The screenplay is good and the direction, by Ted Demme (nephew of "Silence of the Lambs" director Jonathan Demme) is taut. [11 Mar 1994, p.3G]

Because Short Term 12 is a small movie about a challenging subject, you may have to accept my word that actress Brie Larson and director Destin Cretton are bright discoveries, but it shouldn’t be long before the wider world can see these talents with the naked eye.

Although Steadman’s artwork seems like sloppy pen-and-ink caricature, there’s a method to the madness.

Stone isn't for everyone. But for all its shortcomings, it is courageously original.

An entertaining tour of Tinseltown served with poisoned popcorn.

Titanic technical achievement.

The movie is more of a character study than a biography, as Bernstein dispenses his gentle wit and wisdom for the camera and for an elite class of student.

Summer Wars has engineered a truce between the familiar and the fantastical.

Weighty issues such as war and divorce are mentioned, but the serious themes pass quickly. The lighthearted story always takes precedent over the special effects, but a scene involving swimming piglets will have kids flashing a sea of smiles.

If you root for documentaries with heart, The Other Dream Team is a slam dunk.

After we hear the hit parade that poured from rural Alabama and meet the men who led it to the top of the charts, we realize that Muscle Shoals could call itself Hitsville, USA.

The sharpest parts of the movie hack through the Hollywood jungle with an insider's certitude. But Apatow is so grounded in the comedy circuit that he can't quite capture the emotional wavelength of the life-and-death drama.

In the infidelity drama Leaving, British reserve gets overtaken by French passion, and the subsequent events have the horrific momentum of a slow-motion car crash.

Working from her own screenplay, director Robin Swicord (“The Jane Austen Book Club”) delivers a film that balances wry humor and sly introspection.

This true story does a great service by honoring the memory of 22 brave men and women and by dramatizing the internal debates within the French population. But in staying true to life, it sacrifices some of the pacing and clarity of a conventional thriller.

The story is sustained by the stubborn love between the siblings and by the conviction of the two fine actors who portray them.

The film combines a pinch of morality with a healthy dose of humor to produce a movie that's entertaining for everyone.

If you’re looking for a film that’s just about guaranteed to make you feel good, you’d be well advised to drop by Daddy’s Home.

Moviegoers looking for a thrill should go into The Cabin in the Woods knowing as little as possible about the film.

While Career Girls has an overall somber tone, it is sparked by Leigh's humor and the actresses' - particularly Hannah's - verbal quickness... While the film may not be very satisfying to viewers, it is intriguing to watch Leigh's work and to see the women's characters develop. [22 Aug. 1997, p.6E]

After watching the trailers, I was expecting torture, but this smart, subversive movie made me laugh. So shoot me.

Living in Oblivion is a hip, funny, at times oddly sweet little movie that suggests Tom DiCillo has a bright future. [11 Aug 1995, p.3E]

Cinema often shines a light on stories that might have been lost to history, and that’s certainly true of A United Kingdom.

If you require a plot, look elsewhere.

My Cousin Vinny would have been a moderately funny movie in any case. But with Joe Pesci in the leading role, the movie escalates several notches to a rough-and-tumble, exciting comedy and proves that Pesci is one of the most versatile actors in the business. [19 Mar 1992, p.6E]

Bad Moms starts with an edge but eventually turns sentimental. The most entertaining and honest moments zero in on motherhood and friendship — and busting the rules of the PTA.

Mainstream moviemaking at its most proficient, with a zippy script, comfort-food casting and a breakout performance by a deserving star.

This stylish film reminds us that great images endure after bodies and buildings crumble.