Chicago Sun-Times' Scores

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For 8,156 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 73% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 25% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 6 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Movie review score: 71
Highest review score: 100 Falling from Grace
Lowest review score: 0 Jupiter Ascending
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6,085 out of 8156
  2. Mixed: 1,243 out of 8156
  3. Negative: 828 out of 8156
8156 movie reviews
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  1. The Phantom of the Opera
    I am recommending a movie that I do not seem to like very much. But part of the pleasure of moviegoing is pure spectacle -- of just sitting there and looking at great stuff and knowing it looks terrific. There wasn't much Schumacher could have done with the story or the music he was handed, but in the areas over which he held sway, he has triumphed.
  2. Hotel Rwanda
    Deep movie emotions for me usually come not when the characters are sad, but when they are good. You will see what I mean.
  3. The Aviator
    This is one of the year's best films.
  4. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
    There is no one in the movie to provide a reasonable reaction to anything; the adults are all demented, evil, or, in the case of Mr. Poe, stunningly lacking in perception, and the kids are plucky enough, but rather dazed by their misfortunes.
  5. Spanglish
    The movie is not quite the sitcom the setup seems to suggest; there are some character quirks that make it intriguing.
  6. Flight of the Phoenix
    Because I had, in a sense, already seen this movie, it didn't have surprises or suspense for me, and the actors on their own aren't enough to save it.
  7. Beyond the Sea
    It is also probably relevant that Spacey, in preparing the project, knew something we could not guess: He is a superb pop singer.
  8. The Sea Inside
    This is simply the story of one man. Yes, and on those terms I accept it, and was moved by the humanity and logic of the character.
  9. Imaginary Heroes
    The characters deserve a better movie, but they get a pretty good one.
  10. Million Dollar Baby
    A masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true...The best film of the year.
  11. Ocean's Twelve
    The movie is all about behavior, dialogue, star power and wiseass in-jokes. I really sort of liked it.
  12. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
    The damnedest film. I can't recommend it, but I would not for one second discourage you from seeing it.
  13. Dolls
    Dolls isn't a film for everybody, especially the impatient, but Kitano does succeed, I think, in drawing us into his tempo and his world, and slowing us down into the sadness of his characters.
  14. Blade: Trinity
    A mess. It lacks the sharp narrative line and crisp comic-book clarity of the earlier films, and descends too easily into shapeless fight scenes that are chopped into so many cuts that they lack all form or rhythm.
  15. Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids
    The movie is a record by well-meaning people who try to make a difference for the better, and succeed to a small degree while all around them the horror continues unaffected.
  16. Closer
    They are all so very articulate, which is refreshing in a time when literate and evocative speech has been devalued in the movies.
  17. House of Flying Daggers
    Forget about the plot, the characters, the intrigue, which are all splendid in House of Flying Daggers, and focus just on the visuals.
  18. I Am David
    I couldn't believe a moment of it, and never identified with little David.
  19. A Very Long Engagement
    Jeunet brings everything together -- his joyously poetic style, the lovable Tautou, a good story worth the telling -- into a film that is a series of pleasures stumbling over one another in their haste to delight us.
  20. Alexander
    [Stone] gives us provocative notes and sketches but not a final draft. The film doesn't feel at ease with itself. It says too much, and yet leaves too much unsaid.
  21. Christmas with the Kranks
    Doesn't have anything wrong with it that couldn't be fixed by adding Ebenezer Scrooge and Bad Santa to the cast. It's a holiday movie of stunning awfulness that gets even worse when it turns gooey at the end.
  22. Paper Clips
    It is straightforward, heartfelt and genuine.
  23. National Treasure
    National Treasure is so silly that the Monty Python version could use the same screenplay, line for line.
  24. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
    Assuming that few members of SpongeBob's primary audience are reading this (or can read), all I can tell you is, the movie is likely to be more fun than you expect.
  25. Bad Education
    Pedro Almodovar's new movie is like an ingenious toy that is a joy to behold, until you take it apart to see what makes it work, and then it never works again.
  26. Fear and Trembling
    May be a sardonic view of Japanese corporate culture, but that's not all it is. The movie is also subtly sexual and erotic, despite the fact that every scene takes place in the office and there is not a single overt sexual act or word or gesture or reference.
  27. After the Sunset
    Skillfully made, but it's not necessary...On the other hand, should you see it, the time will pass pleasantly.
  28. Seed of Chucky
    Actually two movies, one wretched, the other funny. The funny one involves the Jennifer Tilly scenes.
  29. Finding Neverland
    Surprisingly moving.
  30. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
    A jolly movie and I smiled pretty much all the way through, but it doesn't shift into high with a solid thunk the way "Bridget Jones' Diary" did.
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