Gene Siskel

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Chicago Tribune
For 511 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 63% higher than the average critic
  • 1% same as the average critic
  • 36% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 0.3 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

Gene Siskel's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average review score: 65
Highest review score: 100 A Clockwork Orange
Lowest review score: 0 UHF
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 339 out of 511
  2. Mixed: 68 out of 511
  3. Negative: 104 out of 511
511 movie reviews
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    • 70 Metascore
    • 75 Gene Siskel
    Light Sleeper
    A problem with Schrader's script is that he too slavishly follows the Taxi Driver outline, needlessly giving a violent conclusion to Light Sleeper. We sit there noting the resemblance to the 1975 movie more than being absorbed into the drama. Nonetheless, Light Sleeper is emblematic of an era, and is recommended on that basis and on the excellent quality of it acting. We remember the character more than we believe the machinations they've run through.
    • 29 Metascore
    • 25 Gene Siskel
    Haunted Honeymoon
    For years now Wilder has been trying to imitate the success of his mentor, director Mel Brooks. But he has repeatedly failed. That's why the biggest mystery in "Haunted Honeymoon" is why anyone would still give Wilder money to make a picture.
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 61 Metascore
    • 75 Gene Siskel
    The Lair of the White Worm
    Director Ken Russell is at his kinky best in this horror story that is adult in its thrills, humor and sexuality. Figuring out who is the worm in the movie is quite easy. But the particulars of Russell's imagination are delightfully outrageous. [11 Nov 1988, p.A]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 73 Metascore
    • 63 Gene Siskel
    The Commitments
    It looks like director Parker, who can be quite ambitious (Mississippi Burning, Come See the Paradise), is coasting this time, merely reworking his big hit, Fame.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 63 Gene Siskel
    Silverado
    Silverado is a completely successful physical attempt at reviving the western, but its script would need a complete rewrite for it to become more than just a small step in a full-scale western revival. [10 Jul 1985, p.5]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 61 Metascore
    • 63 Gene Siskel
    Project X
    The drama is predictable, and the confrontations lack rational dialogue. In other words, this is just of the sort of movie that a 9-year-old would probably enjoy. [1 May 1987, p.A]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 35 Metascore
    • 25 Gene Siskel
    Red Sonja
    This is going to be more of a consumer warning than a traditional film review, because Red Sonja is like a can of dog food covered by a label featuring a picture of a sirloin steak.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 88 Gene Siskel
    Enemy Mine
    Although you probably haven't heard much about Enemy Mine this season, you might want to check it out. You'll be pleasantly surprised. [23 Dec 1985, p.C2]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 64 Metascore
    • 63 Gene Siskel
    Lady Jane
    There`s nothing really seriously wrong with the movie, save for the casting of Elwes. Lady Jane simply states and restates its premise, and then it`s over in a predictable manner.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 63 Gene Siskel
    Unforgiven
    Individual scenes work, but the movie seems overstuffed-why is the Harris character necessary-and halting.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 100 Gene Siskel
    Nixon
    It's a superb, thoughtful drama that doesn't claim to be a documentary and shouldn't be judged as such. [22 Dec 1995, p.B]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 38 Metascore
    • 50 Gene Siskel
    Navy Seals
    The naval equivalent of "Top Gun," focusing on the elite corps of warriors who in this tale must destroy American missiles that have fallen into the hands of Arab terrorists. The boys play together and then fight together. It's all a party. Some of the sequences play like music videos.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 75 Gene Siskel
    F/X
    F/X turns into a dazzling series of deceptions that border on being so topsy-turvy that one almost becomes frustrated with being fooled. But the script of Robert T. Megginson and Gregory Fleeman managed to stay on the right side of credibility and good humor enough of the time so that some rather obvious plot holes can be forgiven.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 88 Gene Siskel
    Untamed Heart
    Tony Bill directs a fresh and only occasionally too purple script by Tom Sierchio. [12 Feb 1993, p.C]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 49 Metascore
    • 25 Gene Siskel
    The Money Pit
