Rise of the Guardians 3/4: A movie review by James Berardinelli

The summer of 2012 was dismal for animated fare but, with releases like Frankenweenie, Wreck-It Ralph, and Rise of the Guardians, things have taken a turn for the better during the autumn…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Liberal Arts 3/4: A movie review by James Berardinelli

Liberal Arts is a parfait – a light, enjoyable concoction that goes down easily but doesn’t linger…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Pitch Perfect 2/4: a movie review from James Berardinelli

Pitch Perfect looks, sounds, and feels like pretty much every other movie that features a singing or dancing competition. Read more

God Bless America 3/4: a movie review from James Berardinelli

This is an angry movie. When I write angry, I mean angry. Read more

Trouble with the Curve 2/4: a movie review by James Berardinelli

Following his starring role in 2008’s Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood decided to step away from appearing in front of the cameras. His self-imposed acting hiatus lasted four years. Read more

Celeste and Jesse Forever 3/4: a movie review by James Berardinelli

Celeste and Jesse Forever wants to be marketed as an “anti-romantic comedy,” but, despite its somewhat unconventional storyline, it’s very much about what draws people together into relationships and what pulls them apart. Read more

The Perks of being a Wallflower 3/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

Most of us, even some who were part of the “in crowd,” think of ourselves as having been outsiders during high school. It’s the nature of adolescence. Read more

2 Days in New York 2.5/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

2 Days in New York is a sequel to, and an improvement upon, 2007’s 2 Days in Paris..writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Skyfall 3.5/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

Skyfall can take its place alongside From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service as the best Bond can offer…writes James Berdinelli. Read more

God Bless America 3/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

This is an angry movie. When I write angry, I mean angry…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Alex Cross 2/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

Alex Cross, loosely adapted from the novel Cross by James Patterson, has all the earmarks of something contorted and condensed to fit into the 100-minute time limit imposed on mass marketed motion pictures. Read more

Seven Psychopaths 2½/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

For about 75 minutes, Seven Psychopaths is a rollicking good movie – kinetic, clever, funny, and brutal. Read more

The Sessions 3/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

Back toward the beginning of her career, a then- 29 year old Helen Hunt appeared in a movie called The Waterdance. The film dealt frankly with the way disability impacted the sexual relationship between her character and the one played by Eric Stoltz. Read more

The Master 3/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

The Master is one of the most technically impressive films of 2012. It is the work of an artist; every shot is carefully composed. The set design, which recreates post-World War II America, is impeccable. Read more

Bachelorette 0/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

Sometimes a movie is so good it makes me glad I’m in the business of writing reviews. Bachelorette is not one of those…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

End of Watch 3½/4 – A movie review by James Berardinelli

The problem with End of Watch, a gripping police drama, is director David Ayer’s stylistic decision to shoot nearly the entire movie tripod-less…writes James Berardinelli Read more

Safety not Guaranteed 3/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

The classified ad reads: “WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before. ” Read more

To Rome with Love 1½/4 – A movie review by James Berdinelli

Once upon a time, calling a movie “lesser Woody Allen” might be considered a slap in the face. Now, it’s more-or-less expected. In the last decade, Allen has directed two good movies: Match Point and Midnight in Paris. Read more

The Intouchables 3½/4 A movie review by James Berdinelli

At the beginning of The Intouchables, a caption informs us that this is “based on a true story.” Read more

Savages 3/4 A Movie review from James Berardinelli

Savages is a drug-fueled crime delirium that doesn’t break much new ground in the genre but offers a volatile concoction of violence, heroism, and amorality that is compulsively watchable. Read more

Looper 4/4 a movie review

Looper is a tremendous motion picture experience. Not merely a “very good” one, but a great one…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Arbitrage 3/4….a movie review

With a title like Arbitrage, it’s reasonable to expect a story that navigates the byzantine labyrinth of the world’s financial systems – perhaps a better companion piece to Wall Street than Money Never Sleeps…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

The Watch 1½/4 a movie review

Comedy-based “science fiction” needn’t be universally appalling but, to work, it has to be handled with more skill and care than is evident here…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted 2/4

Madagascar 3 raises an interesting question about what movie-goers want from animated films: intelligent, thoughtful productions that use artwork, rather than live-action, to tell a story, or colorful crap that can be used to distract children for about 90 minutes…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Beasts of the Southern Wild 2½/4 … a movie review

Contained within Beasts of the Southern Wild are moments of fragile, understated magic that emphasize the relationship that exists even between the most neglectful, irresponsible fathers and their daughters…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Hit & Run 1½/4 A movie review by James Berardinelli

For an action comedy, it’s generally advisable that the movie be (a) exciting, (b) funny, or (c) both of the above. In the case of Hit & Run, the unfortunate choice is (d) none of the above. Read more

The Expendables 2…a movie reviewed by James Berardinelli. Rated 2½/4

The Expendables 2 does not defy expectations; it defines them. If you think you know what the movie will deliver, you’re probably right…writes James Berdinelli. Read more

Moonrise Kingdom a movie reviewed by James Berardinelli. Rated 3 ½/4

Few working directors are as consistently, dependably quirky as Wes Anderson, whose films tend to excite art house audiences while being ignored and bypassed by mainstream movie-goers..writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Bully 3½/4

Columbine has never been a mystery to me. A tragedy, yes, but not mystery…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Total Recall 2/4

It’s a hard thing for a filmmaker, even an accomplished one, to make a project “his own” when the original is well remembered as a vehicle for a star as big as Arnold Schwarzenegger…writes James Beradinelli. Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »