Nick Naveda) *** 1/2
SAYANG DISAYANG (2014, Singapore, d. Sanif Olek) * 1/4
SCANNER DARKLY, A (2006, d. Richard Linklater) Phil Dick is well served, nice animation. But ultimately unsatisfying. ** 3/4
SCENES OF A CRIME (2012, d. Babcock & Hadaegh) V. Powerful, infuriating docu of apparent child abuse murder miscarriage of justice. Coerced confession, no crime! ****
SCENT OF BURNING GRASS, THE (2012, d. Nguyen Huu Muoi, Vietnam) W/O
SCENT OF MANDARIN, THE (L'odeur de la mandarine) (2016, d. Gilles Legrand) *** 1/2
SCHOOL DAYS WITH A PIG (2009, d. Tetsu Maeda) ***
SCHOOL LIFE (2017, d. Neasa Ni Chianáin & David Rane) ***
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
SCHOOLBOY CRUSH (2012, d. Kotaro Terauchi) V. Homoerotic, well written if sappy, Japanese prep school drama of teacher who falls for new hustler student. ** 3/4
SCIENCE FAIR (2018, d. Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster) *** 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
SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY (2017, d. Matt Schrader) *** 3/4
SCOTCH - A GOLDEN DREAM (2018, d. Andrew Peat) ** 1/4
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 (2012, d. Edgar Wright) V.+ Comic book meets video games. Fine f/x. Cera perfect nerd hero, but just too silly for me. ** 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
SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD (2018, d. Matt Tyrnauer) *** 1/4
SCRATCH (2009, d. Michal Rosa) ** 3/4
SCUSA MA TI CHIAMO AMORE (2008, d. Federico Moccia) **
SEA BEAST, THE (2023, d. Chris Williams) ** 3/4
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 GENERAL TSO (2014, d. Ian Cheney) *** 1/2
SEARCH FOR JOHN GISSING, THE (2001, d. Mike Binder) 1/2*
SEARCH, THE (2015, d. Michael Hazanavicius) *** 3/4
SEARCHERS (2017, d. Zacharias Kunak, Natar Ungalaaq) ** 1/2
SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN (2012, d. Malik Bendjelloul) V. Stranger than fiction, incredible docu: forgotten 70's Detroit singer famed in So. Africa gets re-discovered. *** 3/4
SEASHORE (Beira-Mar) (2015, Filipe Matzembacher, Marcio Reolon) ***
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
SEBASTIAN (2012, d. Svend Wam) V. Norwegian gay coming of ager from '95. Naive, unrealistic & poorly acted (though the 2 main boy actors are attractive.) * 1/2
SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, THE (2015, d. John Madden) * 3/4
SECOND COMING, THE (2005, d. Jack Walsh) V. 0*
SECOND MEETING, THE (2013, d. Zeljko Mirkovic) **
SECOND MOTHER, THE (Brazil) (2015, d. Anna Muylaert) *** 1/2
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 #4 (2017) * 3/4
SECRET BALLOT (2002, d. Babak Payami) **
SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR (2008, d. Fritz Lang) ** 3/4
SECRET FEST #3 (2016) Involving and inspiring drama. *** 3/4
SECRET FEST. #1 (2018) Can't say more; but for me, at least, a personally important & involving film. *** 1/2
SECRET FESTIVAL #1 (2006) *** 1/2
SECRET FESTIVAL #1 (2016) My lips are sealed; but this Technicolor restoration was luminous on the big screen.*** 1/2
SECRET FESTIVAL #1 (2002) ***
SECRET FESTIVAL #1 (2014, d. I'll never tell.) *** 1/2
SECRET FESTIVAL #2 (2018) *** 1/2
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 (2014, d. ?) *** 1/2
SECRET FESTIVAL #2 (2016) Fun docu. *** 1/2
SECRET FESTIVAL #2 + Seen before in a shorter version; liked it much more this time. (2011) ** 1/2
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 #3 (2011) *** 1/4
SECRET FESTIVAL #3 (2014, d. ?) *** 1/4
SECRET FESTIVAL #3 (2018) ***
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 FESTIVAL #4 (2011) ** 1/2
SECRET FESTIVAL #4 (2014, d. ?) ** 3/4
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) ***
SEDUCE ME (2014, Slovenia, d. Marko Santic) ** 3/4
SEDUCED AND ABANDONED (2013, d. James Toback) *** 1/2
SEDUCING DR. LEWIS (2004, d. Jean-François Pouliot) Small, eccentric, mediocre French Canadian town shaggy dog story à la WAKING NED DEVINE. ** 1/4
SEE YOU IN MONTEVIDEO (2014, Serbia, d. Dragon Bjelogrlic) ** 1/2
SEE YOU OFF TO THE EDGE OF TOWN (2002, d. Ching C. Ip) ** 3/4
SEE YOU TOMORROW (Ci vediamo domani) (2013, d. Andrea Zaccariello) ** 1/2
SEE YOU UP THERE (2018, d. Albert Dupontel) *** 1/2
SEED OF DISCORD, THE (Il seme della siscordia) (2009, d. Pappi Corsicato) ** 1/4
SEEDS OF RESILIENCY (2012, d. Susan Schultz) V. Docu tells heartening, single-minded stories of 12 people who triumph over adversity (illness, Auschwitz, Idi Amin, child's death etc.) *** 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
SEEKERS (Los buscadores) (2018, d. Juan Carlos Maneqlia, Tana Schémobori) ** 1/4
SELF/LESS (2017, d. Tarsem Singh) * 3/4
SELF-MADE HERO, A (2002, d. Jacques Audiard) ****
SELMA (2014, d. Ava DuVernay) ** 3/4
SEMPER FI: ALWAYS FAITHFUL (2011, d. Hardmon & Libert) V. Case of docu with important eco message in a pedestrian production. ** 3/4
SENECA'S DAY (2016, Lithuania, d. Kristijonas Vildziunas) W/O
SENIOR PROM (2010, d. Nicholas Terry) ***
SENNA (2011, d. Asif Kapadia) V. Fascinating, suspenseful docu about Formula One driver Ayrton Senna. I knew nothing of him & his sport, but was blown away. *** 3/4
SENSE & SENSIBILITY (2008, d. John Alexander) V. Andrew Davis' superb mini-series adaptation with a fine cast. *** 1/4
SENSE OF AN ENDING, THE (2017, d. Ritesh Batra) *** 1/4
SENSE8: AMOR VINCIT OMNIA (2018, d. Lana Wachowski) *** 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
SEPARATION, A (2011, d. Asghar Farhadi, Iran) *** 1/2
SEPTEMBER 30, 1955 (2015, d. James Bridges) *** 1/2
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) *
SESSIONS, THE (2012, d. Ben Lewin) Intriguing story: paralyzed man's sexual awakening by sex therapist. Hawkes convincing, Hunt's nudity brave. Taboo subject, middlebrow filmmaking. *** 1/4
SET IT UP (2018, d. Claire Scanlon) W/O
SET ME FREE (2000, d. Léa Pool) ***
SETTLERS, THE (2017, d. Shimon Dotan) *** 3/4
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. ***
SEVDAH FOR KARIM (2011, d. Jasmin Durakovic) ** 1/2
SEVEN DAYS, THE (2009, d. Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz) * 1/2
SEVEN POUNDS (2008, d. Gabriele Muccino) ** 1/4
SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS (2012, d. Martin McDonagh) Another McDonagh absurd script...only this time I wasn't buying it despite the fine cast. The characters & their actions unbelievable. **
SEVEN SWORDS (2006, d. Tsui Hark) * 3/4
SEVENTH FIRE, THE (2016, d. Jack Pettibone Riccobono) ** 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 OF THE ANGELS, THE (2012, d. Xavier Villaverde) *** 1/4
SEX TAPE (2014, d. Jake Kasdan) 1/2*
SEX&DRUGS&ROCK&ROLL (2010, d. Mat Whitecross) ** 3/4
SEXY BABY (2012, d. Bauer & Gradus) V. 3 females, 13, 23, 33 explore sexuality in the internet age. Youths obsessed with Facebook, women with labiaplasty & porn. Well made, but sickening. ** 3/4
SEXY BEAST (2001, d. Jonathan Glazer) ***
SEYMOUR: AN INTRODUCTION (2015, d. Ethan Hawke) ** 3/4
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) **
SHADOW WORLD (2016, d. Johan Grionprez) *** 1/4
SHADOWBOXER (2006, d. Lee Daniels) No cops in sight in this hired assassin story. Mirren as usual is great. ** 3/4
SHADOWS FROM MY PAST (2014, d. Curt Kaufman & Gita Weinrauch Kaurman) ** 1/4
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) **
SHADY LADY (2012, d. Tristan Loraine) V. Hybrid docu, mostly re-creating incredible WWII bomber run n. of Australia. Terrible acting; but story and film execution suspenseful & thrilling. *** 3/4
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) **
SHAMBALA (2021, Kyrgyzstan, d. Artykpai Suyundukov) ***
SHAME (2011, d. Steve McQueen) Story of sexual predator psychopath...yet Fassbender (and Carrie Mulligan) give the story vibrant sympathy. *** 1/4
SHAME (2014, d. Yusup Razykov) ** 1/4
SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (2022, d. Destin Daniel Cretton) *** 1/4
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? ***
SHAPE OF WATER, THE (2017, d. Guillermo del Toro) ***
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
SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE (2016, d. Mark Burton, Richard Starzack) ** 3/4
SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON (2021, d. Will Beecher, Richard Phelan) Fun Aardman 3D animation of visit by E.T. child *** 1/4
SHAZAM! (2019, d. David F. Sandberg) *** 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 (2012, d. Jonah Markowitz) V. + YouTube is now carrying this seminal film which I really enjoyed at a film fest in 2008. It's still one hell of a tender coming out story. ***
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
SHEPARD & DARK (2013, d. Treva Wurmfeld) *** 1/4
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: GREAT GAME (2012, d. Paul McGuigan) V. + Timely re-play of final epi of series 1 leading to May start of season 2. I love the villain Moriarty! ***
SHERLOCK: STUDY IN PINK (2010, d. Paul McGuigan) V. Clever present day remaking of familiar tropes. Both leads quite well suited. *** 1/4
SHERPA (2015, Jennifer Peedom) *** 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 BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE'S ANGRY (2014, d. Mary Dore) *** 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 BOSS (2017, d. Ham Tran) *
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
SHIRKERS (2018, d. Sandi Tan) *** 1/4
SHOCKING BLUE (2011, d. Mark de Cloe) ** 1/2
Shoes (2013, d. Costa Fan) Clever short depicting & personalizing the Holocaust by silently showing the feet & shoes of East. Eur Jewish family. Haunting. *** 1/2
Shok (2016, d. Jamie Donoughue) ***
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) ***
SHOPLIFTERS (2018, Japan, d. Hirokazu Kore-eda) *** 1/2
SHORES OF HOPE (2013, d. Toke Constantin Hebbein) *** 1/2
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
SHORT GAME, THE (2013, d. Josh Greenbaum) *** 3/4
SHORT SKIN (2017, d. Duccio Chiarini) ***
SHORT TERM 12 (2013, d. Destin Daniel Cretton) + *** 3/4
SHORT TERM 12 (2013, d. Destin Daniel Cretton) *** 1/2
SHORTBUS (2012, d. John Cameron Mitchell) V.+ Unique, better, more focused, beautiful & important on video than I recall watching in public 6 years ago. *** 1/2
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. ***
SHOW ME A HERO (2015, d. Paul Haggis) HBO miniseries *** 1/2
SHOWER (2000, d. Zhang Yang) ***
SHOWGIRLS (2017, d. Paul Verhoeven) *** 1/2
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 Paint (2023, doc. short, d. Titus Kaphar, Alex Mallis) ** 1/2
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) *
SICARIO (2015, d. Denis Villeneuve) *** 1/4
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. ***
SIDDHARTH (2014, d. Richie Mehta) *** 1/4
SIDE BY SIDE (2012, d. Christopher Kenneally) V. Informative docu comparing film & digital in all aspects with huge directors & cinematographers weighing in to Keanu's interviews. *** 1/2
SIDE EFFECTS (2013, d. Steven Soderbergh) ** 1/4
SIDEMEN: LONG ROAD TO GLORY (2017, d. Scott Rosenbaum) ** 3/4
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. ***
SIERANEVADA (2016, Romania, d. Cristi Puiu) *** 1/2
SIGNAL, THE (2014, d. William Eubank) *** 1/4
SIGNS (2002, d. M. Night Shyamalan) ***
SILENCE OF OTHERS, THE (2018, d. Almudena Carracedo, Robert Bahar) *** 1/2
SILENCE (2016, d. Martin Scorsese) *** 1/4
SILENCE, THE (2013, d. Baran bo Odar) *** 1/2
SILENCE, THE (2007, d. Cate Shortland) ** 3/4
Silent Child, The (2018, d. Chris Overton) *** 1/4
SILENT HOUSE, THE (2011, d. Gustavo Hernandéz, Uruguay) **
SILENT LIGHT (2007, d. Carlos Reygadis; Mexico) *** 3/4
Silent Nights (2017, d. Aske Bang & Kim Magnusson) ** 1/2
SILENT SOULS (2011, d. Aleksei Fedorchenko) ***
SILENT VOICES (Qu'un seul tienne et les autres suivront) (2010, d. Léa Fehner) ***
SILICON COWBOYS (2016, d. Jason Cohen) ** 1/2
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. **
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (2012, d. David O. Russell) ***
SIMIAN LINE, THE (2001, d. Linda "Old" Yellen) *
SIMON AND THE OAKS (2012, d. Lisa Ohlin) *** 3/4
SIMON KILLER (2013, d. Antonio Campos) ***
SIMON (2004, d. Eddy Terstall) Dutch AFF, remarkably un-sentimental story about a flamboyant dying man and state sanctioned euthenasia. *** 1/4
SIMPLE AS WATER (2022, d. Megan Mylan) *** 1/2
SIMPLE LIFE, A (2011, d. Ann Hui, Hong Kong) *** 1/2
SIMPLE SIMON (2011 d. Andreas Ohman; Sweden) *** 1/2
SIMPSONS MOVIE, THE (2007, d. David Silverman) ***
SIMSHAR (2014, Malta, d. Rebecca Cremona) *** 1/2
SIN BIN (2012, d. Billy Federighi) * 1/2
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
SING STREET (2016, d. John Carney) *** 3/4
SING YOUR SONG (2011, d. Susanne Rostock) V. Effective, if perhaps excessively hagiographic, bio of Belafonte. Nicely edited & does make its point. ***
Sing (2017, d. Kristof Deak & Anna Udvardy) ***
SING (2017, d. Garth Jennings) ** 1/2
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. ***
SINNER, THE (2017, TV series; d. various) *** 1/4
SIRA (2023, Burkina Faso, d. Apolline Traoré) ***
SISTER (2012, d. Ursula Meier, Switzerland) *** 1/4
Sister (2020, anim. short, d. Siqi Song) *** 3/4
Sister, A (2020, live short, d. Delphine Girard) *** 1/4
SISTERS BROTHERS (2018, d. Jacques Audiard) ** 1/4
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
SIVAS (Turkey) (2015, d. Kaan Müjdeci) ** 1/2
SIX BY SONDHEIM (2013, d. James Lapine) *** 1/4
SIX MILLION AND ONE (2012, d. David Fisher) V. Docu of 4 siblings exploring Holocaust survivor father's past in Austrian death/work camps. Talky, but fascinating family dynamic. *** 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. ***
SK1 (L'Affaire SK1) (2015, d. Frédéric Tellier, David Oelhoffen) *** 1/4
SKATE KITCHEN (2018, d. Crystal Moselle) 3/4*
SKATELAND (2010, d. Anthony Burns) ** 1/2
SKELETON TWINS, THE (2014, d. Craig Johnson) *** 1/4
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
SKIN I LIVE IN, THE (2011, d. Pedro Almodóvar) Creepy gothic film with Almodovar's patented gender-tripping. Excellent music & prod. design. Script, not so great. ***
SKIN SO SOFT, A (2018, d. Denis Côté) ** 1/4
SKIN (2019, d. Guy Nattiv) *** 1/4
Skin (2019, d. Guy Nattiv) Oscar nominated fiction short film. ** 3/4
Skip Day (2018, doc short d. Patrick Bresnan, Ivete Lucas) ** 1/4
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
SKYFALL (2012, d. Sam Mendes) ** 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
SKYLAB, LE (2012, d. Julie Delpy) ** 1/2
SLASH (2016, d. Clay Liford) *** 1/4
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 BEAUTY, THE (La Belle endormie) (2011 d. Catherine Breillat) * 1/2
SLEEPING DOGS LIE (2006, d. Bobcat Goldthwait) ***
SLEEPING GIANT (2016, d. Andrew Cividino) *** 3/4
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
SLEEPWALK WITH ME (2012, d. Mike Birbiglia) *** 1/4
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
Slomo (2013, d. Josh Izenberg) Doc short: 69 yr. old doctor abandons career and ratrace to roller blade at the beach. Interesting man, still I wonder why? ***
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 SECTION OF THE WORLD, A (2014, d. Lesley Chilcott) ** 3/4
SMALL TOWN GAY BAR (2006, d. Malcolm Ingram) ** 3/4
SMALL TOWN KILLERS (2017, d. Ole Borndal) *** 1/4
SMALL TOWN MURDER SONGS (2011, d. Ed Gass-Donnelly) ***
SMALL VOICES (2003, d. Gil M. Portes) Philippines AFF. New teacher in rural village copes with problems. **
Small World (2021, Doc short, d. Jonathan Napolitano) ** 3/4
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
SMASHED (2012, d. James Ponsoldt) V. **
SMILEY FACE (2007, d. Gregg Araki) *** 1/4
SMILING THROUGH THE APOCALYPSE: ESQUIRE IN THE '60s (2014, d. Tom Hayes) *** 1/2
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
SNITCH CARTEL, THE (El Cartel de los Sapos) (2012, d. Carlos Moreno, Colombia) ** 3/4
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. ***
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (2012, d. Rupert Sanders) V. ** 1/4
SNOWDEN (2016, d. Oliver Stone) *** 3/4
SNOWPIERCER (2014, d. Bong Joon-ho) ***
SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO, THE (2012, d. Robert Guédiguian) *** 3/4
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
SOBIBOR (2018, Russia d. Konstanti Khabensky) ** 1/4
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. ****
SOCIAL NETWORK, THE (2011 d. David Fincher) V.++ A rarity: a smart movie about smart people which is totally absorbing & finely crafted. Still, even 3rd time: ****
SOCIETY OF THE SNOW (2023, Spain, d. J. A. Bayona) *** 3/4
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
SOLITAIRE (2017, d. Sophie Boutros) *** 1/4
SOLITARY MAN (2010, d. Koppelman & Levien) V. Saga of a true asshole played convincingly by Michael Douglas. ** 3/4
SOLITARY (2016, d. Kristi Jacobson) *** 1/4
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 CAME RUNNING (2015, d. Vincente Mannelli) ** 1/4
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. ***
Some Kind of Intimacy (2022, doc. short, d. Toby Bull) *** 1/2
SOME SAY NO (C'è chi dice no) (2012, d. Giambattista Avellino) ** 3/4
SOMEDAY THIS PAIN WILL BE USEFUL TO YOU (2014, d. Roberto Faenza) *** 1/4
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 BORROWED (2012, d. Luke Greenfield) V. Girl loves best friend's fiancé and the morally suspect consequences. Enjoyed the actors. ** 1/2
SOMETHING FROM NOTHING: THE ART OF RAP (2012, d. Ice-T) V. I've no interest in hip-hop & rap; but his docu representing won me over with great interviews. ***
SOMETHING IN THE AIR (2013, d. Olivier Assayas) ***
SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS (Stestí) (2006, d. Bohdan Sláma; Czech Republic) *** 1/4
SOMETHING MUST BREAK (2014, d. Ester Marten Bergsmark) ***
SOMETHING SWEET (2000, d. Olivia Pi-Sunyer) ** 1/2
SOMETHING VENTURED (2011, d. Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine) ** 3/4
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 BETWEEN (2012, d. LInda Knowleton) V. Moving docu of 5 Chinese girls adopted by Americans & their quest for shared culture. Edifying & heartrending, too. *** 1/2
SOMEWHERE BOY (2023, mini-series, d. Alexandra Brodski, Alex Winkler) ***
SOMEWHERE OVER THE DREAMLAND (2003, Taiwan d. Cheng Wen-tang) Inscrutable film about yearning and lost love...maybe. ** 3/4
SOMM (2013, d. Jason Wise) *** 1/2
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 in the Barbershop (2018, d. Nathan Douglas) ** 3/4
SON OF A LION (2008, d. Benjamin Gilmour) ***
SON OF BABYLON (2010, d. Mohamed Al-Daradji) ** 3/4
SON OF MAN (Un hijo de Hombre) (2018, Ecuador, d. Jamaicanoproblem, Pablo Agüero) ** 1/4
SON OF RAMBOW (2007, d. Garth Jennings) ***
SON OF SAUL (Hungary) (2015, d. László Nemes) *** 3/4
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 GRANITE (2017, Ireland, d. Pat Collins) * 3/4
SONG OF SCORPIONS, THE (2018, d. Anup Singh) 3/4*
