Movie Reviews

Arts

Deception And Suspense By The Sea In The Iranian Mystery 'About Elly'

1:58pm April 24, 2015

by David Edelstein

Recently released in the U.S., Asghar Farhadi's 2009 film follows a teacher invited on a beach trip by the mother of one of her students. David Edelstein calls the film "Hitchockian" in its suspense.

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Zabou Breitman plays Ruth Halimi in 24 Days.

Arts

'24 Days' Retells A Brutal Crime With Little Explanation

12:58pm April 24, 2015

by Mark Jenkins

The docudrama 24 Days doesn't try to explain the thinking of those who abducted and killed a Jewish Parisian. Instead, it considers what can be known about the motives of others.

Michiel Huisman and Blake Lively in The Age of Adaline.

Arts

Life Goes On (And On) In 'The Age Of Adaline'

5:24pm April 23, 2015

by Andrew Lapin

The conceptually intriguing story of a woman who doesn't age is let down by the (ironically?) lifeless way it presents the many, many years she has to work with.

Arts

'Tangerines': Enemies On Neutral Territory In A Time Of War

12:07pm April 21, 2015

by Tomas Hachard

The surprise Oscar nominee for Outstanding Foreign Film tries to speak to common humanity even in situations of high conflict, but it struggles to make its themes feel real.

Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) is a pacifist. But NPR film critic Bob Mondello says Tangerines is an "object lesson in the resilience of ancient animosities."

A Tart Take On Bitter Realities In 'Tangerines'

10:05pm April 17, 2015

by Bob Mondello

NPR's Bob Mondello reviews Tangerines, an unconventional war drama that was this year's Estonian nominee for Best Foreign Language Film.

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Monkeys on Castle Rock from Disneynature's Monkey Kingdom.

Arts

'Monkey Kingdom' Is Best When It's All Monkeys All The Time

4:44pm April 17, 2015

by Mark Jenkins

There's some too-cute narration and some suspiciously convenient footage in this sort-of documentary from Disneynature, but when the monkeys are at their best, they're quite charming.

Ethan Hawke and January Jones in Andrew Niccol's Good Kill.

Arts

The Challenges Of War At A Distance

4:32pm April 17, 2015

by Linda Holmes

The new film Good Kill is a little too blunt in its treatment of drone warfare, but strong work from Ethan Hawke as a troubled pilot helps it along.

Arts

In 'True Story,' A Shamed Journalist Interviews A Fugitive Who Stole His Identity

1:17pm April 17, 2015

by David Edelstein

In 2001, Michael Finkel was fired for making up a story. Then he learns that a suspected murderer is posing as him, so he gets to know him. The best word for the drama is "dumb," says David Edelstein.

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Shelley Henning stars as Blaire in Unfriended.

Arts

The Internet Of Spooky Things Is Alive In 'Unfriended'

10:41am April 17, 2015

by Andrew Lapin

It's a tradition for horror films to find teenagers where they live, so it makes sense that Unfriended would find them saying nasty things to and about each other online.

Awkward At Times But 'Child 44' Can Hold Audiences' Attention

7:35am April 17, 2015

by Kenneth Turan

It's taken 7 years for the best-selling literary thriller Child 44 to make it to the screen. It's set in the Soviet Union in the last days of Josef Stalin and stars Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace.

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