reviews

'Les Misérables' Review: I Dreamed a Nightmare

December 17, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 22 weeks ago

A confluence of bad decisions and worse performances make this a punishing endurance test -- and Anne Hathway is so singularly awful, she’s got the Oscar wrapped up

  

'The Hobbit': What Critics Think

December 14, 2012 By Brent Lang 22 weeks ago

Reviews for "The Hobbit" are solid, but many critics hate higher frame rates

  

Spice Girls Musical: Critics Really, Really Hate 'Viva Forever!'

December 12, 2012 By Brent Lang 22 weeks ago

Spice Girls musical "Viva Forever!" endures critical beat down -- and lots of puns

  

'Hyde Park on Hudson' Review: Nothing to Fear From This FDR Tale, But Not Much to Praise, Either

December 6, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 23 weeks ago

Like the film itself, Bill Murray’s Roosevelt impersonation isn’t particularly bad, or good, or memorable

  

'Playing for Keeps' Review: Soccer Rom-Com Is Extended Penalty Kick to the Groin

December 6, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 23 weeks ago

The makers of this Gerard Butler atrocity deserve red cards for idiocy and inanity

  

'Killing Them Softly' Review: Crime Comedy Bludgeons Us Repeatedly With Subtext

November 29, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 24 weeks ago

Sharp performances (particularly James Gandolfini’s) and several good scenes can’t overcome the constant references to the economic crash of 2008

  

'Life of Pi' Reviews: Does It Sink or Swim?

November 21, 2012 By Greg Gilman 25 weeks ago

Most praise Ang Lee's 3D "Life of Pi" as a visual spectacle, though a few cranky critics weren't overly impressed by the narrative

  

'Rise of the Guardians' Review: Magic, but You'd Better Believe in Santa Claus

November 20, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 25 weeks ago

Animated adventure creates a wondrous world of imaginary titans, then strands them in an all-too-earthbound story

  

'Red Dawn' Review: Remake Swaps Jingoism for Adolescent War Fantasy

November 20, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 25 weeks ago

Talented young actors get lost among the ka-blam in this noisy, choppy retread of the Reagan-era original

  

'Price Check' Review: This Is One Empty Shopping Cart

November 15, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 26 weeks ago

Only legendary indie actress Parker Posey shines in this otherwise tepid comedy set in the corporate world of supermarkets

  

'Silver Linings Playbook' Review: Mental Illness + Ballroom Dancing = a Madcap Surprise

November 14, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 26 weeks ago

Writer-director David O. Russell even gets actual performances out of Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper 

  

'Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2' Review: Vampiric Malarky Ends With Some Bite

November 14, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 26 weeks ago

Once again, Bill Condon’s Herculean efforts make "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2" far more palatable than it deserves to be

  

'Lincoln' Reviews: Is Steven Spielberg's Biopic Oscar-Worthy?

November 9, 2012 By Brent Lang 27 weeks ago

"Lincoln," with a cast that includes Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field, has high hopes for Oscar night

  

'Starlet' Review: A Quirky, Prickly Portrait of an Unlikely Friendship

November 9, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 27 weeks ago

Indie charmer about a young actress’ relationship with an elderly widow is as far from “Tuesdays with Morrie” as you can get

  

'Skyfall' Reviews: Is This the Best James Bond Yet?

November 8, 2012 By Brent Lang 27 weeks ago

Daniel Craig is back as 007 in "Skyfall," but do the critics think he still has a license to thrill?

  

'Lincoln' Review: Riveting Tale Separates the Man from the Monument

November 7, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 27 weeks ago

Daniel Day-Lewis, with the help of Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, converts the mythic Great Emancipator into a flesh-and-blood human being

  

'Skyfall' Review: Nuanced Thriller Leaps to Top Five of 007 Movies

November 7, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 27 weeks ago

With wit, sex, smarts and excitement all on display, this franchise entry proves that after 50 years, James Bond still has a license to thrill

  

'The Man with the Iron Fists' Review: RZA Serves Up Half-Baked Chop-Socky

November 2, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 28 weeks ago

Wu-Tang Clan co-founder’s love for the kung fu genre doesn’t translate into excitement in his lackluster directorial debut

  

'Jack and Diane' Review: The Worst Teen Lesbian Romance About Werewolves and Nosebleeds You'll Ever See

November 1, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 28 weeks ago

Unless you’re dying to watch Elvis’ granddaughter make out with Kylie Minogue, there’s not much to recommend "Jack and Diane"

  

'The Details' Review: Airless All-Star Comedy is Devilishly Dull

October 31, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 28 weeks ago

Tobey Maguire heads a cast of performers that deserve better than this morality play about jerks acting like jerks

  

'A Late Quartet' Review: Classical-Music Drama Gets Soapy But Actors Avoid the False Notes

October 31, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 28 weeks ago

Despite some forays toward melodrama, a fine ensemble of actors keeps this tale of the lives and loves of musicians in tune

  

'Wreck-It Ralph' Review: Arcade-Generation 'Roger Rabbit' Is Worth Every Quarter

October 30, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 28 weeks ago

John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman lead a talented voice cast in this tale of videogame characters who want to be more than the sum of their programming

  

'Fun Size' Review: Mostly Empty Calories, But Still a Halloween Treat

October 26, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 29 weeks ago

This teen romp pales next to the movies that influenced it, but there are enough laughs to fill your plastic jack-o’-lantern

  

'Chasing Mavericks' Review: Surfing Saga Wipes Out on Dry Land

October 25, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 29 weeks ago

The surfing footage is breathtaking, but Gerard Butler and company can’t keep this clichéd biopic afloat

  

'Cloud Atlas' Review: Bends the Brain Without Touching the Heart

October 24, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 29 weeks ago

The Wachowskis’ and Tom Tykwer’s time-spanning epic offers a feast for the eyes and ears, but the emotional payoffs just aren’t there

  

'Paranormal Activity 4' Review: Found-Footage Fright Franchise Keeps Chugging Along

October 19, 2012 By Alonso Duralde 30 weeks ago

There are a half-dozen decent scares in this new sequel, but boy do they make you wait to get to them