SONG OF SPARROWS, THE (Avaze Gonjeshk-ha) (2008, d. Majid Majidi) ***
SONG OF THE SEA (2015, d. Tomm Moore) ** 1/4
SONG OF TIBET (2001, d. Xie Fei) ***
SONG TO SONG (2017, d. Terence Malick) * 3/4
SONG WITHOUT A NAME (2021, Peru, d. Melina León) Native Peruvian woman's baby stolen in '88 & gay journalist tries to help. *** 1/2
SONGCATCHER (2000, d. Maggie Greenwald) ***
SONGS FROM THE SECOND FLOOR (2002, d. Roy Andersson) ***
SONGS OF EARTH (2023, Norway, Doc., d. Margreth Olin) *** 1/4
SONITA (2016, d. Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami) *** 3/4
SONNY BOY (2011, d. Maria Peters, Netherlands) ***
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 and the Baron (2022, doc short, d. Alexandria Jackson) ***
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
SORELLE MAI (2011 d. Marco Bellocchio) ** 1/2
SORROW AND JOY (2014, Denmark, d. Nils Malmros) ** 3/4
SORROW OF MRS. SCHNEIDER, THE (2008, d. Piro & Eno Milkani; Albania) ***
SORRY ANGEL (2019, d. Christophe Honoré) ** 3/4
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (2018, d. Boots Riley) ** 3/4
SOUL KITCHEN (2010, d. Fatih Akin) ***
SOUL ON A STRING (2017, d. Zhang Yang) ** 3/4
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. ***
SOUL (2013, d. Chung Mong-Hong, Taiwan) ** 3/4
SOUL (2021, d. Pete Doctor) ***
SOUND AND FURY (2000, d. Josh Aronson) ***
SOUND CITY (2013, d. Dave Grohl) ***
SOUND OF METAL (2021, d. Darius Marder) *** 1/2
SOUND OF NOISE (2011, d. Ola Simonsson & Johannes Stjärne Nilsson) ***
SOUND OF THUNDER, A (2005, d. Peter Hyams) * 1/4
SOUND OF TREES, THE (2016, d. François Péloquin) * 1/2
SOUNDLESS WIND CHIME (2012, d. Kit Hung) V. Opaque narrative switching between timelines obscures a beautiful if ponderous gay relationship film. ** 3/4
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
SOURCE CODE (2011, d. Duncan Jones) Nifty script, well executed by Jones who has stepped up in class. Some niggling temporal problems; but hugely fun. *** 1/4
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
SOUTHPAW (2015, d. Antoine Fuqua) *** 1/2
SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU (2016, d. Richard Tanne) ***
SOUVENIR, THE (2019, d. Joanna Hogg) ** 3/4
SPA NIGHT (2016, d. Andrew Ahn) ***
SPACE BETWEEN US, THE (2018, d. Peter Chelsom) **
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
SPARK: A BURNING MAN STORY (2013, d. Steve Brown, Jessie Deeter) ** 1/2
SPARKLE (2012, d. Salim Akil) Hideously bad, cliché filled '70s Motown girl trio story centered on Jorden Sparks. Costumes & singing are only reason to see this. Ugh. * 1/4
SPARROW (Man Jeuk) (2008, d. Johnnie To) ** 1/2
SPARROWS (2016, d. Runar Runarsson) *** 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 (2012, d. Galichia & Weidling) V. Occasionally involving docu of 10 finalists in the Toastmaster Int. yearly speech contest. Some gripping people stories; but filmmaking is mediocre. ** 1/2
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
SPECTACULAR NOW, THE (2013, d. James Ponsoldt) ***
SPECTRE (2015, d. Sam Mendes) * 3/4
Speed Cubers (2021, Doc short, d. Sue Kim) *** 3/4
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
SPENCER (2022, d. Pablo Larrain) *** 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
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (2023, d. joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson) *** 1/2
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2022, d. Jon Watts) *** 1/2
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019, d. Jon Watts) ** 3/4
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017, d. Jon Watts) ** 1/2
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (2019, d. Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman) *** 1/2
SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, THE (2008, d. Mark Waters) Scary stuff; better than expected. Fine f/x, nicely acted. ***
SPIES OF WARSAW (2013, d. Coky Giedroyc) V. A fine novel made into an old fashioned episodic tv miniseries with good production values, but some major mis-castings. ** 1/2
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
SPINNING PLATES (2013, d. Joseph Levy) *** 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) **
SPOTLIGHT (2015, d. Tom McCarthy) *** 1/2
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 BREAKERS (2013, d. Harmony Korine) ** 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
SPUD 2: THE MADNESS CONTINUES (2013, d. Donovan Marsh) ** 3/4
SPUD (2011, d. Donovan Marsh) *** 1/4
SPUN (2003, d. Jonas Akerlund) Requiem For a Dream wannabe. Tweaker farce. Transgressive and fun, but cheesy. **
SPY BEHIND HOME PLATE, THE (2019, d. Aviva Kempner) *** 1/2
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) ***
SPY TIME (2016, d. Javier, Ruiz Caldera) *** 1/4
SQUARE, THE (2009, d. Nash Edgerton) ***
SQUARE, THE (2010, d. Nash Edgerton) + Inadvertently watched again. Still pretty clever Aussie film noir. ***
SQUARE, THE (2013, d. Jehane Noujaim) ** 3/4
SQUARE, THE (2017, d. Ruben Östland) *** 1/4
SQUID AND THE WHALE, THE (2005, d. Noah Baumbach) *** 1/2
ST. GEORGE SHOOTS THE DRAGON (2009, d. Srdjan Dragojevic; Serbia) ***
St. Louis Superman (2019, doc short, d. Smriti Mundhra, Sami Khan) *** 1/4
ST. VINCENT (2014, d. Theodore Melfi) *** 1/4
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. ***
STALINGRAD (2013, d. Fedor Bondarchuk, Russia) *** 1/2
STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING (2023, Doc., d. Roger Ross Williams) *** 1/2
STAN & OLLIE (2018, d. Jon S. Baird) ** 3/4
STAN (2018, d. Mitchell Hawkes) *** 1/2
STAND UP GUYS (2012, d. Fisher Stevens) V. **
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 ASIDE WATCHING (2014, d. Yorgos Servetas) ** 1/4
STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN (2002, d. Paul Justman) *** 1/4
STAR IS BORN, A (2018, d. Bradley Cooper) ** 1/2
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 TREK BEYOND (2016, d. Justin Lin) * 3/4
STAR TREK BEYOND (2017, d. Justin Lin) + * 1/4
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013, d. J.J. Abrams) ** 1/4
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
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015, d. J.J. Abrams) ***
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017, d. Rian Johnson) ** 3/4
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2018, d. Rian Johnson) + *** 1/4
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (2020, d. J. J. Abrams) ** 3/4
STARBUCK (2012, d. Ken Scott) *** 1/4
STARDOM (2000, d. Denys Arcand) ***
STARDUST (2007, d. Matthew Vaughn) ** 1/2
STARFISH HOTEL (2006, d. John Williams) * 3/4
STARRED UP (2014, d. David Mackenzie) ***
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
START UP, THE: ACCENDI IL TUO FUTURO (2018, d. Alessandro D'Alatri) *** 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
Starting Point (Punkt wyjscia) (2015, d. Michal Szczesniak) *** 1/4
STARTUP.COM (2001, d. Jehane Noujaim & Chris Hegedus) ***
STATE 194 (2013, d. Dan Setton) ***
STATE AND MAIN (2000, d. David Mamet) ***
STATE OF MADNESS, A (2021, Dominican Republic, d. Leticia Tonos) A good doctor sent to fix a loony bin during 60s dictatorship. *** 3/4
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 Close (2019, doc short, d. Shuhan Fan, Luther Clement) ** 1/2
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 CARS (2016, d. Bradley Kaplan) *** 1/4
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
STEED, THE (2019, Mongolia, d. Erdenebileg Ganbold) ****
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 INTO THE DARK, A (2014, Slovakia, d. Miloslav Luther) * 3/4 W/O
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 TO THE PLATE (2012, d. Paul Lacoste) ** 1/2
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
STEP (2017, d. Amanda Lipitz) ***
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) ***
STEVE JOBS (2015, d. Danny Boyle) ** 1/2
STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE (2015, d. Alex Gibney) *** 1/4
STEVE MCQUEEN: THE MAN & LE MANS (2015, d. Gabriel Clarke, John McKenna) ** 1/4
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 ALICE (2014, d. Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland) *** 1/2
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 MINE (2013, d. Michael McGowan) *** 3/4
STILL ORANGUTANS (2008, d. Gustavo Spoldoro) *** 1/2
STILL SMALL VOICE, A (2023, Doc. d. Luke Lorentzen) *** 1/2
STILL WALKING (2009, d. Kore-ea Hirokazu) *** 1/2
STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX MOVIE (2023, Doc., d. Davis Guggenheim) *** 1/2
STOKED: THE RISE & FALL OF GATOR (2004, d. Helen Stickler) Nicely constructed, fascinating docu about skateboarder/murderer Mark Rogowski. *** 1/2
STOKER (2013, d. Park Chan-wook) ** 1/2
STOLEN CHILDREN (Certi Bambini) (2006, d. Andrea and Antonio Frazzi) *** 1/4
STOLEN EYES (Otkradnati ochi) (2006, d. Radoslav Spassov; Bulgaria)
STOLEN SEAS (2013, d. Thymaya Payne) ** 1/2
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. ***
STONEWALL (2017, d. Roland Emmerich) ** 1/2
Stonewall Outloud (2019, doc short, d. Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey) ***
STOOL PIGEON (2011, d. Dante Lam) *** 1/4
STOP-LOSS (2008, d. Kimberly Peirce) Extraordinarily affecting, difficult & appropos film; superb script & acting. *** 3/4
STORIES FROM THE CHESTNUT WOODS (2021, Slovenia, d. Gregor Bozic) Carpenter loses his wife & helps woman to leave woods. ** 1/4
STORIES WE TELL (2013, d. Sarah Polley) *** 1/4
STORM OF EMOTIONS (2006, d. Yael Klopmann) V. Very powerful, apolitical docu of forced evacuation of Gaza settlers. *** 1/2
STORM SURFERS 3D (2013, d. Christopher Nelius, Justin McMillan) * 3/4
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 OUTTA COMPTON (2015, d. F. Gray Gray) ** 3/4
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) ****
STRANGE LITTLE CAT, THE (2013, d. Ramon Zürcher) ** 1/2
Stranger at the Gate (2023, doc. short, d. Joshua Seftel) *** 1/2
STRANGER BY THE LAKE (2013, d. Alain Guiraudie) *** 1/2
STRANGER IN US, THE (2012, d. Scott Boswell) V. Gay film to support, realistic relationships, authentic S.F. setting. But inept editing & pedestrian direction. ** 1/2
STRANGER THAN FICTION (2006, d. Marc Forster) Charlie Kaufmanesque script with a stunning Emma Thompson perf. ***
STRANGER (Kazakhstan) (2015, d. Yermek Tursunov) *** 1/4
STRANGERS WITH CANDY (2006, d. Paul Dinello) *
STRANGERS (2008, d. Erez Tadmor, Guy Nattiv) ** 1/2
STRANGLED LIVES (2001, d. Ricky Tognazzi) W/O+
STRAPPED (2012, d. Joseph Graham) V. Gay version of No Exit, with real philosophical plot, lots of soft-core sex & some fine acting (Bonenfant a find). ***
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 DAYS (2011 d. Levan Koguashvili ; Georgia) *** 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. **
STRONG ISLAND (2017, d. Yance Ford) ** 3/4
STRONGER (2017, d. David Gordon Green) *** 1/2
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE (2017, d. Antonin Peretjatko) 1/2*
STUCK IN LOVE (2013, d. Josh Boone) *** 1/2
STUCK ON YOU (2003, d. Bobby & Peter Farelly) Irresistably sweet, hip and funny. Farellys continue to play with characters' illusions & it works. ***
STUCK (2013, d. Thaddaeus Scheel) *** 1/4
STUDENT, THE (2012, d. Santiago Mitre) ** 1/2
STUDIO 54 (2018, d. Matt Tyrnauer) *** 1/4
STUPID YOUNG HEART (2019, Finland, d. Selma Vilhunen) Naive 16-year old Finn couple deal with pregnancy and intolerance for immigrants. *** 1/2
STURGEON QUEENS, THE (2014, d. Julie Cohen) *** 1/4
Stutterer (2016, d. Benjamin Cleary & Serena Armitage) ** 3/4
SUBMARINE (2011, d. Richard Ayoade) ** 3/4
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
SUFFRAGETTE (2015, d. Sarah Gavron) ** 1/2
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) **
SUICIDE SQUAD (2016, d. David Ayer) ** 1/2
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. ***
SULEMAN MOUNTAIN (2018, d. Elizaveta Stichava) ** 3/4
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
SULLY (2016, d. Clint Eastwood) *** 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 1993 (2017, Spain, d. Carla Simon) *** 1/4
SUMMER 1993 (2018, d. Carla Simón) *** 1/4
SUMMER CATCH (2001, d. Michael Tollin) ** 1/2
SUMMER CODA (2011, d. Richard Gray) ***
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 NIGHTS (2021, d. Ohad Milstein) ****
SUMMER OF '92 (2016, d. Kasper Barfoed) ***
SUMMER OF SOUL (...OR WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) (2022, d. Ahmir-Khalib Thompson) *** 3/4
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. ***
Summer Vacation (2016, d. Tal Granit, Sharon Maymon) Short Israeli film about a realistic bi-sexual affair on a seaside vacation. ***
Summer Vacation (2017, d. Tal Granit, Sharon Maymon) + Insightful Israeli gay short film. *** 1/2
SUMMER'S TALE, A (2014, d. Erich Rohmer) ** 1/2
SUMMIT, THE (2013, d. Nick Ryan) *** 1/4
SUN ALLEY (Sonnenallee) (2000, d. Leander Haussman) ***
SUN ALSO RISES, THE (Tai Yang Zhao Chang Sheng Qi) (2007, d. Jiang Wen) ** 1/4
SUN CHILDREN (2021, Iran, d. Majid Majidi) Exploited 12 year old boys combine school & illicit digging for treasure. *** 3/4
SUN KISSED (2014, d. Patrick McGuinn) *
SUNFISH, THE (2014, d. Soren Balle) ***
SUNNY (2012, d. Kang Hyoung-chul) *** 1/4
SUNRISE: A SONG OF TWO HUMANS (2012, d. F.W. Murnau) *** 1/2
SUNSET SONG (2016, d. Terence Davies) *** 1/2
SUNSET STRIP (2000, d. Adam Collis) ***
SUNSET STRIP (2005, d. Adam Collis) V.+ ***
SUNSET (2018, Hungary, d. László Nemes) ** 1/2
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
SUNSTROKE (Russia) (2015, d. Nikita Mikhalkov) ** 3/4
SUPER (2011, d. James Gunn) Gory & mildly amusing, film looks terrible (shot on old stock?). Some fine actors stretching...but too weird for me. **
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
SUPER-8 (2011, d. J.J. Abrams) Very ET-retro; high expectations not completely met by script deficiencies. End credit 8mm "film" better than rest. ***
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
SUPERCLASICO (2011, d. Ole Christian Madsen, Denmark) ** 3/4
SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006, d. Brian Singer) Not a disappointment...Singer did everything just about right. ***
SUPERMENSCH: THE LEGEND OF SHEP GORDON (2014, d. Mike Myers) ** 3/4
SUPERNOVA (2021, d. Harry Mcqueen) *** 3/4
SUPERVOLCANO (2005, d. Tony Mitchell) V. Scary, involving, high gloss fictionalized disaster docudrama about Yellowstone eruption. ***
SUPPLEMENT (2002, d. Krzysztof Zanussi) ***
Suppressed: the Fight to Vote (2019, d. Robert Greenwald)
SUPREME PRICE, THE (2014, d. Joanna Lipper) ** 3/4
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
SURVIVING PEACE (2017, d. Josef Avesar) *** 1/2
SURVIVING PROGRESS (2012, d. Mathieu Roy) V. Another docu decrying man's future; but filled with very smart talking heads, a fine script, & superb photography. *** 1/2
SUSHI: THE GLOBAL CATCH (2011, d. Mark Hall) *** 1/4
SÜSKIND (2013, d. Rudolf van den Berg) ** 1/2
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
SUSPIRIA (2018, d. Luca Guadagnino) * 1/2
SWALLOWS & AMAZONS (2017, d. Philippa Lowthorpe) ** 1/2
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 COUNTRY (2018, d. Warwick Thornton) ** 3/4
SWEET CRUDE (2009, d. Sandy Cioffi) ***
SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS (2002, d. Saso Podgorsek) ***
SWEET DREAMS (2013, d. Lisa Fruchtman, Rob Fruchtman) ** 1/2
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 MICKY FOR PRESIDENT (2015, d. Ben Patterson) *** 1/4
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 (2012, d. Harry Lynch) V. Docu dispassionately examining all potential of mankind's energy sources. Very informative; but the conclusion by filmmaker/narrator not so digestible. *** 1/2
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
SWORD OF TRUST (2019, d. Lynn Shelton) *** 1/4
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) ***
SYMPHONY OF THE SOIL (2013, d. Deborah Koons) ***
SYNDROME, THE (2016, d. Meryl Goldsmith) **
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
T2: TRAINSPOTTING 2 (2017, d. Danny Boyle) **
TAARE ZAMEEN PAR (2008, d. Aamir Khan; India) ** 3/4
TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL (2015, d. Jeffrey Schwarz) ****
TABLE 19 (2017, d. Jeffrey Blitz) * 1/2
TABLOID (2011, d. Errol Morris) ** 3/4
TABOO (Gohatto) (2000, d. Nagisa Oshima) **
TADPOLE (2002, d. Gary Winick) *** 1/4
TADPOLE (2002, d. Gary Winick) *** 1/4
TAE GUK GI: THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR (2004, d. Kang Je Gyu) Overly melodramatic Korean war film. Good, bloody battle scenes, if edited too fast. ** 1/2
TAEKWANDO (2020, d. Marco Berger) *** 1/4
TAHAAN - A BOY WITH A GRENADE (2009, d. Santosh Sivan) * 3/4
TAILOR OF PANAMA, THE (2001, d. John Boorman) ** 3/4
TAIS-TOI! (2004, d. Francis Veber) Depardieu 100 lbs. lighter & on his game has true chemistry with Jean Reno in this fast paced buddy/chase comedy. ***
Take and Run (Ala Kachuu) (2022, short, d. Maria Brendle) *** 1/2
TAKE CARE OF MY CAT (2002, d. Jeong Jae-eun) **
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT (2011 d. Michael Dowse) I don't get Dan Fogler...but Topher Grace and Faris are fine. Adult Superbad set in '80s & surprisingly fun. ** 3/4
TAKE MY NOSE...PLEASE! (2017, d. Joan Kron) *** 3/4
TAKE SHELTER (2011, d. Jeff Nichols) Effective story of obsession & paranoia, well acted by Chastain & Shannon; but Apocolyptic plot strained my credulity. ** 3/4
TAKE THIS WALTZ (2012, d. Sarah Poley) *** 1/2
Takeover (2022, doc short, d. Emma Francis-Snyder) *** 1/4
TAKING CHANCE (2009, d. Ross Katz) V. Emotionally devastating TV movie about the consequences of war on the homefront. *** 1/2
TAKING LIVES (2004, d. D.J. Caruso) I intended to hate this predictable & implausable thriller; but its atmosphere & good acting (Hawke!) won me over. ** 3/4
TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 (2011, d. Tony Scott) V. Skillful, involving thriller which falls apart at end. Denzel & Travolta have star power. ** 3/4
TAKING SIDES (2003, d. István Szabó) Umteenth film in a row Harvey Keitel chews scenery; but Stellan Skarsgard superb. Thoughtful, morally ambiguous. ** 3/4
TAKING WOODSTOCK (2009, d. Ang Lee) Very interesting oblique look at the '60s & seminal event. Henry Goodman deadpan excellent; but Staunton is fabulous. *** 1/4
TAKVA - A MAN'S FEAR OF GOD (2007, d. Ozer Kiziltan) *** 1/4
TALAKJUNG VS. TULKE (Nepal) (2015, d. Basnet Nischal) * 1/4
TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA, THE (2015, d. Isao Takahata) * 3/4
TALE OF TWO SISTERS (2004, d. Kim Ji-woon) Boring, pointless, confusing "ghost" story mostly about hysteria, but with a few shocks. * 1/4
TALES OF THE GRIM SLEEPER (2014, d. Nick Broomfield) *** 1/2
TALHOTBLOND (2009, d. Barbara Schroeder) *** 1/4
TALK TO HER (2002, d. Pedro Almodóvar) ***
TALK TO ME ABOUT LOVE (Parlami d'amore) (2012, d. Silvio Muccino) ** 1/2 (but I loved it.)
