FILM REVIEWS

Photo	Article Name and Blurb	Rating
	Brideshead RevisitedReviewed by Tim Grierson The timeless theme of the individual’s powerlessness in the face of family, religion, social standing and unrequited love is dusted off in “Brideshead Revisited,” the adaptation of the classic 1945 Evelyn Waugh novel. Impeccable production and costume design are prevalent in every frame, but director Julian Jarrold is not always effective in distinguishing the film’s dramatic concerns from those of previous period literary adaptations.continue >	B-
	Step BrothersReviewed by Gary Dretzka Director McKay keeps the comedy from straying too far into Adam Sandler territory by limiting overt sentimentality and never letting the melodrama overwhelm the gloriously crass dialogue and intentionally childish behavior of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.continue >	B-
	The X Files: I Want to BelievePart supernatural thriller, part serial killer procedural, part medical expose, and part relationship melodrama, but not satisfying on any of these levels, "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" is a disappointing film that will frustrate avid aficionados of the landmark TV series and may not bring many new recruits to the theaters either.continue >	C
	American TeenOpens July 25 Sundance Film Fest 2008 (Documentary Competition)--Slick and entertaining but shallow, Nanette Burstein's documentary "American Teen" is a disappointing chronicle of a year in the lives of a bunch of high-schoolers. Given that she has spent a lengthy time with her subjects and that it's a personal film, "American Teen" is all the more frustrating, showing that the director opted for facile entertainment values and glossy style at the expense of a poignant look at today's youth—and America's future.continue >	C
	Fly Me to the MoonReviewed by Gary Dretzka For many Americans, the most memorable moment in their life occurre in 1969, when Neil Armstrong lowered his booted foot to the lunar surface and observed, "That’s one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind." The historic Apollo 11 landing and moonwalks and the safe return to Earth came eight years after Kennedy declared his intent to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.continue >	B
	Bottle ShockThe overhyped marketing for Randall Miller's fact-inspired but sentimental "Bottle Shock" is doing injustice to the multi-generational feature, which applies the schmaltzy narrative of "Rocky" (and other films about underdogs winning contests against all odds) to the context of American wine and country.continue >	C+

Film reviews and Internet movie reviews by film critic Emanuel Levy. This film review database contains thousands of movie reviews on many different film genres along with profiles of your favorite movie stars and film directors. You can also find movie reviews of independent cinema shown in festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival, foreign film reviews as well as DVD reviews. Movie critic Emanuel Levy is known for his accurate Oscar predictions, so be sure to visit the Oscar News section.

SPOTLIGHT

Enter to Win: Brideshead RevisitedSweepstakes Drawing--July 23, 2008--Courtesy of Miramax, we are conducting a sweepstake for the new film version of "Brideshead Revisited," which opens this Friday. There are two prizes. The first prize is a hardcover copy of Evelyn Waugh's book and the film's sountrack, and the second is a softcover edition of the book.continue >

COMMENT

Brideshead Revisited: CastingOn casting Matthew Goode as Charles Ryder, director Julian Jarrold comments, “The part of Charles is very difficult because he is the observational centre of the film and for a lot of the time, he is reacting to what other people do. Because he is surrounded by extraordinary people, such as Sebastian, Lady Marchmain and Julia, we needed someone who could take the audience on that journey, and Matthew Goode was able to do that. In the second half, you start to see sympathetically the ambitious side to Charles. I think, similarly to any of us being dropped into that world, we wouldn’t want to leave it and it is the same for Charles.”continue >