FJI - Reviews

Film Review: Frances Ha

Sarah Sluis — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:35:00 EDT

Spot-on, exquisitely crafted portrait of a floundering 20-something.

Film Review: State 194

Doris Toumarkine — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:03:00 EDT

Clear-headed and utterly reasonable and engrossing doc suggesting why Israel and the Palestinians cannot finally consummate the long-talked-about, generally accepted two-state solution to Middle East antagonism.

Film Review: Erased

David Noh — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:16:00 EDT

Well-done, gripping international thriller, starring the underrated Aaron Eckhart.

Film Review: The English Teacher

David Noh — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:13:00 EDT

This theatre-centric frolic has a clever, pleasing start, but sadly degenerates into bland formula stuff.

Film Review: Black Rock

Doris Toumarkine — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:07:00 EDT

Nifty little genre gem with its share of surprises has three damsel campers in distress on an isolated island they didn’t know they’d be sharing with three hunters back from overseas battle and with too much fight left in them.

Film Review: Hating Breitbart

Frank Scheck — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 EDT

Love him or hate him, this documentary about the polarizing figure leaves you wanting more substance.

Film Review: 33 Postcards

David Noh — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:54:00 EDT

The “oh-so-innocent waif and big old baddie” odd-couple formula dates back to D.W. Griffith, but this muddled effort does nothing to merit its questionable revival.

Film Review: Augustine

Chris Barsanti — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:50:00 EDT

A lushly filmed, fascinating true story about the relationship between a groundbreaking French doctor and his “hysteric” female patient buries itself with a simplistic approach and deadly-dull dialogue.

Film Review: Elemental

Michael Sauter — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:14:00 EDT

Three eco-activists walk it like they talk it, in a documentary that doesn’t have to preach or overload us with statistics to get its message across. Meanwhile, its sobering images of despoiled natural resources vividly speak for themselves.

Film Review: Bidder 70

Eric Monder — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:11:00 EDT

The story of a brave political activist makes for a documentary more inspiring than informative.

Film Review: The Fruit Hunters

David Noh — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:49:00 EDT

Too bad Carmen Miranda isn’t around to see this fetching, revealing doc about her favorite accessory.

Film Review: Pieta

Deborah Young — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:55:00 EDT

Viewers will keep their eyes closed for most of this violent but ultimately moving Korean film.

Film Review: Becoming Traviata

David Noh — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:04:00 EDT

A clumsy and sadly missed opportunity to capture the creation of a great opera role by a great singer.

Film Review: Star Trek Into Darkness

Kevin Lally — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:14:00 EDT

The post-conversion 3D is disappointing, but the newest Star Trek adventure remains exciting summer entertainment with a most appealing ensemble cast.

Film Review: Aftershock

Jordan Mintzer — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:02:00 EDT

Eli Roth steps in front of the camera in this fun but by-the-numbers horror romp.

Film Review: Stories We Tell

Erica Abeel — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:53:00 EDT

A genre-twisting documentary with a fictional vibe that playfully bares the elusive truths about a family of storytellers.

Film Review: Venus and Serena

Marsha McCreadie — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:05:00 EDT

Documentary about the phenomenal tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams sees them as women as well as phenomenon.

Film Review: Sightseers

Maitland McDonagh — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:57:00 EDT

A pair of misfit lovers—prickly loner Chris and painfully introverted Tina—embark on a quirky road trip that includes stops at such roadside attractions as a museum of pencil-making, gradually revealing a dark side to their apparently harmless eccentricities.

Film Review: He's Way More Famous Than You

David Noh — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:51:00 EDT

Anything-goes, loopily autobiographical romp about the travails of a desperate actress it would be a nightmare to encounter in real life. But haven’t we all, on some level?

Film Review: What Richard Did

Stephen Dalton — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:41:00 EDT

We need to talk about Richard.