    The Money Pit, a miserable ripoff of the old Cary Grant comedy Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, has nothing to do with such nuances of the human experience. Instead, it is an action comedy that regularly throws its actors around and through pieces of plywood, into and out of windows.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 75 Gene Siskel
    The Goonies
    As entertaining as The Goonies finally becomes--and its last hour is mostly one pleasure after another--it's a shame that Spielberg, writer Chris Columbus and director Richard Donner felt the need to take the low road in terms of language. [7 Jun 1985, p.A]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 38 Metascore
    • 38 Gene Siskel
    Two Moon Junction
    Director Zalman King has literally created a bad B-movie here, photographing breasts, buttocks and bubbleheads. The film is erotic until its first coupling; that's when we realize these dullard characters might as well be mannequins. Two Moon Junction deserves a genre all its own: very soft-core porn. [6 May 1988, p.A]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 53 Metascore
    • 50 Gene Siskel
    Benji the Hunted
    There are more chases than cute "awwww" scenes in the movie and on that basis it is not particularly entertaining. Benji runs himself and us ragged. [19 June 1987, p.A]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 31 Metascore
    • 25 Gene Siskel
    No Holds Barred
    The film is utterly lacking in the campy quality of the World Wrestling Federation telecasts.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 88 Gene Siskel
    Down in the Delta
    Director Maya Angelou, the celebrated author, makes an impressive filmmaking debut by pacing her story slowly enough to make Woodard's transformation credible. [25 Dec 1998, p.A]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 65 Metascore
    • 75 Gene Siskel
    Darkman
    What no plot summary of Darkman can provide is how much director Raimi ("The Evil Dead") brings to the party. In addition to giving us a conflicted hero - more disturbed than Batman - Raimi fills every action sequence and even routine plot scenes with fresh images that reflect his Darkman's rage. [24 Aug. 1990]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 65 Metascore
    • 75 Gene Siskel
    Cocoon
    My only major criticism of Cocoon is the ending, which needlessly places the film in familiar extraterrestrial movie territory. Without giving too much away, either most of the characters should have made a different decision or the film should have had courage to jump off into a completely different direction. Special visual effects are wonderful, but the human being is still the greatest special effect of all.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 63 Gene Siskel
    Matewan
    John Sayles has directed an authentic looking and sounding film, featuring cinematography by the great Haskell Wexler. [02 Oct 1987, p.A]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 72 Metascore
    • 88 Gene Siskel
    Sign 'o' the Times
    Prince is an exciting entertainer, an equal opportunity employer-especially when it comes to talented women-and his act is a physical tour de force. It's the next best thing to attending one of his concerts and sitting near the stage. [20 Nov 1987, p.A]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 40 Metascore
    • 50 Gene Siskel
    SpaceCamp
    Their adventures are not special, nor are their personalities. If young people want to experience a genuinely exciting airborne adventure in a movie theater right now, "Top Gun" is the picture to see--not SpaceCamp. [6 June 1986, p.AC]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 92 Metascore
    • 63 Gene Siskel
    Chinatown
    As much as I admire the work of both (Roman) Polanski and (Jack) Nicholson, I found Chinatown tedious from beginning to just before the end. [15 July 1974]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 68 Metascore
    • 88 Gene Siskel
    Beat Street
    An upbeat, thoroughly entertaining street film about an entertainment revolution in the depressed South Bronx, featuring break dancing, graffiti art and record mixing. A black and Puerto Rican version of Saturday Night Fever. [08 June 1984, p.12]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 71 Metascore
    • 100 Gene Siskel
    Ed Wood
    One of those rare films that communicates the exquisite joy of the moviemaking process. [7 October 1994, Friday, p.B]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 80 Metascore
    • 100 Gene Siskel
    Dead Man Walking
    Sarandon delivers one of her very best performances; her shock at encountering the wrath of the victim's family is registered beautifully. And Sean Penn, who for too long has suffered with the label of being a "bad boy," gives an Oscar-caliber performance.[12 January 1996, Friday, p.B]
    • Chicago Tribune
    • 55 Metascore
    • 50 Gene Siskel
    The Mean Season
    The only redeeming aspects of the film are its striking production design by Philip Jefferies--a sweltering Miami similar to the look of ''Body Heat''-- and a convincing performance by Richard Masur as the city editor of the film`s fictional Miami newspaper.
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