TALK TO ME ABOUT LOVE (Parlami d'amore) (2008, d. Silvio Muccino) ***
TALK TO ME (2007, d. Kasi Lemmons) *** 1/4
TALLADEGA NIGHTS (2006, d. Adam McKay) Finally a really funny stupid satire. Sasha Baron Cohen a revelation! ***
TAMARA DREWE (2010, d. Stephen Frears) Silly English countryside contempo comedy. What happened to Frears, he used to be such a good director. **
TAN DE REPENTE (2003, d. Diego Lerman) Lesbian road film, B&W, like early Godard or Greg Araki, with sweetly life affirming aftertaste. *** 1/4
TANGERINE (2015, d. Sean Baker) *** 1/4
TANGERINES (2014, d. Zaza Urushadze) *** 1/2
TANGLED (2010, d. Greno & Howard) V. 3D animated musical loosely based on Rapunzel. Terrible songs & clichés abound; but I'm not the intended aud. * 3/4
TANNA (2016, d. Martin Butler & Bentley Dean) ** 1/4
TANZANIA: A JOURNEY WITHIN (2014, d. Sylvia Caminer) ** 3/4
TAO OF STEVE, THE (2000, d. Jenniphr Goodman) ** 3/4
TAP WORLD (2015, d. Dean Hargrove) ** 3/4
TAPAS (2007, d. José Corbacho & Juan Cruz) V. ***
TAPE (2001, d. Richard Linklater) *** 1/4
TÁR (2023, d. Todd Field) *** 1/2
TARGET FOR RAGE (2004, d. Michael Watkins) V. High tension 1997 film based on N. Calif. school massacre with excellent acting by Schroder, Winkler & Prinze. ** 3/4
TARNATION (2004, d. Jonathan Caouette) Highly charged personal life docu done as experimental film. Revealing of a screwed up family life, but aroused my sympathy. ***
TASTE OF OTHERS, THE (2001, d. Agnes Jaoui) *** 1/4
TASTE OF THINGS, THE (2023, France, d. Tran anh Hung) *** 1/2
TATSUMI (2011, d. Eric Khoo, Singapore) *** 1/4
TATTOO (2014, d. Hilton Lacerda) *** 1/4
TATTOO (2002, d. Robert Schwentke) ***
TATTOOED (Tatuado) (2005, d. Eduardo Raspa) ** 3/4
TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE (2007, d. Alex Gibney) Horrific, difficult docu: American torture of prisoners since 9/11. *** 1/4
TAXIDERMIA (2006, d. György Pálfi) ** 3/4
TAYLOR MAC'S 24-DECADE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC (2023, Doc. d. Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman) *** 3/4
TBILISI-TBILISI (2005, d. Zakareishvili Levan; Georgia) ** 1/2
TBS [NOTHING TO LOSE] (2008, d. Pieter Kuijpers) *** 1/4
TCHAO PANTIN (2009, d. Claude Berri) *** 1/4
TE DOY MIS OJOS (2004, d. Iciar Bollain) Excellent womans picture about a wife dealing with an abusive husband. Fabulous acting by Laia Marull and Luis Tosar! *** 1/2
TEA WITH DAMES (2018, d. Roger Michell) ***
TEACHER, A (2013, d. Hannah Fidell) ** 3/4
TEACHER'S DIARY, THE (2014, Thailand, d. Nithiwat Tharathorn) ** 1/4
TEACHERS' LOUNGE, THE (2023, Germany, d. Ilker Çatak) *** 1/2
TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (2004, d. Parker & Stone) Surprisingly funny and relevant puppet comedy, trenchant satire on Bruckheimer films. ***
TEAR THIS HEART OUT (Arráncame la vida) (2008, d. Roberto Sneider, Mexico) *** 1/4
TEARS OF APRIL (2009, d. Aku Louhimies) *** 3/4
TEARS OF GAZA (2012, d. Vibeke Lokkeberg) V. 85 minutes of unrelenting shots of children killed & maimed by 2009 Gaza incursion with no broader context. Doc as pure propaganda. **
TEARS OF THE SUN (2003, d. Antoine Fuqua) White man's burden as American soldiers save day in Nigeria. Good direction...horrendous script. * 1/2
TED (2012, d. Seth McFarlane) V. *
TEDDY BEAR (2008, d. Jan Hrebejk) *** 1/4
TEDDY BEARS (2013, d. Thomas Beatty, Rebecca Fishman) ** 3/4
TEENAGE ANGST (2012, d. Thomas Stuber) V. Homoerotic boys school 2008 German flick with a psychologically weird, senseless S&M plot. Well shot; but unreal. **
TEENAGE PAPARAZZO (2011 d. Adrian Grenier) V. The ultimate meta-docu, celebrity making a doc about a 14-year old kid paparazzo. But smart & fun & relevant. *** 1/2
TEETH (2001, d. Gabriele Salvatores) ***
TEHROUN (2010, d. Nader T. Homayoun) ** 1/2
TEKNOLUST (2002, d. Lynn Hershman-Leeson)
TEL AVIV ON FIRE (2019, d. Sameh Zoabi) **
TELL ME WHO I AM (2019, d. Ed Perkins) *** 1/2
TELL NO ONE (Ne le dit à personne) (2007, d.Guillaume Canet) *** 1/4
TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE (2004, d. Mark Wexler) Fascinating, very personal docu about prickley liberal cinematographer by his rebellious son. *** 1/2
TELSTAR (2009, d. Nick Moran) ***
TEMPEST, THE (2010, d. Julie Taymor) As expected, visually stunning. But I kept phasing out of opaque Shakespearian narrative. Still, loved Ben Whishaw's Ariel. ** 1/2
TEMPESTA (2006, d. Tim Disney) * 3/4
TEMPLE GRANDIN (2010, d. Mick Jackson) V. Superb perf by Claire Danes sets this one apart. Moving, fascinating true study of autism. *** 1/2
Templeton (Ep. 1 & 2) (2015, d. Stephen Cafiero) TV series * 1/2
TEMPTATION OF ST. TONY, THE (2010, d. Veiko Ounpuu; Estonia) 3/4*
TEMPTATIONS (2002, d. Zoltan Kamondi) * 1/2
TEN CANOES (2006, d. Rolf de Heer; Australia) ** 1/2
Ten Meter Tower (2017, d Maximilien Van Aertryek and Axel Danielson) ** 3/4
TEN WINTERS (Dieci inverni) (2010, d. Valerio Mieli) ***
TEN, THE (2007, d. David Wain) *** 1/4
TENDER BAR, THE (2022, d. George Clooney) *** 1/2
TENDERNESS (2010, d. John Polson) V. Jon Foster is quite good as young psychopath in this subtle, slow folie a deux drama with touch of terror. *** 1/4
TENET (2021, d. Christopher Nolan) *** 1/4
TENTH MAN, THE (El rey del Once) (2016, d. Daniel Burman) **
TERMINAL, THE (2004, d. Stephen Spielberg) Logistic triumph, great cinematography; but a mediocre script. Hanks is turning into the male Meryl Streep. ** 1/2
TERMINATOR 3 RISE OF THE MACHINES (2003, d. Jonathan Mostow) Good script, great f/x, one of the most satisfying action thrillers of recent years. *** 1/4
TERMINATOR 4 (2009, d. McG) I love the "Terminator" world, including the tv-show contrib to the mythos. This film worked, consistent and thrilling. *** 1/4
TERMINATOR: GENISYS (2015, d. Alan Taylor) * 1/2
TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY (2013, d. Cullen Hoback) *** 3/4
TERRAFERMA (2011, d. Emanuele Crialese, Italy) ** 1/2
TERRI (2011, d. Azazal Jacobs) *** 1/4
TERRIBLY HAPPY (2009, d. Henrik Ruben Genz) ** 3/4
TERRITORY, THE (2022, d. Alex Pritz) *** 1/4
Terror Contagion (2022, doc short, d. Laura Poitras) ***
TERRORIST, THE (2000, d. Santosh Sivan) *** 1/4
TESIS (2003, d. Alejandro Amenabar 1995) Thriller about snuff films on campus. Amenabar at 23 was already an accomplished creepmeister! *** 1/2
TESSERACT, THE (2004, d. Oxide Pang) Complex, stylish thriller about a dope smuggling deal which goes wrong. ***
TEST (2013, d. Chris Mason Johnson) ***
TESTAMENT OF YOUTH (2015, d. James Kent) *** 1/4
TESTIMONY OF TALIESIN JONES, THE (2001, d. Martin Duffy) ***
Testimony, The (2015, d. Vanessa Block)
TESTOSTERONE (2004, d. David Moreton) Nicely done thriller about obsessive love, made in Argentina with a fine cast. Looks splendid, but some editing decisions detract. ** 3/4
TESTOSTERONE (2005, d. David Moreton)V.+ Murky gay doings in Buenos Aires with an attractive (!) cast & a story of lust and longing which doesn't work. ** 1/2
TÊTE DE TURC (2010, d. Pascal Elbé) ** 3/4
TETRO (2009, d. Francis Ford Coppola) Visually ravishing with creative films & operas within the film. But the narrative is too over-the-top operatic for my tastes. ** 3/4
TEXAS (2006, d. Fausto Paravidino) ***
TEY (Aujourd'hui) (2012, d. Alain Gomis) * 3/4
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING (2006, d. Jason Reitman) Clever satire with a great cast. Slightly oversold as the best thing since sliced bread. ***
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE (2016, d. Tom Donahue) *** 1/4
THAT EVENING SUN (2010, d. Scott Teems) Fine film, if a downer. Holbrook is wonderful; but I felt for McKinnon's villain, too, surely not intended. *** 1/4
THAT MAN: PETER BERLIN (2005, d. Jim Tushinski) Interesting docu about male porn object of the '70s. Nicely made with excellent interviews. *** 1/4
THAT SUMMER (2018, d. Göran Hugo Olsson) ** 1/4
That Wasn't Me (Aquel no era yo) (2014, d. Esteban Crespo) ** 1/2
THAT'S WHAT I AM (2012, d. Michael Pavone) V. I read that this unknown coming-of-age '60s film was good. It's better than that! Superior Wonder Years stuff. *** 1/2
THE DEEPEST BREATH (2023, Doc. d. Laura McGann) *** 1/4
THE ISSUE WITH TISSUE - A BOREAL LOVE STORY (2023, Doc., d. Michael Zelniker) *** 1/2
THEATER CAMP (2023, d. Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman) ***
THEATER OF WAR (2008, d. John Walter) ** 1/2
THEEB (Jordan) (2015, d. Naji Abu Nowar) *** 1/2
THEIR FINEST (2017, d. Lone Scherfig) *** 1/2
THEM (Ils) (2007, d. David Moreau and Xavier Palud) ** 3/4
THEN CAME YOU (2019, d. Peter Hutchings) ** 1/2
THEN SHE FOUND ME (2008, d. Helen Hunt) Enjoyable, if predictable, romantic dramidy. ** 3/4
THEO WHO LIVED (2016, d. David Schisgall) *** 1/4
THEORY OF EVERYTHING (2014, d. James Marsh) *** 1/2
THERE GOES MY BABY (2003, d. Floyd Mutrux) V. American Graffiti lite: high-school grad night set in L.A. during Watts riots. Good music, bad acting. ** 1/2
THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007, d. Paul Thomas Anderson) Respect the filmmaking more than loved the film. *** 1/4
THÉRÈSE (2013, d. Claude Miller) ***
THESE BIRDS WALK (2013, d. Omar Mullick, Bassam Tariq) ** 3/4
THESE FOOLISH THINGS (2007, d. Julia Taylor-Stanley) **
THESE HAMMERS DON'T HURT US (2015, d. Michael Robinson) ** 1/4
THEY KILLED SISTER DOROTHY (2008, d. Daniel Junge) Shocking docu about miscarried justice in the Brazil rainforests. *** 1/4
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD (2019, d. Peter Jackson) ****
THEY (2004, d. Robert Harmon)V. Atmospheric but shlocky horror flick about some college students who had night terrors as kids & now they're being harvested by "they". ***
THEY (2002, d. Robert Harmon) ** 1/2
THEY'LL LOVE ME WHEN I'M DEAD (2018, d. Morgan Neville) *** 1/2
THEY'VE GOT KNUT (2003, Germany d. Stefan Krohmer) A tedious film about a group of leftists who meet in a Tyrol ski cabin for fun times & relating. **
THICKER THAN WATER (2007, d. Arni Olafur Asgersson) *** 1/4
THIEF OF PARIS, THE (2003, d. Louis Malle) V. Very cool, young Belmondo in solid period piece. Malle obviously influenced by Bresson at this stage. ***
THIEVES AND LIARS (2006, d. Matta & Marichal) ***
THIN ICE (2012, d. Jill Sprecher) A con game thriller with more plot holes than Swiss cheese. Some good actors defeated by a terrible, gimmicky script. * 1/4
THING ABOUT HARRY, THE (2020, d. Peter Paige) *** 1/2
THING ABOUT MY FOLKS, THE (2005, d. Raymond De Felitta) Touching family comedy written & acted by Paul Reiser with the great Peter Falk. ***
THINGS BEHIND THE SUN (2001, d. Allison Anders) ** 1/2
THINGS TO COME (2016, d. Mia Hansen-Love) *** 1/2
THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE (2007, d. Susanne Bier) Fine direction, fantastic acting (del Toro & Barry) *** 1/4
THINK IT OVER (2003, d. Katerina Evangelakou) Forgetable romantic comedy: family where daughter is pregnant by her much younger almost step brother. *
THIRD HALF, THE (2012, d. Darko Mitrevski, Macedonia) ***
THIRD HALF, THE (Il terzo tempo) (2014, d. Enrico Maria Artale) *** 1/2
THIRD MURDER, THE (2018, d. Hirokazu Kore-eda) ** 1/2
THIRD ONE, THE (2014, d. Rodrigo Guerrero) *** 1/2
THIRD PERSON SINGULAR NUMBER (2010, d. Mostofa Sarwar Farooki; Bangldesh) **
THIRD WAVE, THE: A VOLUNTEER STORY (2009, d. Alison Thompson) Inciteful docu of volunteers who went to small Sri Lankan town destroyed by 2004 tsunami. *** 1/4
THIRTEEN DAYS (2000, d. Roger Donaldson) ***
THIRTEEN (2003, d. Catherine Hardwick) Hard to watch, authentic, gritty drama about "good" teen girl going bad. Wood & Hunter truly great! *** 1/4
THIRTY DAYS OF NIGHT (2009, d. David Slade) V. Hyper-violent vampire film with ridiculous script, some bad overacting, but also a scary Arctic atmosphere. **
THIS BEAUTIFUL FANTASTIC (2017, d. Simon Aboud) ***
THIS CHARMING GIRL (2005, d. Lee Yoon-ki) Tedious, pointless film about a quietly suffering S. Korean girl wounded inside by sexual abuse. ** 1/4
THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED (2006, d. Kirby Dick) V. Amusing indictment of rating system. Predictable. *** 1/4
THIS GIRL'S LIFE (2004, d. Ash)V. Extraordinarily powerful film about a girl in the internet porn biz. Great perfs by James Wood, Kip Pardue and esp. Juliette Marquis. *** 1/4
THIS IS 40 (2012, d. Judd Apatow) ** 3/4
THIS IS ENGLAND (2007, d. Shane Meadows) *** 1/4
THIS IS EVERYTHING: GIGI GORGEOUS (2017, d. Barbara Kopple) *** 1/2
THIS IS HOME: A REFUGEE STORY (2018, d. Alexandra Shiva) *** 1/2
THIS IS IT (2009, d. Kenny Ortega) Valuable testament to MJ's talent. The show would have been great, and what is on screen is fascinating & near great. *** 1/4
THIS IS NOT A BALL (2014, d. Vik Muniz and Juan Rendón) ** 1/2
THIS IS NOT A FILM (2012, d. Panahi & Mirtahmasb) V. Ardent, poignant, rudimentary slice-of-life docu with heavy subtext about govt. repression in Iran. Heartbreaking. ****
THIS IS NOT A LOVE SONG (2002, d. Bille Eltringham) ** 3/4
THIS IS OUR LAND (2017, d. Lucas Belvaux) *** 1/4
THIS IS THE END (2013, d. Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogan) ** 3/4
THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU (2014, d. Shawn Levy) ** 3/4
THIS LAND IS MINE (2013, d. Jean Renoir) ***
THIS MEANS WAR (2012, d. McG) A dismal excuse for an action/romance flick. I love Tom Hardy; but he's miscast. Worst editing in a major film ever! * 1/4
THIS SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP (Les amitiés particulières) (2013, d. Jean Delannoy) ***
THIS WAY OF LIFE (2010, d. Thomas Burstyn) V. Docu of New Zealand half-breed family's way of life living off land. Beautiful, but marred by unknowns & accents. ** 3/4
THOMAS IN LOVE (2001, d. Pierre-Paul Renders) *** 3/4
THOMAS KEATING: A RISING TIDE OF SILENCE (2014, d. Elena Mannes, Peter C. Jones) * 1/4
THOR (2011, d. Kenneth Branagh) Not terrible. The f/x & prod. design a little cheesy, acting ok, script barely ok. Chris H. perfect Thor. ** 1/2
THOR: RAGNAROK (2017, d. Taika Waititi) * 3/4
THOSE HAPPY DAYS (Ces jours heureux) (2006, d. Nackache & Tolédano) OK summer camp romantic comedy. Got better as it went along. ** 1/2
THOSE HAPPY YEARS (2014, d. Daniele Luchetti) *** 1/4
THOSE PEOPLE (2015, d. Joey Kuhn) *** 3/4
THOSE WHO REMAIN (Ceux qui restent) (2008, d. Anne Le Ny) ** 3/4
THOSE WHO REMAINED (2019, Hungary, d. Barnabás Tóth) *** 1/2 Holocaust survivors, widower doctor and an orphaned 16 yr.old girl, bond & rekindle their lives.
