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puts a human face on a land most westerners are unfamiliar with .

worth watching for dong jie 's performance -- and for the way it documents a culture in the throes of rapid change .

all-in-all , the film is an enjoyable and frankly told tale of a people who live among us , but not necessarily with us .

an artful , intelligent film that stays within the confines of a well-established genre .

jones ... does offer a brutal form of charisma .

while undisputed is n't exactly a high , it is a gripping , tidy little movie that takes mr. hill higher than he 's been in a while .

overall very good for what it 's trying to do .

it moves quickly , adroitly , and without fuss ; it does n't give you time to reflect on the inanity -- and the cold war datedness -- of its premise .

while locals will get a kick out of spotting cleveland sites , the rest of the world will enjoy a fast-paced comedy with quirks that might make the award-winning coen brothers envious .

ramsay , as in ratcatcher , remains a filmmaker with an acid viewpoint and a real gift for teasing chilly poetry out of lives and settings that might otherwise seem drab and sordid .

a poignant and compelling story about relationships , food of love takes us on a bumpy but satisfying journey of the heart .

it 's a stunning lyrical work of considerable force and truth .

the draw ( for `` big bad love '' ) is a solid performance by arliss howard .

at a time when half the so-called real movies are little more than live-action cartoons , it 's refreshing to see a cartoon that knows what it is , and knows the form 's history .

fun , flip and terribly hip bit of cinematic entertainment .

crackerjack entertainment -- nonstop romance , music , suspense and action .

so refreshingly incisive is grant that for the first time he 'll probably appeal more to guys than to their girlfriends who drag them to this movie for the hugh factor .

it is great summer fun to watch arnold and his buddy gerald bounce off a quirky cast of characters .

if you enjoy more thoughtful comedies with interesting conflicted characters ; this one is for you .

if you are an actor who can relate to the search for inner peace by dramatically depicting the lives of others onstage , then esther 's story is a compelling quest for truth .

yakusho and shimizu ... create engaging characterizations in imamura 's lively and enjoyable cultural mix .

like leon , it 's frustrating and still oddly likable .

we know the plot 's a little crazy , but it held my interest from start to finish .

a quiet , pure , elliptical film

affleck and jackson are good sparring partners .

good film , but very glum .

it 's a work by an artist so in control of both his medium and his message that he can improvise like a jazzman .

a subtle and well-crafted ( for the most part ) chiller .

if you can stomach the rough content , it 's worth checking out for the performances alone .

the sort of film that makes me miss hitchcock , but also feel optimistic that there 's hope for popular cinema yet .

jaglom ... put ( s ) the audience in the privileged position of eavesdropping on his characters

as a first-time director , paxton has tapped something in himself as an actor that provides frailty with its dark soul .

people cinema at its finest .

fresnadillo 's dark and jolting images have a way of plying into your subconscious like the nightmare you had a week ago that wo n't go away .

richard gere and diane lane put in fine performances as does french actor oliver martinez .

so much facile technique , such cute ideas , so little movie .

a moody , multi-dimensional love story and sci-fi mystery , solaris is a thought-provoking , haunting film that allows the seeds of the imagination to germinate .

a big , gorgeous , sprawling swashbuckler that delivers its diversions in grand , uncomplicated fashion .

it gets onto the screen just about as much of the novella as one could reasonably expect , and is engrossing and moving in its own right .

by candidly detailing the politics involved in the creation of an extraordinary piece of music , ( jones ) calls our attention to the inherent conflict between commerce and creativity .

hilariously inept and ridiculous .

a quiet treasure -- a film to be savored .

charles ' entertaining film chronicles seinfeld 's return to stand-up comedy after the wrap of his legendary sitcom , alongside wannabe comic adams ' attempts to get his shot at the big time .

... a fun little timewaster , helped especially by the cool presence of jean reno .

leigh 's film is full of memorable performances from top to bottom .

what really makes it special is that it pulls us into its world , gives us a hero whose suffering and triumphs we can share , surrounds him with interesting characters and sends us out of the theater feeling we 've shared a great adventure .

among the year 's most intriguing explorations of alientation .

the film tunes into a grief that could lead a man across centuries .

this is a winning ensemble comedy that shows canadians can put gentle laughs and equally gentle sentiments on the button , just as easily as their counterparts anywhere else in the world .

vera 's three actors -- mollà , gil and bardem -- excel in insightful , empathetic performances .

there 's a wickedly subversive bent to the best parts of birthday girl .

