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American Iconoclast: Skilled documentarian Alex Gibney trains his lens on Hunter S. Thompson in Gonzo.
David Lee SimmonsHunter S. Thompson wasn’t just a great storyteller; he was a great story himself, partly because he became his stories. As inventor of the “gonzo” style of journalism– with its... read on»
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Tell Everyone: Rousing French thriller Tell No One barrels along at a thrilling pace.
Josh RosenblattTell No One, French director Guillaume Canet‘s excellent adaptation of Harlan Coben’s best-selling novel, has everything a great personal-paranoia/persecution movie needs: a citizen-hero who refuses to capitulate to unseen and... read on»
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R-rested Development: The vulgar immaturity of Step Brothers’ main characters extends to the filmmaking.
Scott RenshawBrennan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly) are 40-year-old losers, unemployed and still living at home with their respective single parents (Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins) when... read on»
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Ready for ‘90s nostalgia? The Wackness is ill to the core.
Kelly VanceThe makers of The Wackness would like us to visualize its setting inside a concise set of coordinates: New York City in the early ‘90s, the era of Rudy Giuliani... read on»
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Unbalanced Ledger: The Dark Knight delivers more than a menacing farewell performance.
Scott RenshawHere is the ugly truth nobody at Warner Bros. can possibly utter aloud: The death of Heath Ledger will be good for The Dark Knight’s bottom line. Make no mistake,... read on»
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Bottom’s Up: Werner Herzog’s latest doc brings Antartica to the fore.
Marc SavlovI have an idea for a terrific new board game– for kids of all ages! It’s called Where in the World Is Werner Herzog? ... read on»
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The Big Picture: Will high-tech film formats like Journey to the Center of the Earth rekindle the love for movies?
Curt HolmanEvery generation or two, the pitched rivalry between cinema and video erupts into full-fledged war. At times wary allies, the movie house and the home entertainment system engage in a... read on»
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Father Hood: When Did You Last See Your Father? looks at a strained familial relationship.
Marjorie BaumgartenBased on the British poet Blake Morrison’s written memoir, the film When Did You Last See Your Father? is a very particular yet universal story about the eternal knot between... read on»
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Heroic Failure: Hancock does more damage than good.
Curt HolmanThe most awesome power of Will Smith’s comic-bookish dramedy Hancock is its ability to turn superhero clichés upside down. As John Hancock, Smith demonstrates talents comparable to Superman’s: incredible strength,... read on»
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Firing Blanks: Wanted has a serious gun fetish.
Josh RosenblattIf Maxim magazine ever decides to branch out into filmmaking, Wanted is just the kind of ear-throttling nonsense it’s bound to produce. Based on Mark Millar’s ultra-violent comic-book miniseries of... read on»