Shawn Levy

Resembles an amusement park ride -- a visit to a house of horrors that ends, more or less, where it begins.

Brick is kinda brilliant and kinda demented, and you love it for the former far more than you hold the latter against it.

Although it tries continually to focus on the heart, it ultimately fails to ignite it.

There are occasional moments of wisdom, drama and emotion, but we never quite forget the blunt confession of one of the founders of the world championship, who admits that the whole thing began as a joke. Psst, buddy: it still is.

A feel-good movie that doesn't think it needs to rub people's noses in the happy stuff to get its points across or eliminate all the disturbing shades to make a uniformly glowing whole.

There's talent here, and creativity, but there's that rankling question at the core: Are we meant to sympathize with these outsiders or laugh at them?

It's a sexy thriller, tautly constructed, deeply acted and heartfelt, despite a cool and knowing tone.

It's a fascinating patchwork.

There's no reason to actively dislike the film, but that's not enough, not at today's ticket prices. Just because you're not despicable, after all, doesn't mean you're the pick of the litter.

Mikhalkov plays the jury foreman, allowing himself a bit of business that eventually erases itself, amounting, effectively, to nothing. Alas, too much of this splashy film is just like that.

Undefeated puts us inside his locker room, and you simply cannot fail to be moved by the human affection, commitment and passion you feel there.

Gets under your skin without you quite being able to say when or how. It has the tact to let you draw yourself in to it.

It might have poked a bit more into Clash's personal story, but as a story of man and puppet it's grand.

It's not a question of agreeing or disagreeing with this film's point of view to say that it isn't as often convincing as it is convinced.

It's got a bust-out performance from Eckhart that's worth remembering.

Warts and all, Factotum feels very close to the real thing.

A work of gentle, continual hilarity that feels far more ordinary than other Coen works and yet has every bit of the originality and exactness that makes the brothers' best films so wonderful.

Fairly lightweight, going after targets we can all agree deserve the needle. But there are five, six, seven gags you've never seen before -- real surprises- -- and the film deploys them smartly to keep you laughing and unsteady for the duration.

With its sweet soul and sharp mind, it's one of the most heartening films of the year.

What Machete does have -- and what saves it from itself -- is comic bloodthirst, shameless vulgarity and the determination of Rodriguez and Maniquis to wink at their audience at every moment.

Studded with sturdy acting.

"Juno" was accused (wrongly, in my view) of having things both ways: being cute and cynical, edgy and sentimental. Young Adult, despite the fun afforded by Theron and Oswalt, seems content to have things neither.

Ultimately, a heart in the film to go with Rebney's considerable bile.

You nevertheless can't help but be swept up in the kids' enthusiasms and aspirations and gobs of energy.

It's played with real zest and energy, and if you can stand the heat it gives off it may charm you despite yourself.

There's powerful craft here, and Larsson's story has more than proven its ability to grip. But missing almost entirely is a sense of urgency and discovery.

The chief problem with Shadow Boxers is that it's too short.

If any of what he says makes sense to you -- and even if it’s only a small piece, it’s terrifying -- then you’ll want to invest in gold and organic seeds and friendly relations with your nearest neighbors. You know: JUST IN CASE.....