THOUSAND CLOUDS OF PEACE, A (2004, d. Julio Hernandez) Pretentious B&W gay reverie about a teen boy's troubles coming out. Mala Noche from the chicken's POV. ** 3/4
THOUSAND FOOLS, A (2011, d. Ventura Pons) ** 3/4
THOUSAND TIMES STRONGER, A (2011, d. Peter Schildt) ***
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (2017, d. Martin McDonagh) *** 3/4
THREE BLIND MICE (2008, d. Matthew Newton) ***
THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA, THE (2005, d. Tommy Lee Jones) ***
THREE DANCING SLAVES (2005, d. Gaël Morel) Three attractive brothers and their somewhat eliptical stories. Morel should quit directing & return to acting. ** 1/4
THREE DAYS WITH THE FAMILY (2010, d. Mar Col) ** 3/4
THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS (2018, d. Tim Wardle) *** 1/2
THREE MARIAS (2003, Brazil/Italy d. Aluizio Abranches) Stylish drama of family feud and revenge. A nothing story gorgeously told. ** 1/2
THREE MONKEYS (2009, d. Nuri Bilge Ceylan; Turkey) *** 1/2
THREE MUSKETEERS, THE (2012, d. Paul W.S. Anderson) V. Bloated, excessively modernish production of story. Fine cast, fabu prod. design (lots of CGI). ** 3/4
THREE OF HEARTS (2005, d. Susan Kaplan) Interesting docu about a 3-way "marriage" between two gay men & a straight woman. Fascinating outcome. *** 1/4
THREE ON THE ROAD (Baciami Piccina) (2007, d. Roberto Cimpanelli) ***
THREE PEAKS (Zrei zinnen) (2018, d. Jan Zabeil) *** 1/2
Three Songs for Benazir (2022, doc short, d. Elizabeth Mirzaei Gulistan Mirzaei) ***
THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (2022, d. George Miller) *** 1/4
THREE TIMES (2006, d. Hou Hsiao-hsien) **
THREE WORLDS (Trois mondes) (2013, d. Catherine Corsini) *** 1/4
THRONE, THE (South Korea) (2015, d. Lee Joon-ik) ** 1/2
THROUGH A LENS DARKLY: BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE EMERGENCE OF A PEOPLE (2014, d. Thomas Allen Harris) ***
THUMBSUCKER (2005, d. Mike Mills) ** 1/2
THUNDER SOUL (2010, d. Mark Landsman) ***
TIC CODE, THE (2000, d. Gary Winick) ** 1/2
TICK, TICK...BOOM! (2021, d. Lin-Manuel Miranda) *** 1/2
TICKLED (2016, d. David Farrier & Dylan Reeve) *** 1/2
TIGER 24 (2022, d. Warren Pereira) ***
TIGERLAND (2000, d. Joel Schumacher) *** 1/2
TIGRE GENTE (2021, d. Elizabeth Unger) ***
TILL HUMAN VOICES WAKE US (2004, d. Michael Petroni)V. My low expectations for this moody romance (man & ghost) were exceded. Bravo Guy Pearce! ***
TILL WE FIND THEM (2023, Doc. short, d. Jean Chapiro) *** 1/2
TILLMAN STORY, THE (2010, d. Amir Bar-Lev) Muckraking docu of army coverup: one heroic family's quest for truth. Not innovative filmmaking; but infuriating. *** 1/4
TILSAMMANS (2004, d. Lukas Moodysson) V.+ Undeminished a 2nd time. The best film about the leftist collectives of the '70s ever made. ****
TILT (2011, d. Viktor Chouchkov) *** 3/4
TIMBUKTU (2014, Mauritania, d. Abderrahmane Sissako) ** 3/4
Time 2 Split (2013, d. Fabrice Bracq) Very inventive split screen short film about a couple splitting up and re-connecting. Technically masterful and quite moving. *** 3/4
TIME CHANGER (2003, d. Rich Christiano) Offensive Christian propaganda film disguised as a SF time travel story. 0*
TIME FOR DRUNKIN HORSES, A (2000, d. Bahman Ghobadi) ** 1/2
TIME IN QUCHI, A (2014, d. Chang Tso-Chi) ** 1/4
TIME LAPSE (2014, d. Bradley King) *** 1/4
TIME MACHINE, THE (2002, d. Simon Wells) * 1/2
TIME OF FAVOR (2002, d. Joseph Cedar) ** 1/4
TIME OF FEAR (Salve Geral) (2009, d. Sergio Rezendi; Brazil) ***
TIME OF THE WOLF (2004, d. Michael Haneke) Contextless, disturbing apocolyptic drama of society's breakdown in rural France. Strong stuff. ***
TIME OUT OF MIND (2015, d. Oren Moverman) ** 1/4
TIME OUT (2002, d. Laurent Cantet) *** 1/4
TIME REGAINED (2000, d. Raoul Ruiz) **
TIME TO DIE (Pora Umierac) (2008, d. Dorota Kedzierzawska) ***
TIME TO LEAVE (2006, d. François Ozon) ****
TIME TRAP (2017, d. Ben Foster, Mark Dennis) **
TIME TRAVELERS WIFE, THE (2009, d. Robert Schwentke) Glossy, but cheesy romantic melodrama with SF twist. Well cast; but tries too hard to tearjerk and only jerks. ** 1/4
TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, THE (2022, d. David Nutter) Lush, romantic sci-fi miniseries with great acting (Theo James!) *** 3/4
TIME (2021, d. Garrett Bradley) *** 1/4
Timecode (2017, d. Juanjo Giménez) ** 3/4
TIMECODE (2000, d. Mike Figgis) ***
TIMECRIMES (2008, d. Nacho Vigalondo) ** 1/2
TIMELINE (2003, d. Richard Donner) Workmanlike, if eliptical, historical time-travel story, looked good...but the acting and direction mostly sucked. * 3/4
TIMES AND WINDS (2008, d. Riha Erdem) *** 1/4
TIMES HAVE BEEN BETTER (2012, d. Régis Musset) V. Fine, insightful Fr. tv dramedy: bourgeoise "liberal" couple flip out when 30ish son comes out. *** 1/4
TIM'S VERMEER (2013, d. Teller) ****
TIN MINE, THE (2006, d. Jira Maligool; Thailand) ** 3/4
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (2011, d. Tomas Alfredson) Subdued thriller to the point of somnambulance, yet acting (esp. Tom Hardy) at high level. ** 3/4
TINY FURNITURE (2012, d. Lena Dunham) V. A more mordant version of "Girls" with fewer laughs but just as much brilliance. Dunham is her generation's Larry David. *** 1/4
TIRZA (2011 d. Rudolf van den Berg; The Netherlands) ** 3/4
TITAN A.E. (2000, d. Don Bluth & Gary Goldman) * 1/4
TITANE (2021, France, d. Julia Ducournau) **
TO BE AND TO HAVE (2003, France d. Nicolas Philibert) Pastoral documentary about a year in the life of a one-room school in rural France. ***
TO BE OR NOT TO BE (2003, d. Ernst Lubitch) V. Polish WWII farce with some clever, if unrealistic, fantasy writing. No trace of the Lubitch touch. **
TO BE TAKEI (2014, d. Jennifer Kroot) *** 1/2
TO DIE LIKE A MAN (d. João Pedro Rodrigues; Portugal) ** 1/4
TO FOOL A THIEF (2014, d. Ariel Winograd) ***
TO GET TO HEAVEN YOU FIRST HAVE TO DIE (Bihisht Faqat Baroi Murdagon) (2007, d. Djamshed Usmonov) ***
TO HEAVEN (Al cielo) (2013, d. Diego Prado) **
TO KILL A MAN (2014, d. Alejandro Fernández Almendras) ** 1/4
TO KILL A TIGER (2023, Doc. d. Nisha Pahuja) *** 3/4
TO LESLIE (2023, d. Michael Morris) *** 1/4
TO OUR LOVES (À Nos Amours) (2013, d. Maurice Pialat) ** 1/2
TO ROME WITH LOVE (2012, d. Woody Allen) 4 farces stitched together about fickleness of fame. Amazingly unfunny (exc. for Allen's own schtick). Rome yes, love no. **
TO SERVE & PROTECT (2004, d. Jean de Segonzac) V. Competent '98 tv movie about a family of Dallis cops & a serial killer targeting them. James Franco's 1st role. ** 3/4
TO THE FORE (Hong Kong) (2015, d. Dante Lam) ** 1/2
TO THE HILT (2014, Macedonia, d. Stole Popov) ***
TO THE WONDER (2013, d. Terrence Malick) ** 1/4
TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS (2015, d. Nathan Frankowski) ** 1/4
TOAST (2011, d. SJ Clarkson) *** 1/4
TODAY (2014, Iran, d. Reza Mirkarimi) ** 3/4
TOGETHER (Tillsammans) (2001, d. Lukas Moodysson) ****
TOGETHER (2003, China/S. Korea d. Chen Kaije) Audience pleaser about a young violin prodigy facing life in Beijing. *** 1/4
TOGETHER (2013, d. Hsu Chao-Jen) W/O * 1/4
TOI ET MOI (You and Me) (2010, d. Julie Lopes-Curval) V.+ Started watching & recognized I'd seen before. Not quite as fun as I remembered. ** 1/2
TOKYO NOISE (2002, d. Petri, Roed, Soderberg) **
TOKYO PROJECT (2107, d. Richard Shepard) *** 1/2
TOKYO SONATA (2009, d. Kiyoshi Kurosawa) Excellent screwed-up family drama & morality tale which is more Kore-eda + Cantet than Kurosawa. *** 1/2
TOKYO! (2008, d. Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, Joon-ho Bong) ** 1/2, * 3/4, ** 1/2
TOLKIEN (2019 d. Dome Karukoski) ** 3/4
TOM AT THE FARM (2013, d. Xavier Dolan) *** 1/2
TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYS (2005, d. Dave Moore) V. *** 1/4
TOM OF FINLAND (2017, d. Dome Karukoski) *** 1/4
TOMMASO (2017, d. Kim Rossi Stuart) ** 3/4
TOMORROW MORNING (Sutra ujutro) (2006, d. Oleg Novkovic; Serbia) * 3/4
TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER (2011, d. Dorota Kedzierzawska) ***
TOMORROWLAND (2015, d. Brad Bird) **
TON OF LUCK, A (2006, d. Rodrigo Triana; Columbia) ** 1/4
TONI ERDMANN (2016, Germany, d. Maren Ade) ** 3/4
TONIO (2016, Netherlands, d. Paula van der Oest) *** 3/4
TONY MANERO (2008, d. Pablo Larrain) ** 1/2
TOP GUN: MAVERICK (2023, d. Joseph Kosinski) *** 1/2
TOP PRIORITY: THE TERROR WITHIN (2012, d. Asif Akbar) V. Possibly overdramatized, but totally frighteningly effective docu: Bush govt. abuses by Homeland Sec. *** 1/2
TOPP TWINS, THE: UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS (2010, d. Leanne Pooley) ** 3/4
Torn Apart: Separated at the Border (2019, d. Ellen Goosenberg Kent)
TORREMOLINOS 73 (2004, d. Pablo Berger) Fun satire about an ordinary couple making home pornos for the Scandinavian market. Candela Peña a standout! ***
TORTILLA SOUP (2001, d. Maria Ripoll) ** 1/4
TOTAL LOSS (2000, d. Dana Nechushtan) **
TOTAL RECALL (2012, d. Len Wiseman) F/x heavy futuristic chase film with murky Phil Dickian plot which isn't as meaningful as 1st film. Farrell is buff, film is fluff. ** 1/4
TOTALLY PERSONAL (Sasvim Licno) (2005, d. Nedzad Begovic) ** 3/4
TOTALLY SEXY LOSER (2003, d. Jason Schafer) Low budget, very realistic DV comedy about a man afraid to commit (fine Chad Lindsey) in a doomed affair. ***
TOUCH (2011, d. Minh Duc Nguyen) ***
TOUCH OF AN ANGEL, THE (2015, d. Marek Tomasz Pawlowski) *** 1/2
TOUCH OF PINK (2004, d. Ian Iqbal Rachid) Witty, skillful comedy much like The Wedding Banquet: gay man's Muslim family unaware he's gay. ***
TOUCH OF SPICE, A (2004, d. Tassos Boulmetis) Large scale but intimate picaresque à la Junot: a Turkish-Greek family, a boy's coming of age with a heavy food metaphor. ** 3/4
TOUCH OF THE LIGHT (2012, d. Chang Rong-ji, Taiwan) *** 1/2
TOUCH (2003, d. Paul Schrader) V.+ Nice cast, esp. Skeet Ulrich; I hadn't remembered it at all until the stigmata scene which stuck. ** 1/2
TOUCHED WITH FIRE (2016, d. Paul Dalio) *** 3/4
TOUCHING EVIL (2006, d. var.) V. Eerie English detective miniseries created by Paul Abbott and Russell Davis with fine cast (Robson Green!) *** 1/4
TOUCHING THE VOID (2004, d. Kevin Macdonald) V. Recreated docu (with interviews with original mountain climbers.) Suspenseful, nicely shot, but more fiction than doc? *** 1/4
TOUCHY FEELY (2013, d. Lynn Shelton) ** 3/4
TOUGH ENOUGH (2006, d. Detlev Buck) *** 1/2
TOUR, THE (2009, d. Goran Markovic; Serbia) ** 1/4
TOURIST, THE (2022, limited series, d. Chris Sweeney) ** 1/4
TOURNEUSE DE PAGES, LA (2006, d. Denis Dercourt) *** 1/4
TOUT CONTRE LÉO (2003, d. Christophe Honoré) French tv "afternoon special": 12 yr. old boy whose older brother gets AIDS. Frank, well acted. ** 1/2
TOUT UN HIVER SANS FEU (2005, d. Greg Zglinski; Switzerland) ** 3/4
TOWER (2016, d. Keith Maitland) ****
TOWN IS QUIET, THE (2001, d. Robert Guédiguian) ** 1/2
TOWN, THE (2010, d. Ben Affleck) Nobody has ever directed Ben Affleck as well as Ben Affleck. Remarkable down & dirty crime flick that has it all. *** 3/4
TOY STORY 3 (2010, d. Lee Unkrich) Best of recent Pixar films, splendid action sequences plus emotionally rich evocation of passing childhood. *** 3/4
TOY STORY 4 (2020, d. Josh Cooley) *** 1/4
TRACKER, THE (2004, d. Rolf de Heer) Spare, well shot drama of white power in Australia in 1922. The Aboriginal hero was the best thing in the film. ***
TRACKS (2014, d. John Curran) ** 3/4
TRAFFIC STOP (2018, d. Kate Davis) *** 1/4
TRAFFIC (2004, d. Eric Bross, Stephen Hopkins) V. 3 part mini-series: new story, many threads, volently cross-cut, high tension, good acting. ***
TRAFFIC (2000, d. Steven Soderbergh) *** 1/2
TRAGEDY OF MACBETH, THE (2022, d. Joel Coen) *** 1/2
TRAIN OF SALT AND SUGAR, THE (2017, Mozambique, d. Licinio Azevedo) ***
TRAINING DAY (2001, d. Antoine Fuqua) *** 1/4
TRAINWRECK: MY LIFE AS AN IDOIT (2007, d. Todd Harrison Williams) ***
TRAITOR (2008, d. Jeffrey Nachmanoff) Superior, if predictable, terrorism thriller with superb perfs by Cheadle and Guy Pearce. *** 1/4
TRAITOR, THE (2019, Italy, d. Marco Bellocchio) Drama of govt. courtroom defeat of Sicilian Mafia with aid of traitor. ***
TRANCE (2013, d. Danny Boyle) * 3/4
TRANS LIST, THE (2016, d. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders) *** 1/2
TRANSAMERICA (2005, d. Duncan Tucker) *** 1/4
TRANSCENDENCE (2014, d. Wally Pfister) * 3/4
TRANSFATTY LIVES (2015, d. Patrick Sean O'Brien) *** 3/4
TRANSFORMERS 3 (2011, d. Michael Bay) Even for Bay this is terrible: assinine script, horrible 3D (except for the CGI effects which are fine), empty clammor. Ugh! * 1/4
TRANSFORMERS (2007, d. Michael Bay) ** 1/4
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (2010, d. Michael Bay) Nobody ever accused Bay of subtlety & nuance. So glad Cameron kicked his ass. 1/4*
TRANSIT (2013, d. Hannah Espia, Philippines) ** 1/2
TRANSPECOS (2016, d. Greg Kwedar) ***
TRANSPORTER 2, THE (2005, d. Louis Leterrier) ** 1/2
TRANSPORTER REFUELED, THE (2015, d. Camille Delamarre) ** 3/4
TRANSPORTER, THE (2005, d. Louis Leterrier) V. ** 3/4
TRANSPORTER, THE (2002, d. Cory Yuen) ** 1/2
TRANSSIBERIAN (2008, d. Brad Anderson) ***
TRAP, THE (2008, d. Srdan Golubovic; Serbia) *** 3/4
TRAPPED (Piégé) (2014, d. Yannick Saillet) ** 1/2
TRAPPED (2003, d. Luis Mandoki) V. Greg Iles is one of my fave authors; but his own screenplay for his worst book was lame. Still, worked as thriller. ** 1/2
TRAPPED (2016, d. Dawn Porter) *** 3/4
TRASHED (2012, d. Candida Brady) V. Another docu decrying ecological disaster, this time Jeremy Irons traveling the world examining waste making & disposal. Vital & persuasive. *** 3/4
TRAVEL BAN (2018, d. Sam Chouia) *** 1/2
TREASURE PLANET (2003, d. Ron Clements, John Musker) Disney animated Oscar nom based on Treasure Island. I slept through part of it. * 1/2
TREASURES (TREZOROS): THE LOST JEWS OF KASTORIA (2016, d. Lawrence Russo, Larry Confino) *** 3/4
TREATMENT (2011, d. Steven Schardt, Sean Nelson) ** 1/2
TREATMENT, THE (2015, d. Hans Herbots) *** 1/2
TRECE CAMPANADAS (2003, d. Xavier Villaverde) Brilliantly made Hitchcockian thriller/ghost story. *** 1/2
TREE OF LIFE, THE (2012, d. Terrence Malick) + The gorgeous, impressionist take on raising 3 boys is impressive. The pretentious history of life still stultifies. *** 1/4
TREE OF LIFE, THE (2011, d. Terrence Malick) Georgeous, ambitious paean to...what? parenthood? god? the universe? Like 2001...maybe I'd grok it better on LSD. *** 1/4
TREELESS MOUNTAIN (2009, d. So-Yong Kim) ** 1/2
TREMBLING BEFORE G-D (2001, d. Sandi Simcha DuBowski) *** 1/4
TRESPASS (2011, d. Joel Schumacher) Graphic story of druggies home invading dysfunctional family situation. Top actors & effective direction can't rescue plot miscues. ** 1/4
TRIAL BY FIRE: LIVES RE-FORGED (2012, d. Megan Smith-Harris) V. Docu of plucky survivors of horrendous burns. Heartening stories; but similar and a little repetitive. ***
TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, THE (2021, d. Aaron Sorkin) *** 1/4
TRIALS OF DARRYL HUNT, THE (2006, d. Stern & Sundberg) Almost perfect docu about failure of justice in N. Carolina. *** 3/4
TRIALS OF MUHAMMAD ALI, THE (2013, d. Bill Siegel) *** 3/4
TRIANGLE (Tie Saam Gok) (2008, d. Tsui Hark, Johnnie To, Ringo Lam) ** 1/4
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS (2023, d. Ruben Östlund) *** 1/4
TRIBE, THE (2015, d. Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy) ***
TRICK IN THE SHEET, THE (L'imbroglio nel lenzuolo) (2010, d. Alfonso Arau) ** 1/2
TRICKS (2009, d. Andrzej Jakimowski; Poland) ***
TRILOGY: AFTER LIFE (2003, France/Belgium d. Lucas Belvaux) Melodrama about the morphine addict & her flic husband running parallel to previous. ***
TRILOGY: AN AMAZING COUPLE (2003, France/Belgium d. Lucas Belvaux 100) Edgy romantic comedy farce of events running parallel to above. ***
TRILOGY: ON THE RUN (2003, France/Belgium d. Lucas Belvaux) Thriller noir about prison escapee terrorist, taut and well played. *** 1/2
TRIMPIN: THE SOUND OF INVENTION (2009, d. Peter Esmonde) ** 1/2
TRIP TO ITALY, THE (2014, d. Michael Winterbottom) *** 1/2
TRIP TO KHARABAKH (2006, d. Levan Tutberidze) ***
TRIP TO SPAIN, THE (2017, d. Michael Winterbottom) ** 1/2
TRIP, A (2012, d. Nejc Gazvoda, Slovenia) ** 3/4
TRIP, THE (2002, d. Miles Swain) ** 3/4
TRIP, THE (2011, d. Michael Winterbottom) ***
TRIPLE AGENT (2004, d. Eric Rohmer) Cerebrial, talky, involving pre-WWII thriller about a White Russian general and his Greek wife. ***
TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE, THE (2003, d. Sylvaine Chomet) Stylish 2-D animation feature, weird story: Tour de France race gone very wrong. Not my cuppa'. ***
TRISHNA (2012, d. Michael Winterbottom) ** 1/2
TRISTAN + ISOLDE (2006, d. Kevin Reynolds) Formula period romance with a charismatic perf by James Franco and a better than average script. ** 3/4
TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK AND BULL STORY (2005, d. Michael Winterbottom) ***
