ARCHIVED FILM REVIEWS

FILM REVIEWS ARCHIVE

BANGKOK LOVE STORY

"The truth that TLA Releasing doesn’t want you to know is that BANGKOK LOVE STORY, billed as one of its “hottest films of the summer” with a sexy trailer full of tousled hair, brooding looks, and motorcycles, is actually a complete mess from beginning to end..."

BOYS SHORTS (OUTFEST)

"I have to say, this year at Outfest, I have yet to see a complete dog in the programming. Some films have more of an appeal than others for various reasons, cinematography, directing, acting, budget, maybe even food services played a part. But it’s good to see filmmakers continue to explore familiar themes with self inscribed nuances that reveal more to us about ourselves..."

HOLDING TREVOR

"And well deserved. Rosser Goodman has an amazing eye and brings out the best in all of the actors. What follows is a thesis in living in denial. These characters are surely to touch a nerve with everyone. As we are them. We know them. And we hope to grow like them. This film has a limited release and should have gotten a bigger art house release..."

KABLUEY

"I actually do not want to say to much about this fun and amazing film. I still have a kabluey keychain that was given out at LA Film Festival last year. That should serve as how much I love this movie. Do yourself a favor. If it is coming to a theatre near you…. I dare you to go see this film."

THE LAST MISTRESS

"This rich, sensual, period (19th century) drama delves deeply and darkly into sexual manners and manipulation, underpinned by the dual themes of fidelity and jealousy. It is the story of an “untitled gentleman” --one Ryno de Marigny (played by Fu’ad Aït Aattou )-- who must forsake his older mistress--the widow of a well-to-do Spanish aristocrat (played by Asia Argento)--for marriage to a younger, beautiful ingénue of noble blood..."

GONZO: THE LIFE & WORK OF HUNTER S THOMPSON

"I also did not realize the depth of his political influence. His support of Robert Kennedy came as no surprise but his coverage of the 1968 Democratic convention and his lampooning of Ed Muskie sure did. I also found his initial support of Jimmy Carter..."

WANTED

"WANTED proves that highly stylized film-making, many brave choices, and an independent spirit of thought can work for films such as his NIGHT WATCH series, as well as Hollywood Big Explosive Popcorn Flicks..."

EXPIRED

"I have to admit I am a sucker for romance, but Samantha Morton as Claire in EXPIRED gives a performance that intrigued me from the get go. She Breathed such life into the character of a sheltered Santa Monica meter maid that I felt like I not only knew her but wanted to encourage and nurture her..."

KICKING IT

"Since every team is populated with homeless players I almost felt guilty rooting for the film's heroes. Yet every one of them tugged at my heart. This is not the typical small town team overcoming obstacles to win the big game. Each player has issues from drug and alcohol addiction to abandonment and despair..."

MONGOL

"A certain, undeniable giddiness pervades MONGOL. This excitement is primordial, one that we city dwellers have long buried in our sedentary, cement based lives. Sergei Bodrov’s MONGOL revives that long slumbering love of wide-open spaces and unbridled freedom... the sheer joy and grit of MONGOL will stir the wild nomad in all of us..."

OPERATION FILMMAKER

"...it began as a nice film about helping a young man out of his terrible situation... From the first moments Muthana Mohmed arrived on the set of the film, you could see that sometimes the best intentions can have serious consequences... I found this film to be truly thought provoking..."

STUCK

"In Stuck, an agonizing black comedy by writer/director Stuart Gordon, one character’s bad luck unexpectedly collides one night with another’s bad decision-making to produce the most unrelentingly gruesome story to hit the screen in a long time..."

HOLLYWOOD CHINESE

"[Arthur] Dong, is a fantastic filmmaker and you could see that he truly enjoyed making this film. It is a homecoming for him and well deserved. Do yourself a favor and explore the subject with Dong. You will truly love the experience!"

SAVAGE GRACE

"Neither savage nor graceful, Tom Kalin’s ponderous and poorly edited Savage Grace is a sloppy attempt at Reversal of Fortune, minus the coherent story..."

WAR, INC.

"...Strong performance from the always fantastic John Cusack, Marisa Tomei & Hilary Duff propel this film with one laugh after another. But it is the comedic genius of Joan Cusack that steals this film. And, yes, Ben Kingsley is dead on as a paraplegic megalomaniac..."

SON OF RAMBOW

"Anyone who was ever a child who has memories of happy, carefree days where your world was as vast as your imagination and sense of adventure could make it, can appreciate and enjoy this cinematic trip back in time..."

UP THE YANGTZE

"...The result is a series of very evocative, emotional scenes, all the more heartbreaking as we watch the fairly stoic Yu and Chen’s dreams crumble around them. The surreal images are choice, from tourists dressed in kitschy emperor’s robes describing their impressions of China to a man attempting to teach Chinese through piano ditties..."

READ MORE

BEFORE THE RAINS

"...Several times in the film we here someone say “I have/had no choice.” And yet, there is a choice at every turn (certainly for the two lovers at the very start, knowing the great risks), and these choices, of course, create the karmic threads of this affecting story..."

REVERSION

PLAYING AT THE HOLLYWOOD BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

"Reversion is a “lo-fi sci-fi” urban Oedipus Rex where the characters know their future and try to stop it from happening with catastrophic effects. A very original morality tale set in a lawless Los Angeles where..."

READ MORE

THE VISITOR

"...the movie is less about politics and more about human relations, about the reward for opening your heart, for taking chances, for trying new things and going against expectations, and about what it means to be truly alive. The role was written for Jenkins, which is unsurprising as his performance is genuine, sincere..."

READ MORE

VIVA

"From the first frame of this movie, it is obvious that it is set in the 70’s. Biller, got the art direction right... visually this film is fantastic. It looks like a great print from the period..."

See interview with dir. Anna Biller CLICK HERE

FOUR MINUTES

"FOUR MINUTES has two lead actresses that give wonderful performances. Monika Bleibtreu and Hannah Herzsprung are a tour-de-force in their roles and make a good movie, great..."

READ MORE

YOUNG @ HEART

"At first, it was hard to know what to make of the ninety two year old woman in a tuxedo shirt and jeans whose deadpan rendition of The Clash’s 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' made up the opening scene of Stephen Walker’s courageous new documentary, YOUNG @ HEART..."

READ MORE

THE JESUS GUY

"THE JESUS GUY, is an amazing little film that explores the meaning of faith and commitment. Sean Tracey, in his debut feature has captured an intriguing subject in 'What’s Your Name'... a nomadic man who has renounced all worldly property, money and name..."

MORE REVIEWS!

Rowan Harrison Gives His Two Cents on SON OF RAMBOW

DIRTY COUNTRY at LA United

Red Hot Chili Peppers Doc-LAUFF

Backlot Film Festival Reviews