|
B+
|
Breach
(2007)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Cooper is always dead-bang on
Posted Aug 31, 2007
|
|
A
|
The Queen
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
A memoir of those strange days.
Posted Feb 07, 2007
|
|
A-
|
Stranger Than Fiction
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Give Ferrell as many roles like this as he can possibly handle.
Posted Dec 04, 2006
|
|
B
|
Marie Antoinette
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Beautifully filmed and fun in its own quirky way.
Posted Dec 04, 2006
|
|
C+
|
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Great satire, perhaps, but remarkably painful.
Posted Nov 10, 2006
|
|
B
|
The Prestige
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
It isn't my favorite Nolan film, but it's better than most of the films I see.
Posted Nov 10, 2006
|
|
B+
|
Flags of Our Fathers
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
A strange, and often brilliant, blend of raging war footage and quiet drama.
Posted Oct 26, 2006
|
|
A-
|
The Departed
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Probably the best acted film of the year.
Posted Oct 26, 2006
|
|
B+
|
Hollywoodland
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
The film is sustained on its juicy minor characters.
Posted Oct 18, 2006
|
|
C
|
The Guardian
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
The film certainly comes across like a paid Coast Guard advertisement at times.
Posted Oct 18, 2006
|
|
A-
|
Little Miss Sunshine
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
May wind up being the 'dysfunctional family' film against which all others are ultimately compared.
Posted Sep 05, 2006
|
|
B
|
Superman Returns
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
The film has a parallel universe that extends beyond the losses the characters suffer to the ones the audience has, based on who we are and what has happened to us.
Posted Aug 30, 2006
|
|
A
|
Wordplay
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
A wonderful little documentary that seems fascinated with humanity.
Posted Aug 30, 2006
|
|
B-
|
You, Me and Dupree
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
An oddly likeable film that grows on you if you're willing to stick with it.
Posted Aug 30, 2006
|
|
D+
|
My Super Ex-Girlfriend
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
A one joke film that runs its comedic course in about thirty minutes.
Posted Aug 30, 2006
|
|
C+
|
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
A fairly funny vehicle that runs out of gas well before the checkered flag.
Posted Aug 30, 2006
|
|
C-
|
The Pink Panther
(2006)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Rest assured, the decision to remake this film had nothing to do with art, creativity, comedic zen, or some form of tribute to Sellers or Blake Edwards.
Posted Mar 14, 2006
|
|
B
|
In Her Shoes
(2005)
|
Jim Chastain
|
One of those rare redemption films that redeems even itself.
Posted Oct 21, 2005
|
|
B
|
Stay
(2005)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Works best as an intellectual cinematic essay on the veiled subject at hand (and a director-driven art film at that), rather than as a narrative drama.
Posted Oct 21, 2005
|
|
B -
|
An Unfinished Life
(2005)
|
Jim Chastain
|
An oddball blend of Western and soap opera.
Posted Sep 21, 2005
|
|
C +
|
Just Like Heaven
(2005)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Too cute for its own good.
Posted Sep 21, 2005
|
|
B
|
Millions
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
A cute film, heartwarming to a fault, and a sure crowd pleaser.
Posted Jun 18, 2005
|
|
C
|
Mindhunters
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Somewhat of a self-fulfilling title.
Posted Jun 18, 2005
|
|
B
|
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
(2005)
|
Jim Chastain
|
The film works fine as stand-alone entertainment, but does irreparable harm to the series as a whole.
Posted Jun 18, 2005
|
|
B +
|
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
(2005)
|
Jim Chastain
|
A dry, twisted commentary on marriage and intimacy.
Posted Jun 18, 2005
|
|
A -
|
Batman Begins
(2005)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Nolan steadfastly refuses to turn this film into the special effects catastrophe it could so easily be.
Posted Jun 18, 2005
|
|
B -
|
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
(2005)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Overall, the film is enjoyable, but it is never exactly brilliant and is certainly less worthy than the novel.
Posted May 11, 2005
|
|
A -
|
Million Dollar Baby
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
On relationships, the film soars.
Posted Feb 22, 2005
|
|
B
|
Collateral
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Lands solidly in the worthwhile category, rather than the slush pile.
Posted Aug 06, 2004
|
|
B -
|
The Notebook
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Like a summer wedding, you attend and root and try your best not to snicker.
Posted Jul 16, 2004
|
|
B -
|
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Consistently funny, more often than not of the cheap variety.
Posted Jul 16, 2004
|
|
B
|
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
a pretty hilarious movie thanks to Stiller's willingness to let himself look like a complete idiot just for laughs
Posted Jun 28, 2004
|
|
C
|
Hellboy
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
I saw many films in this hodgepodge... but I saw nothing that 'Hellboy' could call its own.
Posted Apr 02, 2004
|
|
C
|
Starsky & Hutch
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
The idea of it, including the attention to seventies detail and the music, is funnier than most of the film.
Posted Apr 02, 2004
|
|
A -
|
Lost in Translation
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
The ending packs an emotional wallop, a moment as magical as anything you will see at the movies this year.
Posted Mar 11, 2004
|
|
B +
|
Big Fish
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
More "Ed Wood" than "Planet of the Apes".
Posted Mar 10, 2004
|
|
B
|
Monster
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
An interesting depiction of the makings of a serial killer.
Posted Mar 10, 2004
|
|
B
|
Miracle
(2004)
|
Jim Chastain
|
I would like to have gotten to know some of the players a little bit better.
Posted Feb 12, 2004
|
|
A -
|
The School of Rock
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Gladiator for the downtrodden and flabby
Posted Oct 03, 2003
|
|
B -
|
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
without Depp, this film could easily have been called 'The Curse of the Black Pearl Harbor'
Posted Aug 15, 2003
|
|
B+
|
Freaky Friday
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Waters seems to have a knack for creating families on the edge
Posted Aug 15, 2003
|
|
2/5
|
Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders
(2000)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Posted Aug 15, 2003
|
|
2/5
|
The Kentucky Fried Movie
(1977)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Posted Aug 15, 2003
|
|
A
|
Whale Rider
(2002)
|
Jim Chastain
|
Keisha Castle-Hughes simply melts your heart
Posted Aug 15, 2003
|
|
F
|
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
have we descended so far in American filmmaking that we must now literally scrape the bottom of the superhero barrel
Posted Aug 15, 2003
|
|
A -
|
Swimming Pool
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
tends to stay with you... for days, weeks even
Posted Aug 15, 2003
|
|
D
|
Open Range
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
one of the best black comedies ever made
Posted Aug 15, 2003
|
|
A -
|
Down With Love
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
begins to sizzle at about the halfway point
Posted May 23, 2003
|
|
C
|
Bruce Almighty
(2003)
|
Jim Chastain
|
moralizing mumbo-jumbo
Posted May 23, 2003
|
|
B +
|
About Schmidt
(2002)
|
Jim Chastain
|
I liked how it used Warren's letters as the vehicle for sharing his journey inward
Posted Jan 08, 2003
|
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