TRIUMPH OF LOVE (2002, d. Clare Peploe) **
TRIXIE (2000, d. Alan Rudolph) ** 1/4
TROLLS (2017, d. Mike Mitchell, Walt Dohrn) *** 1/4
TROLLYWOOD (2004, d. Madeleine Farley) Poorly edited and photographed doc. about the homeless in my neighborhood of L.A. * 3/4
TRON: LEGACY (2010, d. Joseph Kosinski) Visually stunning, of course (incredible strides since the '80s); but bombastic & video-gamey with silly, predictable plot. ** 1/2
TROPIC THUNDER (2008, d. Ben Stiller) One of the funniest, most clever set ups of the movie biz ever. Often silly; but it worked for me. *** 1/4
TROPICAL MALADY (2005, d. Apichatpong Weerasethakul) Very strange, beautiful film which starts as a simple gay friendship film & ends as an allegory. ** 3/4
TROTSKY, THE (2010, d. Jacob Tierney) *** 1/4
TROUBLE EVERY DAY (2002, d. Claire Denis) ** 1/4
TROUBLE THE WATER (2008, d. Deal & Lessin) Docu with amateur video work, but a strong personalized message about Katrina lessons. ***
TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE (2012, d. Robert Lorenz) Totally predictable baseball film, genial enough. Clint & Amy are fine; but Timberlake lacks romantic lead stature. ** 1/4
TROUBLE (2017, d. Theresa Rebeck) ** 1/2
TROUBLED WATER (2009, d. Erik Poppe) *** 3/4
TROY (2004, d. Wolfgang Peterson) Much better than expected...a psychologically apt script and some great battles and superb acting (esp. Peter O'Toole). *** 1/2
TRUE ADOLESCENTS (2009, d. Craig Johnson) *** 1/2
TRUE FRIENDS (Amitiés sincères) (2013, d. Stéphan Archinard, François Prévôt-Leygonie) ** 3/4
TRUE GRIT (2010, d. Joel & Ethan Coen) A remarkably pure, fun western from the Coens, one of my faves from them, quite remarkable performances. *** 1/2
TRUE LOVE (2005, d. Michael J. Saul)V. ***
TRUE SON (2014, d. Kevin Gordon) *** 1/2
TRUE STORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT, THE (2005, d. Jim Lindsay) V. Quite informative History Channel 2 1/4 hr. opus, better than the recent feature. ***
TRUE STORY (2015, d. Rupert Goold) ** 3/4
TRUFFLE HUNTERS, THE (2021, d. Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw) ** 3/4
TRULY HUMAN (2001, d. Ake Sandgren) *** 3/4
TRUMAN (2016, d. Cesc Gay) *** 3/4
TRUMBO (2015, d. Jay Roach) ***
TRUST (2011, d. David Schwimmer) Parents do you know who your daughter is chatting and texting? Well crafted message film; creepy and disturbing. ** 3/4
TRUST THE MAN (2006, d. Bart Freundlich) Enjoyable adult relationship comedy which peters out last 1/3. ***
TRUTH ABOUT CHARLIE, THE (2002, d. Jonathan Demme) * 1/4
TRUTH ABOUT LOVE IS, THE (2017, d. Max Croci) * 3/4
TRUTH AND JUSTICE (2020, Estonia, d. Tanel Toom) *** 3/4
TRUTH AND LIES (2003, d. Piergiorgio Gay) Italian film about a man discovers the truth about his Fascist father. ***
TRUTH (2015, d. James Vanderbilt) *** 1/4
TRY TO REMEMBER (2003, d. Zabout Breitman) Moving & pathos filled love story set in rehab hospital. Young woman with Alzheimer's. *** 1/4
TSAR (2010, d. Pavel Lungin) ** 1/2
TSATSIKI, MUM AND THE POLICEMAN (2000, d. Ella Lemhagen) ***
TSOTSI (2005, d. Gavin Hood; South Africa) ****
TU VERRAS, ÇA TE PASSERA (2003, d. Fabrice Cazeneuve) Superb coming out "afternoon special" tv movie, frank and truthful as only the French can do. *** 1/4
TUCK EVERLASTING (2002, d. Jay Russell) ** 1/2
TULLY (2018, d. Jason Reitman) *** 1/4
TULLY (2002, d. Hillary Birmingham) *** 1/2
TULPAN (2008, d. Sergei Dvortsevoy; Kazakhstan) *** 1/4
TULSE LUPER SUITCASES 1, THE (2004, d. Peter Greenaway) Ambitious multi-media project, visual jumble, I just couldn't take it for long. W/O
TUNNEL, THE (2001, d. Roland Suso Richter) *** 1/2
TUPAC: RESURRECTION (2004, d. Lauren Lazin) V. Superbly made docu about life & death of 2Pac Shakur, ultimately too hagiographic. *** 1/4
TURIN HORSE, THE (2011, d. Bela Tarr) ** 3/4
TURISTAS (2010, d. Alicia Scherson) ***
TURKS & CAICOS (2018, d. David Hare) *** 3/4
TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT (2004, d. Johnny To, Wai Ka-fai) Exhillerating romantic comedy in the Lelouchian And Now My Love mode. *** 1/4
TURNING GREEN (2009, d. Michael Aimette & John Hoffman) An American teenager in Ireland goes entrepreneur as porn king. Donal Gallery as the kid is worth watching. **
TURNING PAIGE (2002, d. Robert Cuffley) **
TURNING RED (2023, d. Domee Shi) *** 1/2
TURNING TIDE, THE (2014, d. Christophe Offenstein) *** 1/4
TURNING, THE (2014, d. 18 various directors) * 3/4
TURTLES CAN FLY (2005, d. Bahman Ghobadi) Powerful, wrenching drama about damaged Kurdish children in a refugee camp just before Gulf War 2. *** 1/4
TUXEDO, THE (2002, d. Kevin Donovan) *
TV JUNKIE (2006, d. Michael Cain) ***
TV SET, THE (2007, d. Jake Kasdan) Spot on satire of tv network/show running goings on. Great cast, nifty, truthful script. *** 1/4
TWELVE (2010, d. Joel Schumacher) Gossip Girl + Less Than Zero. Over-use of narration to novelize doesn't work; but acting & direction first rate. ***
TWELVE AND HOLDING (2006, d. Michael Cuesta) *** 1/2
TWELVE THIRTY (2011 d. Jeff Lipsky) Fascinating, if talky character study. Groff is fine playing full-frontal, straight seducer of mom & 2 daughters! (Teorema lite!) *** 1/4
TWENTY THOUSAND STREETS UNDER THE SKY (2006, d. Simon Curtis) V. BBC romantic period '30s drama from 3 points of view. Bryan Dick! ***
TWICE COLONIZED (2023, Doc. d. Lin Alluna) *** 1/4
TWICE UPON A TIME (Désaccord parfait) (2007, d. Antoine De Caunes) ** 1/2
TWILIGHT DANCER (2006, d. Mel Chionglo) * 1/4
TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 2, THE (2012, d. Bill Condon) *** 1/4
TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON, THE (2009, d. Chris Weitz) Lugubrious, short on action compared to 1st, disappointing even with low expectations. Lautner is hot, though. **
TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (2011, d. Bill Condon) Silly, makes-no-sense plot. Even usual eye candy subdued. * 3/4
TWILIGHT SAMURAI, THE (2004, d. Yoji Yamada) A masterpiece set in same era as Last Samurai. Intimate, truthful and emotionally fulfilling. ****
TWILIGHT (2008, d. Catherine Hardwicke) Paradigmic film with vampirism as metaphor for teenage insecurities. Strangely beautiful & involving. *** 1/4
TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE (2010, d. David Slade) Interesting love triangle, lovely to look at with some 1st class action...but mid-section drags & motivations suspect. ** 3/4
TWIN SISTERS (2004, d. Ben Sombogaart) 20th cent, epic of 2 twins separated at 6 yr., one German, one Dutch. Beautifully made in every department. ****
TWINSTERS (2015, d. Samantha Futerman, Ryan Miyamoto) *** 1/4
TWIST OF FATE (2004, d. Kirby Dick) V. Downer docu about angry men who were molested as teenagers by a Catholic priest in Toledo OH. Incendiary, but sort of boring. ** 1/2
TWIST (2004, d. Jacob Tierney) A very bleak, but truthful digital variant on Oliver Twist characters as Toronto street hustlers. Great acting, but unremitting. ** 3/4
TWISTED LOVE (shorts)
TWISTED ROOTS (2010, d. Saara Saarela) ***
TWISTED (2004, d. Philip Kaufman) Utterly predictable, unlikely policier thriller. Ashley Judd fares well; but the film is pretty bad. * 3/4
TWO DAYS (2003, d. Sean McGinly) Hip, funny - a 30-something actor (Paul Rudd at the top of his game) who has a documentary made about his suicide. *** 1/4
TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT (2014, Belgium, d. Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne) *** 1/2
Two Distant Strangers (2021, d. Martin Desmond Roe, Travon Free) "Groundhog Day" for black victim of police brutality. *** 1/4
TWO DRIFTERS (2006, d. João Pedro Rodrigues) ** 3/4
TWO FACES OF JANUARY, THE (2014, d. Hossein Amini) *** 1/4
TWO FAMILY HOUSE (2000, d. Raymond De Felitta) ** 1/2
TWO FOR THE MONEY (2005, d. D.J. Caruso) ** 1/2
TWO FOR THE ROAD (2012, d. Stanley Donen) ** 1/4
TWO FRIENDS (2003, d. Scimone, Sframeli) Slice of life drama about 2 roommates, one a mafia hit-man, the other an ordinary joe. Droning, boring. **
TWO GREAT SHEEP (2005, d. Liu Hao) Visually stunning Chinese shaggy sheep story about collectivism gone nuts. I was a little bored. ** 1/2
TWO IN THE WAVE (Deux de la vague) (2010, d. Emmanuel Laurent) V. *** 1/2
TWO IRENES (2017, d. Fabio Meira) ** 1/2
TWO LIONS TO VENICE (Dy luane drejt Venecias) (2021, Albania, d. Jonid Jorgii) ** 3/4
TWO LIVES (2013, d. Georg Maas) *** 1/4
TWO LOVERS (2008, d. James Gray) ***
TWO MEN IN TOWN (Deux hommes dans la ville) (2015, d. José Giovanni) *** 1/4
TWO OF US (2021, France, d. Filippo Meneghetti) An older woman has secretly been in an affair with her younger woman neighbor. *** 1/4
TWO OF US, THE (South Africa) (2015, d. Ernest Nkosi) 3/4*
TWO POPES, THE (2020, d. Fernando Meirelles) *** 1/2
TWO SONS OF FRANCISCO (Dois Filhos de Francisco) (2005, d. Breno Silveira; Brazil) ** 3/4
TWO TOWNS OF JASPER (2002, d. Whitney Dow, Marco Williams) ** 1/2
TWO WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (2013, d. Kimjho Gwan-soo) * 1/4
TWO WEEKS NOTICE (2002, d. Marc Lawrence) **
TWO: THE STORY OF ROMAN AND NYRO (2013, d. Heather M. Winters) *** 3/4
TYCOON: A NEW RUSSIAN (2003, d. Pavel Languine) Fascinatingly dense, overdone haunting satire about the rise and fall of a modern Russian Oligarch. *** 1/4
TYRANNOSAUR (2011, d. Paddy Considine) *** 1/4
TYREL (2018 d. Sebastian Silva) ** 1/2
U-571 (2000, d. Jonathan Mostow) ** 1/2
Ufotog (2014, d. Douglas Trumbull) SciFi short shown in MAGI 4K - 3D, 120 fps on Cinerama screen. Gorgeous, realistic visuals, not much story. ***
UGLY TRUTH, THE (2009, d. Robert Luketic) Heigl's a star & there is real romantic chemistry with Butler; but way too talky & not nearly as clever as it wants to be. ** 1/4
ULZHAN (2007, d. Volker Schlöndorff) ***
UNBELIEVABLE (2019, d. various) ****
UNBELIEVERS, THE (2013, d. Gus Holwerda) *** 1/4
UNBREAKABLE (2000, d. M. Night Shyamalan) ***
UNBROKEN (2014, d. Angelina Jolie) *** 1/2
UNCERTAINTY (2008, d. Scott McGehee, David Siegel) ** 1/4
UNCLAIMED (2014, d. Michael Jorgensen) *** 1/4
UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES (2010, d. Apichatpong Weerasethakul; Thailand) **
UNCONDEMNED, THE (2016, d. Michele Mitchell & Nick Louvel) ** 1/2
UNCONSCIOUS (2005, d. Joaquin Oristell) Sometimes funny, lush Spanish period farce about sexuality in the days when Freud was current. ** 3/4
UNCUT GEMS (2019, d. Benny and Josh Safdie) *** 1/4
UNDEFEATED (2011, d. Lindsay & Martin) V. Emotionally affecting docu about a black E. Memphis high-school football team & white coach. Immaculately edited. *** 1/2
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES (2012, d. Joe Berlinger) *** 1/2
UNDER ANOTHER SKY (2003, d. Gaël Morel) Go back to acting, Gaël! Nicolas Cazale was magnetic as French/Algerian youth forced to return to his roots. ** 1/2
UNDER FIRE: JOURNALISTS IN COMBAT (2011, d. Martyn Burke) V. Vivid interviews with war correspondents, emotionally resonant, but scattered. ***
UNDER OUR SKIN (2009, d. Andy Wilson) V. Most shocking adversarial exposé docu I've ever seen. If not faked, this is a dynamite indictment of medical establishment. ****
UNDER SUSPICIAN (2000, d. Stephen Hopkins) ** 1/2
UNDER THE BOMBS (2008, d. Philippe Aractingi) ** 1/2
UNDER THE ELECTRIC SKY (2014, d. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz) *** 3/4
UNDER THE GUN (2016, d. Stephanie Soechtig) *** 3/4
UNDER THE ICE (2006, d. Aelrun Goette) *** 1/2
UNDER THE MOUNTAIN (2010, d. Jonathan King) ** 3/4
UNDER THE SAME MOON (2008, d. Patricia Riggen) Predictable, but the kid is great & the story just works. ** 1/2
UNDER THE SAME SUN (2014, d. Sameh Zoabi) *** 1/4
UNDER THE SAND (2001, d. François Ozon) *** 1/4
UNDER THE SHADOW (2016, United Kingdom, d. Babak Anvari) ** 3/4
UNDER THE SIGN OF SCORPIO (2003, d. Taviani brothers) 1969 film by filmmakers I like; but this shipwreck film was boring & thematically opaque *
UNDER THE SILVER LAKE (2019, d. David Robert Mitchell) ***
UNDER THE SKIN (2014, d. Jonathan Glazer) ** 3/4
UNDER THE STARRY SKY (2014, d. Dyana Gaye) *** 1/4
UNDER THE SUN (2016, d. Vitaly Mansky) *** 3/4
UNDER THE SUN (2001, d. Colin Nutley) [1998] ***
UNDER THE TREE (2017, Iceland, d. Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson) *** 1/4
UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN (2003, d. Audrey Wells) Romantic woman's pic which despite predictablilty, pressed all my buttons. Ah, lovely Italy...mi amore. ** 3/4
UNDERTOE (2004, d. David Gordon Green) Green has such a unique style. It works here, with nice acting turns by Jamie Bell and Josh Lukas. Quite affecting. *** 1/2
UNDERTOW (2010, d. Javier Fuentes-León; Peru) + Appreciated it much more 2nd time. Fine print plus more compassion on my part made big difference. *** 1/4
UNDERTOW (2010, d. Javier Fuentes-León) ** 1/2
UNDERWATER DREAMS (2014, d. Mary Mazzio) ***
UNEVEN ROME (La vita dispari) (2011 d. Luca Fantasia) * 1/2
UNFAITHFUL (2002, d. Adrian Lyne) ***
UNFAITHFULLY YOURS (2003, d. Preston Sturges) V. Deftly written drawing room comedy - symphony conductor plots to music against wife's infidelity. *** 1/2
UNFINISHED LIFE , AN (2005, d. Lasse Hellstrom) ** 1/2
UNFINISHED SONG (2013, d. Paul Andrew Williams) ** 3/4
UNFINISHED SPACES (2011, d. Murray & Nahmias) V. Uplifting if dry docu of monumental '60s project School of Arts buildings that politics ruined. ** 1/2
UNFORGIVABLE (2012, d. André Téchiné) ***
UNHUNG HERO (2013, d. Brian Spitz) *** 1/4
UNIDENTIFIED, THE (2009, d. Kevin Tucker) *** 1/4
UNION SQUARE (2012, d. Nancy Savoca) Annoying, overacted small film about 2 estranged sisters. Obvious script seems like a poorly transformed play, but isn't. * 1/4
UNIT 7 (2012, d. Alberto Rodriguez) *** 1/2
UNITED 93 (2007, d. Paul Greengrass) V. Impressively subtle. As close to Cinéma vérité as we're likely to get this century. *** 3/4
UNITED KINGDOM, A (2017, d. Amma Asante) ***
UNITED STATES OF AUTISM, THE (2013, d. Richard Everts) ** 1/2
UNITED STATES OF FOOTBALL, THE (2013, d. Sean Pamphilon) ***
UNITED STATES OF LELAND, THE (2004, d. Matthew Ryan Hoge) Fine cast, but overwritten and predictable. Manic was similar, but better. Still Ryan Gosling rules! ** 3/4
UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY, THE (2021, d. Lee Daniels) * 1/2
UNIVERSALOVE (2008, d. Thomas Woschitz) * 3/4
UNKNOWN GIRL, THE (2017, d. Dardenne Bros.) *** 1/2
UNKNOWN KNOWN, THE (2013, d. Errol Morris) *** 1/4
UNKNOWN WHITE MALE (2005, d. Rupert Murray) V. *** 1/2
UNKNOWN, THE (2007, d. Giuseppe Tornatore) Italy Academy foreign film submission *** 1/4
UNKNOWN, THE (2008, d. Giuseppi Tornatore) + *** 1/4
UNLIKELY HEROES (2003, d. Richard Trank) Doc. about resistance during the Holocaust. I did considerable work on this, and film/vid/film looks great. ** 3/4
UNLOVED (2001, d. Kunitashi Manda) **
UNMISTAKEN CHILD (2009, d. Nati Baratz) ***
UNO (2005, d. Aksel Hennie) Tough, violent drama about a good man who can't escape the consequences of acts beyond his control. ***
UNORTHODOX (2020, d. Anna Winger) 4-hour Netflix miniseries of young woman escaping Brooklyn Jewish cult. *** 1/2
UNREASONABLE MAN, AN (2006, d. Mantel an Skrovan) V. Excellent, if mostly talking head docu about Ralph Nader. *** 1/4
UNREST (2017, d. Jennifer Brea) *** 3/4
UNSAVED, THE (2014, Moldova, d. Igor Cobileanski) ** 1/4
UNSPOKEN PASSION (2008, d. Roni Bertubin) ** 1/2
UNSTOPPABLE (2011 d. Tony Scott) Surprisingly affecting and tense film with some dynamite f/x and great sound. Chris Pine is quite likable. *** 1/4
UNTIL THEY ARE HOME (2012, d. Steven Barber) V. Docu of returning to Tarawa battle site of 11/43 to find remains. Interesting stuff, with battle films & lots of pomp. But unaffecting. *** 1/4
UNTOLD SCANDAL (2004, d. E J-yong) Ravishingly visual Korean adaptation of a 17th century Dangerous Liasons. It translates well. *** 1/4
UNTOLD STORY OF EMMETT LOUS TILL, THE (2005, d. Keith and Kevin Beauchamps) V. ***
UP (3D) (2010, d. Pete Docter, Bob Peterson) Nice concept, great vocal acting (Jordan Nagai is phenomenal), really fine 3D animation. But mid-section dragged. *** 1/4
UP AND DOWN (2004, d. Jan Hrebejk) Involving multi-character comedy about the intertwined life in Prague today among refugees, emigrées, and all stratas of society. *** 1/4
UP AT THE VILLA (2000, d. Philip Haas) ***
UP FOR LOVE (Un homme à la hauteur) (2016, d. Laurent Tirard) **
UP IN THE AIR (2009, d. Jason Reitman) Reitman redeems himself for Juno. Clooney never better; Kendrick & Farmiga are great again. Funny, trenchant, insightful. *** 1/2
UP THE YANGTZE (2008, d. Yung Chang) ** 3/4
UPPERDOG (2010, d. Sara Johnsen) *** 1/2
UPRISING (2001, d. Jon Avnet) ** 1/2
UPRISING, THE (2013, d. Fredrik Stanton) *** 3/4
UPSIDE OF ANGER, THE (2005, d. Mike Binder) John Gissing was so bad that I dismissed Binder as a director...mistake. Fine ensemble comedy. ***
UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS (2011, d. Lyn & Metzstein) V.
