Sheila Benson
Select another critic »For 248 reviews, this critic has graded:
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54% higher than the average critic
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1% same as the average critic
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45% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 0.8 points lower than other critics.
(0-100 point scale)
Sheila Benson's Scores
- Movies
- TV
| Average review score: | 65 | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest review score: | Fat City | |
| Lowest review score: | Shanghai Surprise | |
Score distribution:
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Positive: 130 out of 248
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Mixed: 85 out of 248
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Negative: 33 out of 248
248
movie
reviews
- By Date
- By Critic Score
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- Sheila Benson
Material this risky has to be done brilliantly or not at all. "Tootsie" pulled off its gender switch because of its compassion for the discoveries that a man made in a woman's role. "Blazing Saddles" used blazing wit to attack the myths of racism, at full throttle. Though it may have had honest intentions, Soul Man is a mess, at almost every level. Steve Miner's direction stabs at farce, misses; makes a desperate dive at comedy, misses, and settles for sitcom sentimentality. Carol Black, the screenwriter, has a quick, good ear when she's skewering trendy yuppies, but the rest of her satire is mortifyingly callow. And what is set into motion has neither wit nor compassion. [24 Oct 1986, p.C6]- Los Angeles Times
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- Sheila Benson
What boggles the mind is how this bit of navel lint could have seemed even remotely funny to anyone at any stage along its way. Even as a low moment in high concept, it is inconceivable that someone would undertake to make this into a film.- Los Angeles Times
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- Sheila Benson
In spite of a sturdy cast and dazzling production design, Highlander is stultifyingly, jaw-droppingly, achingly awful.[11 Mar 1986, p.5]- Los Angeles Times
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- Sheila Benson
James Earl Jones proves that he is probably the only actor in America who can wear the skin of a full-grown lion-jewels in its eyes, its tail in its mouth-over street clothes and not look like a damn fool. But there's not a thing he can do with this flaccid, foolish film. [29 Jun 1988, p.1]- Los Angeles Times
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- Sheila Benson
Cobra's pretentious emptiness, its dumbness, its two-faced morality make it a movie that begs to be laughed off.- Los Angeles Times
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- Sheila Benson
Arm wrestling and hamburger building have been exhausted as backgrounds for movies, so it was probably inevitable that bartending would be next. But nothing quite prepares you for the hamburger that Cocktail makes of an old and relatively honorable profession. [29 Jul 1988, p.14]- Los Angeles Times
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- Sheila Benson
Even better than opium for avoiding pain is avoiding Shanghai Surprise itself, a movie of jaw-dropping, high-water mark dreadfulness.- Los Angeles Times
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