Movie Reviews

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Review + Background Buzz + Critical Clips)

Jim — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:30:56 -0500

Let me preface this review by saying that it's not written with Indiana Jones fanboys in mind. The die-hards, like fellow Zoom In blogger Todd Howard, are so ingrained in the Indiana Jones mythos that no review, positive or negative, would effect their decision to see the film in the slightest way. Whether lauded as a sure bet for the Oscars or panned as a sloppy canonical imitator, those fans' nostalgia will override any structural flaws in the film to find satisfaction. This review is written for the casual fan, the ones who weren't raised on Dr. Jones's adventures, those on the fence, or for the ones who (though hard to imagine) have not seen any entry into the original trilogy. Similar to the last two Matrix films or George Lucas's Star Wars prequels, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull futilely attempts to recapture the magic of its source material.

Head Wind (Review + Background Buzz + Critical Clips)

Keith Uhlich — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:28:48 -0500

Writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof’s narrative feature, Iron Island, is one of the finest Iranian films ever released in the west, and his new work, Head Wind, is a no-less stellar effort, a semi-documentary about the satellite television rage currently sweeping the Middle Eastern nation, even in the face of an often violent clerical adversity.

The Universe of Keith Haring (Review + Background Buzz)

Keith Uhlich — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:14:22 -0500

Unlike Tribeca ‘08’s terrific New York art world doc, Guest of Cindy Sherman, The Universe of Keith Haring fails to penetrate more than cursorily (and too often annoyingly) into the brief, yet prolific career of its central figure.

Guest of Cindy Sherman (Review)

Keith Uhlich — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:58:32 -0500

If we were to go on immediate impressions, Paul H-O is the kind of guy most of us would attempt to avoid. As host of the now-defunct public access show Gallery Beat (myriad clips of which are on display in the new film, co-directed by Paul, Guest of Cindy Sherman), he was a force of underground, lo-fi nature.

Milosevic on Trial (Review + Background Buzz)

Keith Uhlich — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:05:19 -0500

Milosevic on Trial, a potent mix of courtroom footage, talking heads interviews, and video asides, runs slightly over an hour (reportedly cut down from a two-hour television version), though the brief running time actually works in this engrossing documentary’s favor. The four-years-long war crimes trial of Serbian and Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic thus goes by in the relative blink of an eye, the bogged down legal process (reams of paperwork, myriad witnesses, an overall clinical presentation and examination of the most unspeakable kinds of evidence) suddenly collapsed into a fleet-footed and deeply moving space.

Kicking It (Review + Background Buzz + Critical Clips)

Keith Uhlich — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:38:54 -0500

Bookended by to-the-camera appeals from executive producer Colin Farrell, Kicking It initially promises to be little more than a sports channel infomercial – no surprise that this Hi-Def documentary about The Homeless World Cup was acquired by ESPN after its January premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. But there’s a good deal more to the film besides star-sanctioned awareness raising.

Iron Man (Review + Background Buzz + Critical Clips)

Jim — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:16:04 -0500

It's been called one of the most anticipated comic book adaptations in years. For years there were rumors - whispers of the red and gold one being brought to the big screen and when it was finally confirmed, fan boys were chomping at the bit for any piece of information to quell their insatiable metallic lust. They were even willing to overlook the hiring of unimpressive director Jon Favreau as long as Tony Stark was brought to life on the big screen. The time has finally come and Iron Man has been unleashed. The first question with a movie this big will always be does it live up to the hype? Unlike superhero predecessors X-Men and Batman Begins before it, the answer is a resounding no. Hopefully Favreau was aiming to please the fan boys with this latest effort because those looking for a good film will find themselves greatly disappointed.

From Within (Review + Background Buzz + Critical Clips)

Jim — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:38:31 -0500

If there's a specific demographic that everyone can agree upon disliking, it's religious fanatics. Whether they're religious extremists in foreign countries or ultra fundamentalists here at home, fanatics antagonize those already opposed to their views and alienate the unembroidered believers; all the while tainting the name of the religion they represent. They also make easy fodder for a horror film. At least, writer Brad Keene and cinematographer-turned-director Phedon Papamichael think so. Lambasting Christian fundamentalists, From Within treads a path exploring the quintessential small town with a dark secret. The stage is set for a movie with a message with some good scares along the way. Unfortunately for the audience, From Within adds nothing to a familiar formula and from beginning to end is a tired and insipid effort.

Dying Breed (Review + Background Buzz + Critical Clips)

Jim — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:24:44 -0500

Hollywood seems to be running out of ideas for original horror movies these days. Whether they're remakes, sequels, or prequels, most mass-produced horror films recently seem to point to an anemic state of creativity. One resource that seems to be ill tapped is history. The Mothman, the Jersey Devil, Sasquatch...just dig a little through the history books and you'll uncover a plethora of urban legends and local mythologies that are ripe for adaptation by the right creative minds. Enter Dying Breed. Directed by Australian Jody Dwyer and co-written by Dwyer, Michael Boughen, and Rod Morris, Dying Breed bases its story on real-life historical convict Alexander Pearce, who was hanged in Australia for cannibalism in 1824. Though the film takes place in contemporary times it asks how, if he had any, would Pearce's descendents live today and what would they have to do to survive? As foreign filmmakers often do with the horror genre, Dwyer impresses with his execution, delivering a quality film that pulls off its formula to a T while still leaving room for some unconventional twists.

Killer Movie (Review + Background Buzz)

Jim — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:43:26 -0500

Who can't stand reality television anymore? What first started out as a novelty grew into a fad and now has devolved into a plague. Though a few shows were initially humbly produced as social experiments (The Real World, Survivor), eventually the genre mutated into the exploitative (The Moment of Truth), the voyeuristic (The Simple Life), and the malicious (Temptation Island). With premises becoming more ridiculous and the term "reality" becoming more ironic, TV execs are constantly trying to up the bar for a more entertaining product.

Jeff Fisher, writer/director of the horror-comedy Killer Movie, knows all about reality TV. Fisher has worked as a writer/director/producer for reality shows such as The Real World/Road Rules Challenge and Big Brother for years so it should be no surprise that his feature film debut exists within the world he knows so well. What is a surprise (and a delightful one at that) is to see a native son of the biz like Fisher recognizing and lampooning the more destructive elements of reality TV. These inherent themes provide the film with some redemption to make up for the problematic execution of a promising first time script from a first time director.