UPSTREAM COLOR (2013, d. Shane Carruth) *** 1/2
URBAN SCARECROW (2006, d. Andrew McAllister) ** 3/4
URBANIA (2000, d. Jon Shear) *** 1/2
URO (2007, d. Stefan Faldbakken) ***
US (2019, d. Jordan Peele) *
US (2021, d. Geoffrey Sax) *** 1/4
USED PARTS (2007, d. Aaron Fernandez) *** 1/4
UTAMA (2022, Bolivia IFF, d. Alejandro Laoyza Grisi) *** 3/4
V FOR VENDETTA (2006, d. James McTeigue) Involving rip-off of 1984. Some good effects; but Portman's English accent was terrible. ***
V.O.S. (2010, d. Cesc Gay) ** 1/4
VA SAVOIR (2001, d. Jacques Rivette) *** 1/2
VACATION (2007, d. Thomas Arslan) ** 3/4
VACATIONLAND (2006, d. Todd Verow) Gay teens in Bangor, MN...el cheapo production, mediocre which is an improvement for Verow. **
VAGABOND (2003, Hungary d. Gyorgy Szomjas) Lousy photography & production design with virtually no story & incessant folk dancing which bored me. *
VAL (2021, d. Ting Poo & Leo Scott) *** 1/4
VALENTÍN (2003, d. Juan Luis Iborra) Boring, talky drama about a troup of male Shakespeare players undone when director falls for the new young actor. **
VALENTIN (2004, d. Alejandro Agresti) An extraordinarily sympathetic look at a crisis in the life of an 8 year old boy. *** 1/2
VALENTINE ROAD (2013, d. Marta Cunningham) *** 3/4
VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR (2009, d. Matt Tyrnauer)V. Interesting docu, though somewhat cold. Reminded me of Project Runway in a good way. *** 1/4
VALENTINO'S GHOST (2013, d. Michael Singh) ***
VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS (2017, d. Luc Besson) *** 1/4
VALHALLA RISING (2010, d. Nicolas Winding Refn) Malick's New World on angel dust. Mads Mikkelsen is superb, it looks great; but message plot too heavy for me. ** 3/4
VALKYRIE (2008, d. Bryan Singer) Fine complex action flick with real tension despite knowing the plot. ***
VALLEY OF SAINTS (2012, d. Musa Syeed) ** 3/4
VAMPIRE (2011, d. Iwai Shunji) ** 1/2
VANILLA SKY (2001, d. Cameron Crowe) * 3/4
VANITY FAIR (2004, d. Mira Nair) Much better than average Masterpiece Theater for large screen. Reese Witherspoon luminous; and the time flew by. *** 1/4
VANTAGE POINT (2008, d. Pete Travis) Script doesn't compute; but really exciting filmmaking wins the day. ***
VATEL (2000, d. Roland Joffé) ***
VAYA CON DIOS (2002, d. Zoltan Spirandelli) ***
VEGETABLE, THE (Il vegetale) (2018, d. Gennaro Nunziante) ***
VELVET UNDERGROUND, THE (2022, d. Todd Haynes) *** 1/2
VENGEANCE (2010, d. Johnnie To) *** 1/4
VENGO (2001, d. Tony Gatlif) * 1/2
VENICE (2011, d. Jan Jakub Kolski) ** 3/4
VENTO DI TERRA (2005, d. Vincenzio Marra) Quiet, slow, sad film about a young Napolese boy & his poor family ekeing out a proud existence. ***
VENUS & FLEUR (2005, d. Emmanuel Mouret) Female buddy flick French style...shy French girl meets vivante Russian girl & blossoms. ** 3/4
VENUS BEAUTY INSTITUTE (2000, d. Tonie Marshall) ** 1/4
VENUS IN FUR (2014, d. Roman Polanski) ** 1/2
VENUS (2006, d. Roger Michell) *** 1/4
VERA DRAKE (2004, d. Mike Leigh) Superb, utterly right period drama about an ordinary abortionist. Imelda Staunton perfect. Mike Leigh's most assured film. ****
VERDICT, THE (2014, d. Jan Verheyen) *** 3/4
VERONICA GUERIN (2003, d. Joel Schumacher) I'm not a reflexive Schumacher hater; but this tiresome film was too earnest & obvious despite its "message". * 3/4
VERONICA MARS (2014, d. Rob Thomas) ** 1/2
VERONIKA VOSS (2003, d. W.R. Fassbinder) V. Like Sunset Blvd. story of former star: a morphine addict under spell of evil female doctor. Stunning B&W. ** 3/4
VERSAILLES '73: AMERICAN RUNWAY REVOLUTION (2012, d. Deborah Draper) V. Docu of seminal fashion show at Versailles. Too many big head interviews...yet totally entertaining. *** 1/2
VERTICAL LIMIT (2000, d. Martin Campbell) **
VERTICAL RAY OF THE SUN, THE (2000, d. Tran Anh Hung) ** 1/2
VERY ANNIE MARY (2002, d. Sara Sugarman) *
VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, A (2004, d. Jean-Pierre Jeunet) Remarkable film, over-the-top (of course), unabashedly in Jeunet's postmodern style. Superb filmmaking. *** 1/2
VERY SEMI-SERIOUS (2014, d. Leah Wolchok) *** 1/2
VERY SERIOUS PERSON, A (2007, d. Charles Busch) ** 3/4
VERY YOUNG GIRLS (2008, d. David Schisgall) Well meaning, ernest docu about 13-16 year old sexually exploited girls & an organization in N.Y. (GEMS) to help them. ** 1/2
VIAJE DE CAROL, EL (2003, d. Imanol Uribe) Touching story of a girl whose life is shattered by the Spanish civil war. *** 1/4
VIC + FLO SAW A BEAR (2014, d. Denis Côté) **
VICE (Tiski) (2008, d. Valery Todorovsky) ***
VICE (2018, d. Adam McKay) *** 3/4
VICEROYS, THE (I Vicerè) (2010, d. Roberto Faenza) *** 1/2
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (2008, d. Woody Allen) Talky, narration filled, often clever but (for me) uninvolving dramedy about relationships. ** 3/4
VICTOIRE (2005, d. Stéphanie Murat) Even with Silvie Testud as a serial killer, this silly black comedy is a waste of time. * 1/4
VICTORIA & ABDUL (2017, d. Stephen Frears) ** 3/4
VICTORIA (2016, d. Sebastian Schipper) *** 1/2
VIDA MANCHA, LA (2004, d. Enrique Urbizu) Nicely acted drama about two half-brothers involved with the same woman. Good chick flick. *** 1/4
VIDA UTIL, LA (2010, d. Federico Veiroj; Uruguay) **
VIE D'ARTISTE, LA (2008, d. Marc Fitoussi) *** 1/4
VIE DES MORTS, LA (2008, d. Arnaud Desplechin) ***
VIE EN ROSE, LA (2007, d. Olivier Dehan) *** 1/2
VIE PROMESSE, LA (2004, d. Olivier Dahan) Isabelle Hupert once again is great, though the film, a lost souls road picture isn't. ** 1/4
VIEW FROM THE TOP (2003, d. Bruno Barreto) Fluffy & charmless comedy with almost no redeeming qualities except for a luminous Gwyneth Paltrow. * 1/4
VIKTORIA (2014, d. Maya Vitkova) * 3/4
VILLAGE, THE (2004, d. M. Night Shyamalan) Atmospheric thriller which got to me. Ron Howard's daughter is wonderfully charismatic. ***
VILLAIN, THE (Le Vilain) (2010, d. Albert Dupontel) **
VINCERE (2009, d. Marco Bellocchio) *** 1/4
VIOLATORS, THE (2016, d. Helen Walsh) * 1/2
VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN (2011, d. Andrés Wood, Chile) ** 1/2
VIOLIN TEACHER, THE (Tudo que aprendemos juntos) (2016, d. Sérgio Machado) ** 1/4
VIRGEN DE LA LUJURIA, LA (2003, d. Arturo Ripstein) Arty snoozefest centered about a waiter in a '30s Mexican cafe and his sexual obsessions. *
VIRGIL BLISS (2001, d. Joe Maggio) ** 3/4
VIRGIN QUEEN, THE (2005, d. Coky Giedroye) V. ** 3/4
VIRGIN SUICIDES, THE (2000, d. Sofia Coppola) ** 3/4
VIRUNGA (2014, d. Orlando von Einsiedel) *** 1/2
VIRUS TROPICAL (2018, d. Santiago Caicedo) ** 3/4
VISIONEERS (2008, d. Jared Drake) 1/2*
VISITOR, THE (2008, d. Tom McCarthy) Heartfelt, distressing film about another depressed prof. (cf. Smart People) ***
VITUS (2006, d. Fredi M. Murer; Switzerland) *** 3/4
VITUS (2007, d. Fredi M. Murer) + *** 1/2
VIVA CUBA (2005, d. Juan Carlos Cremata) ** 1/4
VIVA LAS NOWHERE (2001, d. Jason Bloom) ***
VIVA L'ITALIA (2013, d. Massimiliano Bruno) ** 3/4
VIVA RIVA! (2011, d. Djo Tunda Wa Munga) **
VIVA (Ireland) (2015, d. Paddy Breathnach) *** 3/4
VODKA LEMON (2004, d. Hiner Saleem) A nicely shot but pointless dark comedy about a poor Armenian village and its benighted inhabitents. ** 1/4
Voices of Kidnapping (Voces del secuestro) (2018, d. Ryan McKenna) ** 1/4
VOLCANO (Eldfjall) (2012, d. Rúnar Rúnarsson, Iceland) *** 3/4
VOLCANO, THE: RESCUE FROM WHAKAARI (2022, d. Rory Kennedy) *** 3/4
VOLEURS, LES (2003, d. André Téchiné) V.+ Better the 2nd time. Téchiné is a superb director and this family drama is complex and nicely done. *** 1/4
VOLVER (2006, d. Pedro Almodóvar; Spain) ***
Voorman Problem, The (2014, d. Mark Gill) ** 1/2
VORTEX (Duburys) (2010, d. Gytis Luksas; Lithuania) *** 1/4
VOW, THE (2012, d. Michael Sucsy) If this weren't based on true story, it would be unlikely because stars mismatched w/ little chemistry. But I enjoyed anyway ** 1/2
VOY A EXPLOTAR (I'm Going to Explode) (2008, d. Gerardo Naranjo) ** 3/4
VOYAGE OF TIME: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (2016, d. Terrence Malick) ** 3/4
VOYEUR (2017, d. Myles Kane and Josh Koury) *** 1/4
VR ZONE A varied collection of 28 Virtual Reality short films of which I managed to watch 9.
VULCAN JUNCTION (2000, d. Eran Riklis) **
W. (2008, d. Oliver Stone) Well made, if creepy biopic. Drags in the 2nd act. Brolin is fine; but I'd rather forget that Bush ever existed if I could. ** 3/4
W.E. (2011, d. Madonna) Interesting structure and romantic lushness; but current story more cliche filled than historical story. Oscar Isaac one to watch. ***
WACKNESS, THE (2008, d. Jonathan Levine) *** 1/4
WADD: THE LIFE & TIMES OF JOHN HOLMES (2001, d. Cass Paley) ** 1/2
WADJDA (2013, d. Haifaa Al Mansour, Saudi Arabia) ** 1/4
WAGNER'S DREAM (2012, d. Susan Froemke) V. Unprecedentedly complete "making-of" doc re Lepage's Wagner Ring Cycle at the Met. Fascinating, awesome. *** 3/4
WAH-WAH (2006, d. Richard E. Grant) ***
WAIT, THE (L'Attesa) (2016, d. Piero Messina) **
WAITER (2007, d. Alex van Warmerdam) ** 1/2
WAITING FOR AUGUST (2014, d. Teodora Ana Mihal) ** 3/4
WAITING FOR HAPPINESS (2007, d. Abderrahmane Sissako) * 3/4
WAITING FOR LIGHTNING (2012, d. Jacob Rosenberg) V. Docu of daredevil skateboarder Danny Way. Dramatic, manipulative, thrilling, amazingly well told life story of crazed boy/man. *** 1/2
WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (2010, d. Davis Guggenheim) V. Gripping, informative, inventive, frightening, emotionally shattering docu with remarkable point of view. ****
WAITING FOR THE CLOUDS (2005, d. Yesim Ustaoglu) Slow film about an old lady's guilt at staying in Turkey during the great 1916 expulsion to Greece. ** 1/2
WAITING ROOM, THE (2012, d. Peter Nicks) V. Docu of 24 hrs. in an Oakland, Ca. county hospital ER. Fine verité feeling, but lacks pov. Yet, various stories are gripping human interest *** 1/4
WAITRESS (2007, d. Adrienne Shelly) Pleasant, well acted & directed romantic dramedy. Fillion & Russell have true chemistry. ***
WAJMA - AN AFGHAN LOVE STORY (2013, d. Barmak Akram, Afghanistan) *** 1/2
WAKING LIFE (2001, d. Richard Linklater) *** 1/4
WAKING SLEEPIING BEAUTY (2010, d. Don Hahn) Informative, moving docu of the Eisner-Welles-Katzenberg years at Disney animation with home movie feel. *** 1/4.
WALESA: MAN OF HOPE (2013, d. Andrzej Wajda, Poland) ** 3/4
WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES, A (2014, d. Scott Frank) * 1/2
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY (2007, d. Jake Kasdan) Silly fun, but quite creative, funny pseudo biopic. ***
WALK INTO THE SEA, A: DANNY WILLIAMS AND THE WARHOL FACTORY (2007, d. Esther B. Robinson) ***
WALK ON WATER (2004, d. Eytan Fox) A truly exceptional film from Israel about a Mossad assassin. Great script and fine job all around. *** 3/4
Walk Run Cha-Cha (2019, doc short, d. Laura Nix) ***
WALK THE LINE (2005, d. James Margold) ** 3/4
WALK THE TALK (2007, d. Matthew Allen) ** 3/4
WALK TO REMEMBER, A (2003, d. Adam Shankman) V. X-tian teenage version of Love Story. Shane West & Mandy Moore quite good; I ate melodrama up. ***
WALK, THE (2015, d. Robert Zemeckis) *** 3/4
WALKER, THE (2007, d. Paul Schrader) Stylish, fine perfs by Harrelson and Bleibtreu & several aged actresses; but eliptical, senseless plot. **
WALKING & TALKING (2003, d. Nicole Holofcener 1996) (V) Winning yupster girl comedy with Keener & Heche. Better than Lovely & Amazing *** 1/4
WALKING ON WATER (2003, d. Tony Ayres)+ I forgot I'd already seen this film. Fine! It's a wonderfully observant, beautifully written & drama. *** 1/2
WALKING ON WATER (2002, d. Tony Ayres) ****
WALKING THE CAMINO: SIX WAYS TO SANTIAGO (2014, d. Lydia B. Smith) *** 1/2
WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (2010, d. Oliver Stone) Entertaining, if cockeyed look at financial meltdown. Questionable motivations mar effect. ** 3/4
WALLE (2008, d. Andrew Stanton) Technically fine, complex 3-D animation. But for me lacked entertainment value. * 3/4
WALL, THE (2013, d. Julian Pölsler) *** 1/4
WALLACE & GROMMET: CURSE OF THE WERE RABBIT (2005, d. Nick Park) V. ***
WALLFLOWER (2017, d. Jagger Gravning) * 1/4
WALT & EL GRUPO (2008, d. Theodore Thomas) ** 1/2
WALTER (2013, d. Hunter Weeks) ***
WALTZ WITH BASHIR (2008, d. Ari Folman; Israel) *** 1/2
WAMPLER'S ASCENT (2013, d. Elizabeth Wampler) *** 1/2
WANDERING SHADOWS (2005, d. Ciro Guerra) Unconventional buddy flick amidst the squalor of Bagota, Columbia. B&W looked digitized. ** 3/4
WANDERING STREAMS (Les Petits ruisseaux) (2011, d. Pascal Rabaté) ***
WANDERLUST (2012, d. David Wain) Nouveau hippie commune comedy, ribald and at times tasteless; but gross-out fun, too. Paul Rudd is quite good. ***
WANTED (2009, d. Timur Bekmambetov) + A kinetic thriller even better 2nd time around. Ridiculous plot; but amazing acting & f/x plus a great cast. *** 1/2
WANTED (2008, d. Timur Bekmambetov) Totally amazing kick ass film, MATRIX². McAvoy & Bekmambetov fulfill their destinies. *** 3/4
War & Grace (2021, Doc Short, d. Sonia Lowman) *** 1/2
WAR & PEACE (2016, d. Tom Harper) *** 3/4
WAR DANCE (2007, d. Sean & Andrea Nix Fine) Moving, if somewhat contrived docu of Ugandan children in camp. ***
WAR FOR PLANET OF THE APES (2017, d. Matt Reeves) ***
WAR GAMES (2008, d. Dariusz Jablonski) Polish docu about the tragic life of cold war Pole who spied for U.S. Quite creative filmmaking, fascinating but scattered. ***
WAR LIVE (2001, d. Darko Bajic) **
WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005, d. Steven Spielberg) Until the mushy, unlikely ending, one of the great scary thriller SF films ever. Remarkable f/x. *** 1/4
WAR OF THE WORLDS (2020, created by Howard Overman) Modern TV series update of Wells story as the Apocolypse. *** 1/4
WAR ON WHISTLEBLOWERS: FREE PRESS AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY STATE (2013, d. Robert Greenwald) ** 3/4
WAR PHOTOGRAPHER (2002, d. Christian Frei) ** 3/4
WAR SAILOR (2022, Norway IFF, d. Gunnar Vikene) *** 3/4
WAR TAPES, THE (2006, d. Deborah Scranton) V. Iraq war from pov of 3 New Hampshire Nat. Guardsmen with cameras. Most real yet. *** 3/4
WAR THAT MADE AMERICA, THE (2006, d. Loeterman & Strange) V. PBS docudrama of the French & Indian War with fine recreations. ***
WAR WITCH (2012, d. Kim Nguyen, Canada) *** 3/4
WAR ZONE, THE (2004, d. Tim Roth) V. Miserabilist film about a troubled family in Devon. Superb acting, though tough to take. ***
WAR (2003, Russia d. Aleksei Balabanov) Drama of rescue and revenge in Russo-Chechan war. A testosterone drenched delight. ***
WAR, A (Denmark) (2015, d. Tobias Lindholm) *** 1/4
WARD NO. 6 (2009, d. Karen Shakhazarov; Russia). **
WARDEN OF THE DEAD (Pazachyt na myrtvite) (2007, d. Ilian Simeonov; Bulgaria) **
WAREHOUSED (2016, d. Jack Zagha) ***
WARHORSE (2011, d. Steven Spielberg) Old fashioned epic, moving even thrilling at times. Great cinematography, especially the well blocked war scenes. *** 1/2
WARLORDS (2009, d. Peter Chen, Wai Man Yip) *** 1/4
WARM SPRINGS (2005, d. Joseph Sergeant) Emotionally satisfying well acted HBO tv movie about Roosevelt's early years of polio recouperation. ***
WARM WATER UNDER A RED BRIDGE (2002, d. Shohei Imamura) **
WARMING UP YESTERDAY'S LUNCH (2003, d. Kostadin Bonev) Bulgaria AFF. Old lady's memoire of 60 yrs. of Balkan politics. **
WARRIOR (2005, d. Asif Kapadia) Slow, meditative, almost silent period piece about a warrior in Kashmir who wants to quit killing. ** 3/4
WARRIOR (2011, d. Gavin O'Connor) Cliché ridden plot mars otherwise well acted & directed fight flick. Edgerton especially good, Hardy mannered, but hot. ** 3/4
WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH (2004, d. He Ping) + I had forgotten I'd seen it before...not worth another view, though visually it's a treat. ** 3/4
WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH (2004, d. He Ping) Gorgeous and gripping, if somewhat confusing, wide screen Chinese epic historical battle film. ***
WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW (2012, d. Wei Te-Sheng, Taiwan) *** 3/4
WARSAW UPRISING (2014, d. Jan Komasa) *** 3/4
WARSAW (2005, d. Dariusz Gajewski) Slightly amusing story of several assorted characters wandering around Warsaw & sort of connecting one snowy day. ** 1/2
WARWICK (2017, d. Douglas Reese) * 1/4
WASSUP ROCKERS (2006, d. Larry Clark) Unlikely story; but Clark's latest "it boy", Jonathan Valasquez, is worth it. Good bad film. ** 1/2
WASTE LAND (2010, d. Lucy Walker) *** 1/4
WASTED ON THE YOUNG (2011, d. Ben C. Lucas) ***
Watani: My Homeland (2016, short, d. Marcel Mettelseifen) *** 3/4
WATCHERS OF THE SKY (2014, d. Edet Belzberg) ** 3/4
WATCHIER, THE (2000, d. Joe Charbanic) **
WATCHMEN (2009, d. Zack Snyder) Fabulous f/x and a script to match. Brilliantly evocative '80s depiction and superhero deconstruction just thrilled. *** 3/4
WATER & POWER: A CALIFORNIA HEIST (2017, d. Marina Zenovich) ***
WATER DIVINER, THE (2015, d. Russell Crowe) *** 1/4
WATER DROPS ON BURNING ROCKS (Gouttes d'eau sur pierres brulantes) (2000, d. François Ozon) *** 1/4
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (2011, d. Francis Lawrence)
WATER LILIES (2008, d. Céline Sciamma) **
Water Warriors (2019, doc short, d. Michael Premo) *** 1/2
WATER (2006, d. Deepa Mehta) Gorgeous wide screen intimate epic of plight of a 7 yr. old widow & 34 mil other Indian widows. *** 1/2
WATERCOLORS (2012, d. David Oliveras) V.+ Coming of age gay film: hi-school love, jock & artist; romantic, moving, evocative, ok acting. One of the best of genre. *** 1/2
WATERCOLORS (2008, d. David Oliveras) Touching, beautiful, evocative drama of gay teenage love. One of the best ever. *** 1/2
WATERLOO (2005, d. Sergei Bondarchuk) 1970 epic with some incredibly great battle footage & Steiger's wonderful portrayal of Napoleon. *** 1/4
WATERMARK (2014, d. Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky) *** 1/4
WATERMARKS (2004, d. Yaron Zilberman) V. Interesting docu about a Vienna Jewish swimming club in the '30s & the far-flung survivors' reunion in today's Vienna. ***
WATER'S EDGE (2003, d. Harvey Kahn) Thriller melodrama about corrupt rural town. Laughably bad straight to video. 1/2*
WATTSTAX: 2003 SPECIAL EDITION (2003, d. Mel Stuart) Newly remixed print of '71 rockumentary...too little music, boring in parts. Rufus rocked. **
Watu Wote/All of Us (2018, d. Katja Benrath) *** 1/2