harrison 's flowers puts its heart in the right place , but its brains are in no particular place at all .

rare birds has more than enough charm to make it memorable .

the second coming of harry potter is a film far superior to its predecessor .

this is an egotistical endeavor from the daughter of horror director dario argento ( a producer here ) , but her raw performance and utter fearlessness make it strangely magnetic .

a deep and meaningful film .

on the heels of the ring comes a similarly morose and humorless horror movie that , although flawed , is to be commended for its straight-ahead approach to creepiness .

an exquisitely crafted and acted tale .

not the kind of film that will appeal to a mainstream american audience , but there is a certain charm about the film that makes it a suitable entry into the fest circuit .

what distinguishes time of favor from countless other thrillers is its underlying concern with the consequences of words and with the complicated emotions fueling terrorist acts .

cq 's reflection of artists and the love of cinema-and-self suggests nothing less than a new voice that deserves to be considered as a possible successor to the best european directors .

no sophomore slump for director sam mendes , who segues from oscar winner to oscar-winning potential with a smooth sleight of hand .

this surreal gilliam-esque film is also a troubling interpretation of ecclesiastes .

the weight of the piece , the unerring professionalism of the chilly production , and the fascination embedded in the lurid topic prove recommendation enough .

it provides an honest look at a community striving to anchor itself in new grounds .

it 's an offbeat treat that pokes fun at the democratic exercise while also examining its significance for those who take part .

( lawrence bounces ) all over the stage , dancing , running , sweating , mopping his face and generally displaying the wacky talent that brought him fame in the first place .

it deserves to be seen by anyone with even a passing interest in the events shaping the world beyond their own horizons .

at its best , queen is campy fun like the vincent price horror classics of the '60s .

an operatic , sprawling picture that 's entertainingly acted , magnificently shot and gripping enough to sustain most of its 170-minute length .

sade is an engaging look at the controversial eponymous and fiercely atheistic hero .

so , too , is this comedy about mild culture clashing in today 's new delhi .

a breezy romantic comedy that has the punch of a good sitcom , while offering exceptionally well-detailed characters .

for the first time in years , de niro digs deep emotionally , perhaps because he 's been stirred by the powerful work of his co-stars .

a celebration of quirkiness , eccentricity , and certain individuals ' tendency to let it all hang out , and damn the consequences .

the movie does a good job of laying out some of the major issues that we encounter as we journey through life .

an entertaining , colorful , action-filled crime story with an intimate heart .

there has always been something likable about the marquis de sade .

a smart , witty follow-up .

aside from minor tinkering , this is the same movie you probably loved in 1994 , except that it looks even better .

one of those energetic surprises , an original that pleases almost everyone who sees it .

mcconaughey 's fun to watch , the dragons are okay , not much fire in the script .

first-time writer-director serry shows a remarkable gift for storytelling with this moving , effective little film .

a simple , but gritty and well-acted ensemble drama that encompasses a potent metaphor for a country still dealing with its fascist past .

further proof that the epicenter of cool , beautiful , thought-provoking foreign cinema is smack-dab in the middle of dubya 's axis of evil .

... mafia , rap stars and hood rats butt their ugly heads in a regurgitation of cinematic violence that gives brutal birth to an unlikely , but likable , hero . '

nothing 's at stake , just a twisty double-cross you can smell a mile away -- still , the derivative nine queens is lots of fun .

the movie achieves as great an impact by keeping these thoughts hidden as ... ( quills ) did by showing them .

immersing us in the endlessly inventive , fiercely competitive world of hip-hop djs , the project is sensational and revelatory , even if scratching makes you itch .

corny , schmaltzy and predictable , but still manages to be kind of heartwarming , nonetheless .

it 's about following your dreams , no matter what your parents think .

highbrow self-appointed guardians of culture need not apply , but those who loved cool as ice have at last found a worthy follow-up .

despite the 2-d animation , the wild thornberrys movie makes for a surprisingly cinematic experience .

it provides the grand , intelligent entertainment of a superior cast playing smart people amid a compelling plot .

birthday girl is an amusing joy ride , with some surprisingly violent moments .

moody , heartbreaking , and filmed in a natural , unforced style that makes its characters seem entirely convincing even when its script is not .

good old-fashioned slash-and-hack is back !

though only 60 minutes long , the film is packed with information and impressions .

it 's also , clearly , great fun .

one of the best films of the year with its exploration of the obstacles to happiness faced by five contemporary individuals ... a psychological masterpiece .