Jean Oppenheimer

A riveting movie that's as entertaining as it is socially and politically important.

Turns out to be more than simply a near-miracle of filmmaking, however; it is also an astonishing work of art, a historical epic that drifts through one's consciousness like a reverie.

So enchanting it takes your breath away.

Like gathering storm clouds, Donnie Darko creates an atmosphere of eerie calm and mounting menace -- stands as one of the most exceptional movies of 2001.

Despite its two-and-a-half hour running time, the movie flies by, so absorbing are its story, songs and stars.

It's the best thing Wong has done in years--perhaps ever.

Does a masterful job of combining digital imagery and voice performance to create totally believable animal characters.

The acting is remarkable across the board, undoubtedly a combination of a strong script, gifted actors and exceptional direction.

A gentle, beautifully realized tale of love and intimacy...It moved me to tears.

A genuinely affecting movie that approaches its adult themes with intelligence, maturity, and rare authenticity.

Pure joy to watch -- and an invaluable documentary record of a bygone era.

It is that rare find: a film that is as emotionally truthful as it is satisfying.

A delicious little thriller about an uptight, ill-humored English mystery writer who becomes enmeshed in murder, Swimming Pool is at once comical, contrary, resourceful and ambiguous.

Emotionally gripping from start to finish, the movie presents an electrifying and unforgettable look at life in a place that God has all but forgotten.

While Sollett provided cast members with a detailed breakdown of the story--a kind of narrative guide--he wanted them to improvise their own dialogue based on how they would react to a similar situation in their own lives....The result is quite extraordinary.

A film of tremendous complexity and depth, a galvanic force that sends the mind reeling.

But in a calculated move that pays off handsomely, the picture's remarkable power is reserved for the end, when the intertwining themes coalesce in an extraordinarily satisfying and stirring way.

This engaging film proves a total pleasure, suitable for moviegoers who like their films a bit old-fashioned but still mainstream.

So inventive, confident, and accomplished is the production that it's a shock to learn Sliding Doors is the work of a first-time director-screenwriter.

This terrific movie manages to invest kitchen-sink realism with the soul of a fairy tale.

Far more than a mere visual feast.

No matter how restrained the direction or unsentimental the performances -- and White Oleander scores points for both -- there is no escaping the semi-trashy but oh-so-life-affirming ring of the plot.

This intriguing jigsaw puzzle is visually arresting, narratively inventive, and psychologically enigmatic.

This brutal film borders on the brilliant. Beautifully structured and edited, with a chilling central performance by Ian McKellen and an exceptional score by John Ottman, who also edited the picture, it churns up emotions and leaves the viewer feeling stunned and depleted.

A disarmingly funny, clear-eyed, and affectionate memory piece.

A charming little film, filled with eccentric characters and ingratiating performances.

Farmanara, the actor, brings a real poignancy to the role and, thus, to the story that seems, more than anything, the tale of a man coming to terms with his life.

Viewers with a low tolerance for sentiment may balk, but the emotions are so true and the characters so appealing that the film should completely win you over.