WAVE, THE (Die Welle) (2008, d. Dennis Gansel) *** 1/2
WAVE, THE (Norway) (2015, d. Roar Uthaug) *** 1/2
WAVES (2019, d. Trey Edward Shults) *** 3/4
WAY BACK, THE (2010, d. Peter Weir) A terrific film all around, gorgeous cinematography, gripping plot. Sturges & Harris especially outstanding. *** 1/2
WAY HE LOOKS, THE (2014, d. Daniel Ribeiro) *** 1/2
WAY I SEE IT, THE (2020, d. Dawn Porter) *** 1/2
WAY I SEE THINGS, THE (2008, d. Brian Pera) New Agey, pretentious, arty gay film of about recovering from depression. ** 1/4
WAY I SPENT THE END OF THE WORLD, THE (2007, d. Catalin Mitulescu; Romania) ** 3/4
WAY OF THE GUN, THE (2000, d. Christopher McQuarrie) ** 1/2
WAY WE LAUGHED, THE (2001, d. Gianni Amelio) [1998] ** 1/2
WAY WE LAUGHED, THE (2002, d. Gianni Amelio) ** 1/2
WAY, THE (2011, d. Emilio Estevez) A "Bucket List" type film of man following a pilgrimage road through Spain. Lovely travels, affecting personal story. ***
WAY, WAY BACK, THE (2013, d. Nat Faxon, Jim Rash) *** 1/4
WAYDOWNTOWN (2002, d. Gary Burns) ***
WAYWARD CLOUD, THE (2006, d. Tsai Ming-liang) *** 1/2
WE ALL GET OUR SHARE (Ce n'è per tutti) (2010, d. Luciano Melchionna) *
WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACKAVISTS (2012, d. Brian Knappenberger) *** 1/4
WE ARE MARSHALL (2006, d. McG) Story of real-life football team resurrected. Well directed and emotionally true. ***
WE ARE THE BEST! (2014, d. Lukas Moodysson) *** 1/4
WE ARE THE GIANT (2014, d. Greg Barker) *** 1/2
WE ARE TOGETHER (THINA SIMUNYE) (2007, d. Paul Taylor) Moving docu: So. African orphanage saved by singing. *** 1/4
WE ARE WHO WE ARE (2020, d. Luca Guadagnino) ****
WE ARE X (2016, D. Stephen Kijak) *** 1/4
WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS (2015, d. Max Joseph) ** 1/4
WE BELIEVED (Noi credevamo) (2016, d. Mario Martone) * 3/4
WE BOUGHT A ZOO (2011, d. Cameron Crowe) Predictable "family recovering from mother's death" film with one great scene & a lot of synthetic emotion. ** 1/2
WE CAME HOME (2013, d. Ariana Delawari) **
We Can't Live Without Cosmos (2016, d. Konstantin Bronzit) **
WE COME AS FRIENDS (2015, d. Hubert Sauper) W/O
WE COULD BE KING (2014, d. Judd Ehrlich) *** 1/4
WE DARE TO DREAM (2023, Doc., d. Waad al-Kataeb) *** 3/4
WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (2004, d. John Curran) Well acted but relentlessly downbeat story of 2 couples and their mutual adulteries. ***
WE GO WAY BACK (2006, d. Lynn Shelton) * 1/2
WE LIVE IN PUBLIC (2009, d. Ondi Timoner) *** 1/2
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (2011, d. Lynne Ramsay) V. Modern "Bad Seed", hard to watch, but excellent acting & script make for fascination. *** 1/4
WE SHALL OVERCOME (2006, d. Niels Arden Oplev) *** 1/2
WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS (2013, d. Alex Gibney) *** 1/4
WE THE ANIMALS (2018, d. Jeremiah Zagar) *** 1/4
WE THE PARENTS (2013, d. James Takata) ***
WE WERE HERE (2011, d. Weissman & Weber) V. Important, truthful docu of S.F. during the AIDS epidemic. About as resonant for me as docus get. *** 3/4
WE WERE ONE MAN (2012, d. Philippe Valois) V. WWII Vichy France story ('79) of weird affair between simpleton Frenchman & handsome German soldier. ** 3/4
WE WERE SOLDIERS (2002, d. Randall Wallace) ** 1/2
WE WEREN'T JUST...BICYCLE THIEVES: NEOREALISM (2015, d. Gianni Bozzacchi) **
WE WOMEN WARRIORS (2012, d. Karsin & Gabbert) V. Docu featuring 3 Colombian tribal women and their sufferings & triumphs. I was somewhat bored & didn't relate at all. **
WEATHER GIRL (2011, d. Blayne Weaver) Nice buddies romcom script, great chemistry between faves Patrick Adams & Ryan Devlin. Lead Tricia O'Kelley weak link. ***
WEATHER MAN, THE (2005, d. Gore Verbinski) ** 3/4
WEATHER UNDERGROUND, THE (2003, d. Sam Green) Documentary about '70s American terrorist group. Good footage & well written. *** 1/4
WEBCAM BOYS (2001, d. RADD) *** 1/2
WEDDING CAKE, THE (Pièce montée) (2010, d. Denys Granier-Deferre) *** 1/4
WEDDING CHEST, THE (2006, d. Nurbek Egen; Kyrgyzstan) ***
WEDDING CRASHERS, THE (2005, d. David Dobkin) ** 3/4
WEDDING DIRECTOR, THE (2011 d. Marco Bellocchio) ** 1/4
WEDDING PLAN, THE (2017, d. Rama Burshtein) *** 1/4
WEDDING SONG, THE (Le Chant des Mariées) (2009, d. Karen Albou) ** 1/4
WEDDING WARS (2007, d. Jim Fall) V. Very well done issue tv flick (gay marriage) with a game perf. by John Stamos. ***
WEDDING, THE (2001, d. Pavel Lungin) ****
WEEKEND (2011, d. Andres Haigh) *** 3/4
WEEKEND (2011, d. Andres Haigh) + 2nd time even better than first time. Most relevant gay relationship film I've ever seen. Powerful, poignant & truthful. *** 3/4
WEEKEND, THE (2000, d. Brian Skeet) ***
Weekends (2019, d. Trevor Jimenez) Oscar nominated short animated film. ** 1/4
WEIGHT OF WATER (2001, d. Kathryn Bigelow) **
WEINER (2016, d. Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg) *** 3/4
WEIRDOS (2017, d. Bruce McDonald) *** 1/2
WEIRDSVILLE (2007, d. Allan Moyle) *
WELCOME (2009, d. Philippe Lioret) *** 3/4
WELCOME HOME (Bienvenido A Casa) (2007, d. David Trueba) *** 1/4
WELCOME TO CHECHNYA (2021, d. David France) *** 3/4
WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD (2002, d. Anthony & Joe Russo) **
WELCOME TO DOE BAY (2012, d. Nesib Shamah, Dan Thornton) ** 3/4
WELCOME TO DONGMAKGOL (2006, d. Park Kwang-hyun; Republic of Korea) ** 3/4
WELCOME TO MARWEN (2018, d. Robert Zemeckis) ***
WELCOME TO ME (2015, d. Shira Piven) ** 3/4
WELCOME TO MOOSEWOOD (2004, d. Dan Petrie) Silly, utterly predictable Hollywood fare. Hackman good, as always; but Ray Romano should stict to TV. * 3/4
WELCOME TO THE LAND OF CH'TIS (Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis) (2008, d. Dany Boone) ** 1/2
WELCOME TO THE RILEYS (2010, d. Jake Scott) Gandolfini and Leo are fine. The predictable downer story only fitfully involved me & ultimately I lost interest. ** 1/4
WELCOME TO THE SOUTH (2011 d. Luca Miniero) ** 3/4
WE'LL BE YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL (2019, d. Letizia Lamartire) ** 3/4
WELL DIGGER'S DAUGHTER (2012, d. Daniel Auteuil) *** 3/4
WELL, THE (2005, d. Kristian Petri) Extremely well written documentary tone poem about Orson Welles' relationship to Spain. *** 3/4
WELL, THE (2016, Algeria, d. Lotfi Bourcouchi) ***
WELLNESS (2008, d. Jake Mahaffy) ** 1/2
WELTS, THE (2004, d. Magdalena Piekorz) Polish AFF. Dour, involving story of a boy whose path to manhood was fixed by his physically abusing, but well-meaning, father. *** 1/4
WENDY AND LUCY (2008, d. Kelly Reichardt) Quietly effective character study which mirrors bad economic times. Michelle Williams very fine here. *** 1/4
Wendy's Shabbat (2018, d. Rachel Myers) *** 1/2
WENT TO CONEY ISLAND ON A MISSION FROM GOD... (2000, d. Richard Schenkman) ** 1/2
WERE THE WORLD MINE (2008, d. Tom Gustafson) Good try at a gay Midsummernight's Dream prep school fantasy. But no cigar. **
WEST OF MEMPHIS (2012, d. Amy Berg) V. More intimate than the Paradise Lost trilogy, film is stirring document to justice triumphant and an indictment of stepfather Terry Hobbs. ****
WEST SIDE STORY (2022, d. Steven Spielberg) *** 3/4
WEST (2014, d. Christian Schwochow) *** 1/4
WESTENDER (2003, U.S. d. Bruce Morse) Overblown, tacky, unironic mideval quest film. * 3/4
WET SEASON (2021, Singapore, d. Anthony Chen) Teacher, unable to get pregnant, gets involved with student. *** 1/2
WETLANDS (2012, d. Guy Édoin) *** 1/4
WHALE RIDER (2003, New Zealand/Germany d. Niki Caro) Wide screen crowd pleaser about dying Maori traditions & the little girl who changed things. ***
WHALE, THE (2023, d. Darren Aronofsky) *** 1/2
WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE (2005, d. Eyal Halfon) **
WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU (2008, d. Brian Goodman) ***
WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE? (2015, d. Liz Garbus) ** 3/4
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT LOLA (Lo que se de Lola) (2007, d. Javier Rebollo) W/O
WHAT IF...? (Notre univers impitoyable) (2008, d. Léa Fazer) ** 1/4
WHAT JUST HAPPENED (2008, d. Barry Levinson) Funny, truthful look at Hollywood from pov of a fading power-broker producer (DeNiro's best role in years.) *** 1/4
WHAT LIES BENEATH (2000, d. Robert Zemeckis) * 1/2
WHAT MAISIE KNEW (2013, d. Scott McGehee, David Siegel) ** 1/2
WHAT OUR FATHERS DID: A NAZI LEGACY (2015, d. David Evans) *** 1/2
WHAT THE SUN HAS SEEN (2007, d. Michal Rosa) 3 interwoven stories of impoverishment in modern day Poland. Long & just ok. ** 3/4
WHAT THEY HAD (2018, d. Elizabeth Chomko) *** 1/2
WHAT TIME IS IT THERE? (2001, d. Tsai Ming-liang) ***
WHAT WOMEN WANT (2000, d. Nancy Meyers) ** 1/2
What Would Sophia Loren Do? (2021, d. Ross Kaufffman) *** 1/2
WHATEVER IT TAKES (2004, d. David Ranyr)V. Horny teenage comedy variant on Cyrano. Trivial stuff; but Shane West and James Franco raise its level a tad. * 3/4
WHATEVER WORKS (2009, d. Woody Allen) Pure comedy, sunny & funny throwback to earlier Allen works. Evan Rachel Wood & Larry David perfect. ***
WHAT'S BETWEEN US (2015, d. Claudia Lorenz) * 3/4
WHAT'S COOKING? (2000, d. Gurinda Chadha) *** 1/2
WHAT'S IN A NAME (Le Prénom) (2013, d. Alexandre de La Patellière, Matthieu Delaporte) *** 1/4
WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER (2012, d. Mark Mylod) V. Pleasantly kooky rom-com (of course Anna Faris!); but a supremely buff Chris Evans oft naked? Can't resist. ***
WHEN A MAN COMES HOME (2009, d. Thomas Vinterberg) ** 3/4
WHEN DAY BREAKS (2012, d. Goran Paskaljevic, Serbia) ** 1/2
WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER (2008, d. Anand Tucker) *** 1/4
WHEN I SAW YOU (2012, d. Annemarie Jacir, Palestinian territories) ** 3/4
WHEN I SAW YOU (2013, d. Annemarie Jacir) + ** 3/4
WHEN I WALK (2013, d. Jason DaSilva) *** 1/4
WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (2016, d. Hiromasa Yonebayashi) ** 1/4
WHEN MARYAM SPOKE OUT (2003, d. Assad Fouladkar) Lebanon AFF. Travails of barren wife. ***
WHEN POMEGRANATES HOWL (Vaght-e Chigh-e Anar) (2021, Australia/Afghanistan, d. Granaz Moussavi) *** 1/4
WHEN TOMATOES MET WAGNER (2019, Greece, d. Marianna Economou) ***
WHEN TWO WORLDS COLLIDE (2016, d. Heidi Brandenburg, Matthew Orzel) *** 1/2
When We Dance (2022, doc. short, d. Nick Waters) *** 1/4
WHEN WE LEAVE (2010, d. Feo Aladag) ***
When We Were Bullies (2022, doc short, d. Jay Rosenblatt) *** 1/2
WHEN WILL I BE LOVED (2005, d. James Tobak) V. ** 3/4
Where Chaos Reigns (2019, d. Braulio Jatar, Anaïs Michel)
WHERE DO WE GO NOW? (2011, d. Nadine Labaki, Lebanon) ** 1/2
WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD MEN GONE (2016, d. René Frelle Petersen) *** 1/4
WHERE THE FIRE BURNS (2012, d. Ismail Günes, Turkey) **
WHERE THE HEART IS (2000, d. Matt Williams) ** 1/2
WHERE THE TRUTH LIES (2005, d. Atom Egoyan) ***
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (2009, d. Spike Jonze) Laudable attempt at personalized art film; but not my cuppa...more annoyed by wanton child than edified. ** 1/2
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (2015, d. Michael Moore) *** 3/4
WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE (2019, d. Richard Linklater) *** 1/4
WHERE'S MY ROY COHN? (2019, d. Matt Tyrnauer) *** 1/4
WHICH WAY HOME (2009, d. Rebecca Cammisa) V. Heartbreakingly effective docu about Cent. Amer. children trying to reach the U.S. Real life version of Sin Nombre. ****
WHILE THE WOMEN ARE SLEEPING (2016, d. Wayne Wang) *** 1/4
WHILE WE'RE YOUNG (2015, d. Noah Baumbach) ***
WHIP IT (2009, d. Drew Barrymore) Good: Ellen Page is not annoying, roller derby is fun. Bad: totally predictable plot, melodramatic & fake. ** 1/4
WHIPLASH (2014, d. Damien Chazelle) *** 1/2
WHIPLASH (2015, d. Damien Chazelle) + *** 1/2
WHIRLWIND (2008, d. Richard LeMay) Multi-character NY gay friends story, mostly poorly acted and only intermittently involving. **
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT (2016, d. Glenn Ficarra, John Requa) *** 1/4
WHISKY ROMEO ZULU (2005, d. Enrique Piñeyro) Fascinating aircrash drama based on fact. The whistleblower pilot (also acted & directed) is amazing. *** 1/4
WHISKY (2004, d. Rebella & Stoll) Observent, touching slice-of-life film about two competitive brothers & their pretenses. ***
WHISPER TO A ROAR (2012, d. Ben Moses) V. Docu of 5 countries where people rose up to combat repressive government in 2000s. Stirring stuff, but somewhat muted & even handed. ***
WHISTLEBLOWER, THE (2011 d. Larysa Kondracki) *** 1/4
WHISTLERS, THE (2019, Romania, d. Corneliu Porumboiu) ** 1/2 Glossy & confusing noir about corrupt Romanian police & a drug/money robbery.
WHITE BOY RICK (2018, d. Yann Demange) ** 3/4
WHITE BUILDING (2021, Cambodia, d. Kavich Neang) * 3/4
WHITE CAMELLIAS (2012, d. Russell Brown) *** 1/4
WHITE COUNTESS, THE (2005, d. James Ivory) *** 1/4
White Earth (2014, d. Christian Jensen) doc short *** 1/4
WHITE ELEPHANT (2013, d. Pablo Trapero) *** 1/2
White Eye (2021, d. Tomer Shushan) Israeli man finds stolen bike and struggles with the system. Impressive single take. ** 3/4
WHITE FORTRESS, THE (Tabija) (2021, Bosnia, d, Igor Drljaca) ** 1/2
WHITE GOD (2014, Hungary, d. Kornél Mundruczó) *** 1/4
White Helmets, The (2016, short, d. Orlando von Einsiedel) *** 1/2.
WHITE HOUSE DOWN (2013, d. Roland Emmerich) ** 3/4
WHITE IRISH DRINKERS (2011, d. John Gray) *** 1/4
WHITE LIES (2013, d. Dana Rotberg, New Zealand) ***
WHITE LIGHT/BLACK RAIN (2007, d. Steven Okazaki) Comprehensive, clinical docu about Hiroshima & Nakasaki. ***
WHITE NIGHT WEDDING (Brúdguminn) (2008, d. Baltasar Kormákur) ** 3/4
WHITE OLEANDER (2002, d. Peter Kosminsky) ***
WHITE PALMS (2006, d. Szabolcs Hajdu) ***
WHITE PALMS (2006, d. Szabolcs Hajdu; Hungary) + *** 1/4
WHITE QUEEN, THE (2014, d. James Kent, Jamie Payen Colin Teague) Superb history of late War of the Roses. *** 3/4
WHITE RIBBON, THE (2009, d. Michael Haneke; Germany) Nobody does enigma better than Haneke, even when taken to a maddening extreme. Gorgeous film. *** 1/2
WHITE SILK DRESS, THE (2008, d. Huynh Luu; Vietnam) **
WHITE SOLDIER (Le Soldat blanc) (2015, d. Eric Zonca) TV Movie *** 1/2
WHITE TIGER (2012, d. Karen Shakhnazarov, Russia) ** 1/2
WHITE TIGER, THE (2021, d. Ramin Bahrani) *** 1/4
WHITE WEDDING (2009, d. Jann Turner; South Africa) ** 1/4
WHITE, WHITE DAY, A (2019, Iceland, d. Hlynur Pálmason) Widower grandfather deals with his dead wife's infidelity & building a rural home. *** 3/4
WHITECHAPEL (2011, d. SJ Clarkson) V. Superbly written British policier chasing a serial killer Jack the Ripper copycat. Rupert Penry-Jones is excellent. *** 1/2
WHITEY: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. JAMES J. BULGER (2014, d. Joe Berlinger) *** 1/4
WHITNEY (2018, d. Kevin Macdonald) *** 1/4
WHITNEY, "CAN I BE ME" (2017, d. Nick Broomfield & Rudi Dolezal) *** 1/2
WHO AM I - NO SYSTEM IS SAFE (2015, d. Baran Bo Odar) *** 1/2
WHO BOMBED JUDI BARI? (2012, d. Mary Liz Thomson) V. Quintessential tree-hugger docu: 2 redwood activists car bombed in 1990 & FBI spent all efforts to prove they bombed themselves. ** 3/4
WHO IS HARRY NILSSON (2006, d. John Scheinfeld) *** 1/4
WHO KILLED BAMBI (2004, d. Gilles Marchand) Creepy, atmospheric French thriller about a craftily crazy surgeon and an intern nurse. ***
WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR (2006, d. Chris Paine) *** 3/4
WHO LOVES THE SUN (2006, d. Matt Bissonnette) *** 1/2
WHO THE HELL IS BOBBY ROOS (2002, d. John Feldman) *** 1/2
WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA (2021, d. Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler) *** 1/2
WHOLE NEW THING (2006, d. Amnon Buchbinder) *** 1/4
WHOLE NINE YARDS, THE (2000, d. Jonathan Lynn) **
WHOLE TRUTH, THE (2009, d. Coleen Patrick) 0*
WHORE & THE WHALE, THE (2008, d. Luis Puenzo) V. Gorgeous Patagonian photography, naked women & sexy Leo Sbaraglia. *** 1/4
WHO'S THE BOSS (Quien Manda) (2013, d. Ronni Castillo, Dominican Republic) ** 1/4
WHOSE STREETS? (2017, d. Sabaah Folayan & Damon Davis) *** 1/2
Why Didn't You Stay For Me? (Waarom bleef je niet voor mij?) ( 2021, doc short, d. Milou Gevers) *** 3/4
WHY WE RIDE (2013, d. Bryan H. Carroll) Motorcyclists, all about the whys. Not a bad film; but just not engaging enough to finish. W/O
WICKER MAN, THE (2008, d. Neil La Bute) V. Hokey, cult-as-bee-colony metaphor film. Great northwest island homes! **
WICKER PARK (2004, d. Paul McGuigan) And Now My Love for Gen-Y. Loopy structure and overall good acting and direction. Absurd; but it kept getting better as it went along. ***
WIDOW OF SAINT-PIERRE, THE (La veuve de Saint-Pierre) (2001, d. Patrice Leconte) ***
WIDOWS (2018, d. Steve McQueen) ** 1/2
WIFE, THE (2018, d. Björn Runge) *** 3/4
WILBY WONDERFUL (2005, d. Daniel MacIvor) Slice of life film on the Canadian island of Wilby. Pleasant trifle with nifty perfs from Paul Gross & Sandra Oh. ** 3/4
WILD BEES (2002, d. Bohdan Slama) ** 3/4
WILD DOGS, THE (2003, Canade d. Thom Fitzgerald) Drama about a pornographer in Rumania to find women & instead finds wild dogs & Gypsy slaves. ***
WILD FIELD (2009, d. Mikhail Kalatozishvili) *** 3/4
WILD FLOWERS (2002, d. F. A. Brabec) ** 1/2
WILD GRASS (Les herbes folles) (2010, d. Alain Resnais) Poor title translation, should be called "Loco-weed". Strangely unmotivated goings-on, but fascinating. ** 3/4
WILD PEAR TREE, THE (2018, Turkey, d. Nuri Bilge Ceylan) ***
WILD SIDE (2004, d. Sébastien Lifshitz) Affecting drama about an unconventional three-way relationship between 2 guys and a pre-op transexual ***
WILD TALES (2014, Argentina, d. Damián Szifrón) *** 3/4
WILD TARGET (2011, d. Jonathan Lynn) V. A truly ridiculous, but watchable, British caper comedy with an A cast but a D- plot. Rupert Grint needs to chose better scripts. * 1/2
WILD THORNBERRYS MOVIE, THE (2003, d. McGrath and Malkasian) Nickelodian cartoon. * 1/2
WILD TIGERS I HAVE KNOWN (2006, d. Cam Archer) ** 1/4
WILD (2014, d. Jean-Mark Vallée) *** 1/2
WILDLIFE (2018, d. Paul Dano) ***
WILL IT SNOW FOR CHRISTMAS? (Y aura-t'il de la neige à Noël?) (2015, d. Sandrine Veysset) *** 1/2
WILL TO SEE, THE (Une autre idée du monde) (2022, d. Bernard-Henri Lévy, Mark Roussel) *** 1/2
Will You Look at Me (2022, doc. short, d. Shuli Huang) *** 1/4
WILLFULL (2001, d. Rebel Penfold-Russell) * 1/2
WILLIAM KUNSTLER: DISTURBING THE UNIVERSE (2009, d. Sarah Kunstler & Emily Kunstler) ***
WILSON (2017, d. Craig Johnson) **
