Movies

Last updated 4 July 2010

Current Reviews

Reviews of current movies. Links are to the Rotten Tomatoes Web site, where you can read what other critics and moviegoers thought of each film. Release date is in parentheses. Ratings are from * (stinker) to **** (absolutely wonderful).

*** Closer (December 2004) - Rental
Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen. The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.

She says: This movie's structure is odd: You see only the moments of initial attraction between the various couples, and the moments where the relationships break down. So you don't get to know any character all that well, and you see them all at their worst. Does not make for a warm and cuddly movie experience, but you aren't bored, either.
He says: I was a bit confused by it, and I'm not sure I buy everyone's actions. But it held my interest.

*** Get Him to the Greek (June 2010) - Theatre
Russell Brand, Jonah Hill. Record company employee strives to get drug-addict rock star Aldous Snow to a sold-out show at the Greek Theatre in LA.

She says: I found this totally enjoyable. I have a strange affinity for Russell Brand anyway, and I loved the Aldous Snow character from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The movie has a lot of hilarious scenes, and some fairly coarse ones, but none that ever stop you from rooting for the two main characters.
He says: You know, I don't like either of those two actors at all. But I still really liked this movie. That's a bit disturbing.

**½ Revolutionary Road (December 2008) - Rental
Lenoardo de Caprio, Kate Winslet. A couple's marriage falls apart under the weight of thwarted expectations.

She says: Excellent performances, especially from Winslet, and an interesting, interior exploration of these people as individuals and as a couple. The backdrop is the conformity of 1950s American suburbia, and the reality of women's more limited options when they could not as easily control their fertility. None too cheery, but interesting.
He says: I like more to happen in movies. That needed more plot, for me.

***½ Mao's Last Dancer (October 2009) - Theatre
Chi Cao, Bruce Greenwood. Biography of Li Cunxin, a China-trained ballet dancer who managed to defect to the US in the early 1980s.

She says: Definitely an interesting story, though I somehow expected more ongoing drama once he'd initially managed to stay in the US. But particularly spectacular are the dance sequences, which also carry the story forward. The previously unknown Chi Cao is fantastic in the lead role: a beautiful dancer, a very good actor, and great charisma—very sexy.
He says: That made me want to go to a ballet. I really enjoyed it.

***½ In Bruges (February 2008) - Rental
Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell. Two hitman are dispatched to the medieval town of Bruges after a job gone wrong.

She says: Very clever script, characters that are somehow likeable despite their sometimes appalling behavior, an original premise, and a really lovely town. And funny. Very worth seeing.
He says: Well, that was cheery.

*** When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors (April 2010) - Theatre
The Doors. Documentary about their career.

She says: Moves along well, includes some little-seen footage, and provides a nice history of a band who was far more popular at the time (and of course, remains so) than I'd remembered.
He says: Thanks for not taking me to this movie with you!

** Chloe (March 2010) - Theatre
Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried. Wife suspects her professor husband of infidelity and hires a prostitute to test him.

She says: It's a beautiful looking movie, the cast is good, and it's an interesting premise. But the story doesn't really hold up in the end, and that's a problem.
He says: That movie didn't work for me. [Pause] That girl was really beautiful, though.

**½ The Watchmen: Director’s Cut (December 2009) - Rental
Billy Crudup, . Ryan Bingham lives on the road, a consultant who fires people, when a change in company policy causes him to rethink his personal philosophies.

She says: Having read the graphic novel this is based, I was mostly intrigued with seeing its complexities come to life. It stayed pretty faithful, so nothing was too surprising. It was violent, but I was expecting that. I have no idea what this movie would be like if you haven't read the original. If you have, you might want see this. And likely in this extended version.
He says: That was not my favorite. [He has not read the graphic novel.
She says: Really? That's interesting. Why? Was it confusing? Too violent? Not enough depth to the characters?
He says: [Pause] I don't analyze movies like that. I just didn't like it that much.

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Movie Reviews Archive

Movies A–B (About a Boy to Brokeback Mountain)

Movies C–F (Caché to From Hell)

Movies G–L (Galaxy Quest to Luck)

Movies M–R (Made to The Royal Tenenbaums),

Movies S–Z (Saint Ralph to Y Tu Mama Tambien)

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DVD Reviews

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Articles

Frequently Asked Questions about our Movie Reviews.

Report from the 32nd Popular Culture Association Annual Conference, March 13-16, 2002. Dateline Toronto: What do academics talk about when they get together? Movies they've seen, TV shows they've watched, books they've read. Just like you and me — well, sort of...

Movie Lists: Best of per year, food-related, sexy and dumb yet great comedies.

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Essay

Pretty Woman: A Fantasy Theme Analysis — Why were so many seemingly intelligent women drawn to this piece of fluff about a prostitute and her corporate raider?

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