WIMBLEDON (2004, d. Richard Loncraine) Genuine chemistry between Bettany and Dunst makes for a good romance; but the tennis isn't very realistic. ***
WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON (2005, d. Robert Lukatik) Fun, if predictable, romantic comedy which brings stardom to Topher Grace. ** 3/4
WIN WIN (2011 d. Thomas McCarthy) Fine feel-good film with some excellent acting. Formulaic, but rings with truth. Alex Shaffer is a find as the teenage wrestler. *** 1/4
WIN/WIN (2011, d. Jaap van Heusden) ***
WIND JOURNEYS, THE (Los Viajes el Viento) (2009, d. Ciro Guerra; Colombia) ***
WIND RISES,THE (2013, d. Hayao Miyazaki) *** 1/4
WIND RIVER (2017, d. Taylor Sheridan) *** 1/2
WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, THE (2006, d. Ken Loach) *** 1/2
WINDOW, THE (2006, d. Ted Tetzlaff) *** 1/4
WINDS OF SEPTEMBER (Jiu Jiang Feng) (2008, d. Tom Shu-Yu Lin) **
Windshield Wiper, The (2022, anim. short, d. Alberto Mielgo) *** 1/2
WINDTALKERS (2002, d. John Woo) ** 3/4
WINE AND KISSES (Come le Formiche) (2008, d. Ilaria Borrelli) * 1/2
WINGED MIGRATION (2003, d. Jacques Cluzaud) (V) Docu feature on birds. Visual tour de force; but poorly constructed. ** 3/4
WINGLESS (2009, d. Ivo Trajkov; Macedonia) **
WINGS OF DUST (Doc. short, d. Giorgio Ghiotto) *** 1/2
WINGS OF LIFE (2013, d. Louie Schwartzberg) *** 1/2
WINNING SEASON, THE (2004, d. John Kent Harrison) V. Sappy nostalgia baseball flick about a 1985 boy thrown back to 1909 to relate to Honus Wagner. * 3/4
WINTER FLIES (2018, Czech Republic, d. Olmo Omerzu) ** 3/4
WINTER IN WARTIME (2010, d. Martin Koolhoven; The Netherlands) *** 1/2
WINTER NOMADS (Hiver nomade) (2013, d. Manuel von Stürler) *** 1/4
WINTER OF DISCONTENT (2013, d. Ibrahim El Batout, Egypt) ** 1/4
WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM (2015, d. Evgeny Afineevsky) *** 1/2
WINTER SLEEP (2014, Turkey, d. Nuri Bilge Ceylan) ** 3/4
WINTER SLEEPERS (2000, d. Tom Tykwer) [1997] *** 1/4
WINTER SOLSTICE (2005, d. Josh Sternfeld) Quintessential Sundance indie film, quiet, revelatory, fine acting (Mark Webber & Aaron Stanford rule!) *** 1/4
WINTER SOLSTICE (2007, d. Josh Sternfeld) V.+ Quintessential Sundance indie film, quiet, revelatory, fine acting (Webber & Stanford rule!) *** 1/4
WINTER, THE (2017, d. Emiliano Torres) ** 3/4
WINTERLAND (2008, d. Hisham Zaman) ** 3/4
WINTER'S BONE (2010, d. Debra Granik) *** 1/2
WIRE, THE - season 4 (2006, d. various) V. The best season of the best series on TV. How the world really works. ****
WISH YOU WERE HERE (2013, d. Kieran Darcy-Smith) ***
WITCHES, THE (2017, d. Nicolas Roeg) *** 1/2
WITH A FRIEND LIKE HARRY (2001, d. Dominik Moll) *** 1/4
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MYSELF (Aide-toi, et le Ciel t'aidera) (2009, François Dupeyron) *** 1/4
WITH MOM (2014, Bosnia and Herzegovina, d. Faruk Loncarevic) *
WITH YOUR PERMISSION (Til Doden Os Skiller) (2007, d. Paprika Steen) ** 1/2
WITHOUT A NET (2012, d. Kelly Richardson) V. Docu of several kids in Rio slums learning ad hoc circus skills. Interesting enough, but mostly semi-tragic surface view. ** 3/4
WITNESS (2016, d. James Solomon) ** 3/4
WITNESSES (2003, d. Vinko Bresan) Croatia's Academy sub: Intimate, complex, big-screen enigma/horrors of war drama. Slow accretion of detail adds up. ***
WITNESSES, THE (2008, d. André Téchiné) *** 1/2
WOLF HALL (2017, d. Peter Kosminsky) *** 1/2
WOLF OF WALL STREET, THE (2013, d. Martin Scorsese) ***
WOLFMAN, THE (2011 d. Joe Johnston) Great production design, sets, authentic 1891 period details don't make up for crappy, cliché ridden script & overacting. ** 1/4
WOLFPACK, THE (2015, d. Crystal Moselle) *** 1/2
WOLFSBURG (2003, d. Christian Petzold) Heavy drama - a weak man who makes a fatal mistake & seeks redemption. Good acting and script; but a downer. ***
WOLFWALKERS (2021, d. Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart) Average 2D animation of old legend of wolves vs. men in Ireland. ***
WOMAN IN BERLIN, A (Anonyma - Eine Frau in Berlin) (2009, d. Max Färberböck) ***
WOMAN IN GOLD (2015, d. Simon Curtis) *** 1/4
WOMAN IS A HELLUVA THING, A (2001, d. Karen Leigh Hopkins) *
WOMAN ON TOP (2000, d. Fina Torres) ** 1/2
WOMAN WALKS AHEAD (2018, d. Susanna White) ** 1/2
WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE, THE (2012, d. Angelo Guglielmo) V. Fascinating companion docu to The Imposter. Nice animation fleshes out ordinary interviews. *** 1/4
WOMAN WITHOUT PIANO (2009, d. Javier Rebollo) ** 3/4
WOMAN'S WAY, A (Strella) (2009, d. Panos H. Koutras) *** 1/2
WOMB (2011, d. Benedek Fliegauf) *** 1/4
Women of the Gulag (2018, d. Marianna Yarovskaya) *** 3/4
WOMEN ON THE 6TH FLOOR, THE (Service Entrance) (2011, d. Philippe Le Guey) *** 1/4
WOMEN TALKING (2023, d. Sarah Polley) ** 1/4
WOMEN, THE (2005, d. George Cukor) V. ***
WONDER BOYS (2000, d. Curtis Hanson) ***
WONDER WHEEL (2017, d. Woody Allen) ** 1/2
WONDER (2017, d. Stephen Chbosky) *** 1/4
WONDERFUL LOSERS: A DIFFERENT WORLD (2018, Lithuania, d. Arunas Matelis) ** 1/4
WONDERFUL NIGHT IN SPLIT, A (2005, d. Arsen Anton Ostojic) Gorgeous, noir B&W film about a two hour period from 3 different points of view. *** 1/4
WONDERFUL WORLD (2009, d. Joshua Goldin) ** 1/4
WONDERLAND (2000, d. Michael Winterbottom) ****
WONDERLAND (2003, d. James Cox) Bravura filmmaking in aid of tawdry true story. Kilmer & especially Josh Logan are fine. Effectively stomach-turning. ***
WONDERS, THE (2014, d. Avi Nesher) * 3/4
WONDERSTRUCK (2017, d. Todd Haynes) ***
WONDROUS OBLIVION (2004, d. Paul Morrison) Heartwarming English film about a post-War Jewish immigrant family whose son loves cricket. ***
WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (2018, d. Moran Neville) *** 3/4
WOODPECKERS (2017, Dominican Republic, d. Jose Maria Cabral) ** 3/4
WOODSMAN, THE (2004, d. Nicole Kassell) Excellent, if dour drama about a man fighting his pederast proclivity with a great perf by Kevin Bacon. *** 1/4
WOODSTOCK: THREE DAYS THAT DEFINED A GENERATION (2019, d. Barak Goodman, Jamila Ephron) *** 1/2
WORD OF HONOR (2003, d. Robert Markowitz) A favorite novel makes pretty fair transition to tv thanks to fine acting, albeit too compressed a script. ** 3/4
WORDPLAY (2006, d. Patrick Creadon) *** 3/4
WORDS AND PICTURES (2014, d. Fred Schepisi) *** 1/2
WORDS OF WITNESS (2012, d. Mai Iskander) V. Docu of girl reporter in Egypt during 2010-11 revolution & elections. Short, but repetitive. Lots of shouting & crowds and no editorializing. ** 3/4
WORDS, THE (2012, d. Klugman & Sternthal) 3 levels of narrative structure are just too many to sustain true insights here. Nicely acted; but I just didn't believe. ** 1/2
WORK HARD PLAY HARD (Violence des échanges en milieu tempéré) (2006, d. Jean-Marc Moutou) V. Jérémie Renier fine! ***
WORK, THE (2017, Jairus McLeary & Gethin Aldous) ** 1/4
WORLD IS BIG AND SALVATION LURKS AROUND THE CORNER, THE (2009, d. Stefan Komandarev; Bulgaria) *** 1/2
WORLD NOT OURS, A (2014, d. Mahdi Fleifel) *** 1/4
World of Tomorrow (2016, d. Don Hertzfeldt) ** 1/2
WORLD TRADE CENTER (2006, d. Oliver Stone) Seamless f/x, affecting, surprisingly powerful. *** 1/4
WORLD TRAVELER (2002, d. Bart Freundlich) **
WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES, A (2005, d. Xiaogang Feng) Clever variant on martial arts film about thieves on a train going after an innocent patsy. ***
WORLDS APART (To verdener) (2008, d. Niels Arden Oplev; Denmark) ***
WORLD'S END, THE (2013, d. Edgar Wright) * 1/2
WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN, THE (2006, d. Roger Donaldson) V. Hopkins is fine, as usual. The film is pretty predictable. ** 3/4
WORLD'S GREATEST DAD (2009, d. Bobcat Goldthwait) ** 1/4
WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, THE (Verdens verste menneske) (2021, Norway, d. Joachim Trier) *** 3/4
Would Like to Meet (2015, d. Rhys Webster) short film *** 1/4
WOUND, THE (2017, South Africa, d. John Trengove) *** 1/2
WOUNDED ANGEL, THE (2016, d. Emir Baigazin) *
WRECKING CREW, THE (2008, d. Denny Tedesco) *** 1/4
WRECK-IT RALPH (2013, d. Rich Moore) ** 3/4
WRESTLE (2019, d. Suzannah Herbert) *** 1/2
WRESTLER, THE (2008, d. Darren Aronofsky) Despite cringeworthy wrestling action, humanistic Aronofsky shines. Rourk is phenomenal, as are the women. *** 1/4
WRESTLING WITH ANGELS: PLAYWRITE TONY KUSHNER (2006, d. Freida Lee Mock) *** 1/2
WRETCHES & JABBERERS (2010, d. Gerardine Wurzburg) V. Informative, positive docu of world travels & computer communication of 2 autistic older Vermont men. ***
WRIST CUTTERS: A LOVE STORY (2006, d. Goran Dukic) * 3/4
WRITING WITH FIRE (2022, d. Sushmit Ghosh, Rintu Thomas) ** 3/4
WRITTEN ON THE BODY OF THE NIGHT (2002, d. Jaime Humberto Hermosillo) ** 3/4
WRONG SIDE UP (Pribehy Obycejneho Silenstvi) (2005, d. Petr Zelenka) **
WTC VIEW (2005, d. Brian Sloan) Emotionally shattering, brilliantly written & acted (watch for Michael Urie) story of 9/11's effects on some gay NYers. *** 1/2
WUTHERING HEIGHTS (2012, d. Andrea Arnold) ** 1/2
X (2003, d. Luis Marias) Thriller about cop who may or may not have murdered his gay trick. ***
X/Y (2014, d. Ryan Piers Williams) *** 1/4
X+Y (2015, d. Morgan Matthews) *** 1/2
X2 (2003, d. Bryan Singer) Good efx, a story that held together better than the usual comic book turned into film. ** 3/4
XIMEI (2019, d. Andy Cohen) *** 1/2
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (2009, d. Gavin Hood) Entertaining action, better than average acting. What did happen to Liev Schreiber's character? ** 3/4
X-MEN (2000, d. Bryan Singer) ** 1/2
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011, d. Matthew Vaughn) Superior origins film with a fine, albeit historically silly, script and successful casting. Best of the series by a good deal. ***
X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (2019, d. Simon Kinberg) ** 3/4
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014, d. Bryan Singer) *** 1/4
X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (2006, d. Brett Ratner) For my money better than 1 & 2. ***
XX/XY (2002, d. Austin Chick) *** 1/4
XXX (2002, d. Rob Cohen) ** 1/2
XXY (2007, d. Lucia Puenzo) ***
Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN (2002, d. Alfonso Cuarón) *** 3/4
YACOUBIAN BUILDING, THE (2006, d. Marwan Hamed; Egypt) ** 3/4
YARDS, THE (2000, d. James Gray) ** 3/4
YASMIN (2005, d. Kenny Glennan) Drama about a family of Pakis in England after 9/11. Scary and truthful, but as a film sort of primitive. ** 3/4
YEAR MY PARENTS WENT ON VACATION, THE (2008, d. Cao Hamburger; Brazil) ***
YEAR OF GRACE (2012, d. Ventura Pons) ** 1/2
YEAR OF THE WOLF, THE (2008, d. Olli Saarela) ***
YEAR WITHOUT LOVE, A (2005, d. Anahi Berneri) Quietly affecting, often raunchy film journal about an S&M bottom with AIDS. *** 1/4
YEAR ZERO (2006, d. Joseph Patchhadze) *** 1/4
YEARS AND YEARS (2019, limited TV series created by Russell T. Davies) ****
YELLA (2007, d. Christian Petzold) ***
YELLOW ASPHALT (2002, d. Dan Verete) *** 1/4
YES MEN FIX THE WORLD, THE (2009, d. Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno, Kurt Engfehr) *** 1/4
YES NURSE, NO NURSE (2003, Netherlands d. Pieter Kramer) Full-on, campy musical in the Singing in the Rain tradition. Silly; but great fun. ***
YES (2005, d. Sally Potter) Romantic woman's pic in rhymed verse. Joan Allen exudes sex; but for me Potter remains an elusive taste. ** 1/2
Yes-People (2021, d. Gisli Darri Halldorsson) An apartment house with ordinary people saying yes frequently. Good animation, meh story. ** 3/4
YESTERDAY NEVER ENDS (2013, d. Isabel Coixet) * 3/4
YESTERDAY (2005, d. Darrell Roodt) Picturesque & heartfelt So. African AFF about a rural Zulu family ravaged by AIDS. ***
YESTERDAY (2019, d. Danny Boyle)
YI YI (2000, d. A One And A Two…) (2000, d. Edward Yang) *** 3/4
YMCA BASEBALL TEAM (2003, S. Korea d. Kim Hyeun-seok) Historical pageant about the first baseball team in Korea as metaphor for national identity. ** 3/4
YOSHIKI: UNDER THE SKY (2023, Doc., d. Yoshiki, Mark Ritchie) ***
YOSSI & JAGGER (2003, Israel d. Eytan Fox) Unexpectedly good drama about a gay relationship in the Israeli army. *** 1/4
YOSSI (2013, d. Eytan Fox) *** 1/2
YOU & I (2015, d. Nils Bökamp) ** 1/2
YOU AGAIN (2010, d. Andy Fickman) Derivitive plot of 3 generations of girl high school rivalries. Yet it's surprisingly entertaining farce writing. ** 1/2
YOU AND ME (2006, d. Julie Lopes-Curval) ** 3/4
YOU ARE SO HANDSOME (2006, d. Isabelle Mergault) ** 3/4
YOU BET YOUR LIFE (2006, d. Antonin Svoboda; Austria) ** 1/2
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (2000, d. Kenneth Lonergan) *** 1/2
You Can't Stop Spirit (2022, doc. short, d. Vashni Korin) ** 3/4
YOU I LOVE (2004, d. Olga Stopovskaja & Dimitru Troitskji) Screwball modern day Russian comedy about a bisexual commercial maker who falls for a guy. * 3/4
YOU MUST BE JOKING (2014, d. Jake Wilson) ** 3/4
YOU WERE MY FIRST BOYFRIEND (2023, Doc., d. Cecilia Aldarondo) *** 3/4
YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE (2018, d. Lynne Ramsay) ***
YOU WILL BE MY SON (2013, d. Gilles Legrand) *** 1/2
YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER (2010, d. Woody Allen) V. Typical late Allen relationship farce, bitter and ironic. Not well resolved; but diverting. ***
YOU WON'T BE ALONE (2022, Australia IFF, d. Goran Stolevski) * 1/2
YOU, THE LIVING (2007, d. Roy Andersson; Sweden) ** 3/4
YOU'LL GET OVER IT (2012, d. Fabrice Cazeneuve) V. Outstanding gay teen coming of age tv "afternoon special" French style. Julian Baumgartner, wow! *** 1/4
YOU'LL GET OVER IT (2013, d. Fabrice Cazeneuve) V. + *** 1/4
YOU'LL NEVER BE ALONE (2016, d. Alex Anwandter) ** 1/2
YOUNG ADAM (2004, d. David Mackenzie) Dark Scottish film, slow & sexy, visually dull, but unexpectedly poignant. Ewen has never been more attractive. ***
YOUNG ADULT (2011, d. Jason Reitman) Another overly clever Cody script with a fine male "buddy" perf by Patton Oswalt & Theron is convincing. But... **
YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL (2014, d. François Ozon) *** 1/2
YOUNG AND THE DEAD, THE (2001, d. Robert Pulcini and Shari Berman) *** 1/2
YOUNG BLOOD (Pura Sangre) (2006, d. Leo Ricciardi) ** 3/4
YOUNG GOETHE IN LOVE (was GOETHE) (2011 d. Philipp Stolzi) ** 3/4
YOUNG KARL MARX, THE (2018, d. Raoul Peck) **
YOUNG PEOPLE FUCKING (2008, d. Martin Gero) *** 1/4
YOUNG UNKNOWNS, THE (2003, d. Catherine Jelski) Four screwed up, overpriveleged L.A. 20-somethings have a memorable night. ** 3/4
YOUNG VICTORIA, THE (2009, d. Jean-Marc Vallée) I'm a sucker for a great period love story. This is extraordinary, with Blunt & Friend superbly matched. Gorgeous. *** 3/4
YOUNG VICTORIA, THE (2009, d. Jean-Marc Vallée) V.+ Even better 2nd time. Blunt & Friend superbly matched with regal chemistry. Gorgeous sets, costumes. *** 3/4
YOUNGEST SON, THE (Il figlio più) (2010, d. Pupi Avanti) ** 1/2
YOUR LIFE IN '65 (Tu Vida in 65') (2006, d. Maria Ripoll) *** 1/4
YOUR NEXT LIFE (2004, d. Manuel Aragón) A satisfying romance/drama about two feuding farming families in the Pyrannies. ** 3/4
YOUR SISTER'S SISTER (2012, d. Lynn Shelton) Nice concept, improvised (according to Duplass in Q&A) indy rom-com, with great ensemble 3-some & lovely scenery. *** 1/4
YOU'RE NOT IN THE OBIT, EAT BREAKFAST (2017, d. Daniel Gold) *** 3/4
YOUTH IN REVOLT (2009, d. Miguel Arteta) ***
YOUTH RUN AMOK (Short program) (2007, various)
YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH (2007, d. Francis Ford Coppola) Beautiful, Roth is fine; but wha....!? ** 1/2
YOUTH (2013, d. Justine Malle) ** 1/4
YOUTH (2015, d. Paolo Sorrentino) ** 1/4
YOU'VE BEEN TRUMPED (2012, d. Anthony Baxter) V. Best type of David vs. Goliath (The Donald) muckraking docu, only marred by the ambiguous ending. Loved Local Hero metaphor. *** 3/4
YUMA, LA (2010, d. Florence Jaugey; Nicaragua) ** 3/4
YVES SAINT LAURENT (2014, d. Jalil Lespert) *** 1/4
Z CHANNEL: A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (2005, d. Alexandra Cassavettes) V. Well made, informative docu on Jerry Harvey with great movie clips. *** 1/2
Z FOR ZACHARIAH (2015, d. Craig Zobel) ** 1/2
ZABANA! (2012, d. Saïd Ould Khelifa, Algeria) ** 3/4
ZACK AND MIRA MAKE A PORNO (2008, d. Kevin Smith) Intermittantly funny and Rogan is the perfect pomo hero...still, Smith's script sucks. ** 1/2
ZAMA (2017, Argentina, d. Lucrecia Martel) 3/4*
ZATOICHI (2004, d. Takeshi Kitano) Sorry, I was sort of bored...but the Japanese "Riverdance" rhythmic stuff was fun, if weird. ** 1/2
ZAYTOUN (2012, d. Eran Riklis) *** 1/2
ZELARY (2004, d. Ondrej Trojan) Beautifully realized WWII story of a nurse who escapes from the Gestapo to a small Czech village & finds herself. *** 1/2
ZEN OF BENNETT (2012, d. Unjoo Moon) V. Docu of Tony Bennett singing duets & philosophizing, drawing & waxing eloquent. A little ego, too. But Amy Weinhouse, Aretha & Gaga! *** 1/2
ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012, d. Kathryn Bigelow) ****
ZERO DAYS (2016, d. Alex Gibney) ****
ZÉRO DE CONDUITE (2011, d. Jean Vigo) V. I can see where Truffaut was influenced; but honestly Vigo's anarchism & style of filmmaking doesn't appeal in this film. ** 1/2
ZETA (2017, d. Cosimo Alemà) ***
ZHOU YU'S TRAIN (2004, d. Sun Zhou) Elliptical romantic drama about a woman torn by conflicting love for two men. Confusing and overwrought. * 3/4
ZIFT (2009, d. Vladislav Todorov; Bulgaria) ***
ZIM AND CO. (2005, d. Pierre Jolivet) ***
ZIPPER: CONEY ISLAND'S LAST WILD RIDE (2013, d. Amy Nicholson) ** 1/4
ZODIAC (2007, d. David Fincher) Fascinating procedural which plays like All the Presidents Men rather than Se7en. *** 1/4
ZOE (2001, d. Deborah Attoinese) ** 1/2
ZOMBIELAND (2009, d. Rubin Fleischer) Eisenberg is always good; and there are some amusing things here; but I guess that I'm just immune to zombies. ** 1/2
ZONE OF INTEREST, THE (2023, U.K., d. Jonathan Glazer) *** 3/4
ZOO (2018, d. Colin McIvor) ***
ZOOKEEPER, THE (2002, d. Ralph Zian) ***
ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE, THE (2017, d. Nick Caro) ** 3/4
ZOOLOGY (2017, d. Ivan I. Tverdovsky) ** 1/4
ZOOM (2016, d. Pedro Morelli) *** 1/2
ZOOTOPIA (2017, d. Byron Howard & Rich Moore) **
ZOZO (2005, d. Josef Fares; Sweden) ***
ZUS & ZO (2003, d. Paula van der Oest) Netherlands AFF. Family farce about 3 sisters and their gay brother. *** 1/4