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Movies actors we love Johnny Depp Nicole Kidman Paul Bettany Jude Law Heather Graham Kirstin Dunst Hugh Grant Jared Leto Cameron Diaz Adam Sandler
Best use of Queen music in film “Bohemian Rhapsody”: Wayne's World “We Will Rock You”: The Big One “Princes of the Universe” (and six others): Highlander “We Will Rock You”: A Knight's Tale “Show Must Go On”: Moulin Rouge “Flash!”: Flash Gordon |
Movie Reviews Archive: S to ZLinks are to the Rotten Tomatoes Web site, where you can read what other critics and moviegoers thought of each film. Ratings are from * (stinker) to **** (absolutely wonderful). Theatrical release date is in parentheses, followed by whether we saw the movie in theatre or as a home rental. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | ZS***½ Saint
Ralph (August 2005) - Theatre She says: Really nice little movie.
Though the synopsis sounds rather grim, it's actually a funny and uplifting
story. Cambridge, Ontario actor Campbell Scott is very good in the lead
role. **½ School
of Rock (October 2003) - Theatre She says: A perfectly amiable movie that doubles
as a tribute to classic rock. Jack Black and Joan Cusack give spirited
performances that make whole thing quite enjoyable. (***) ** Scooby-Doo
(June 2002) - Theatre She says: The good news is that it's not a stinking
bad movie. The bad news is that, except for a few fun scenes, it's pretty
dull — at only 90 minutes, it actually seemed long. I didn't care
about the characters or the plot. (*½) *** Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe (August 2010) – Theatre Synopsis: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Scott Pilgrim meets the girl of his dreams but finds he must defeat her seven evil ex’s to win her heart. She says: Well, that certainly moved
along. Very witty. And Cera’s great. But it’s not a movie
for everyone, and it wasn’t 100% for me. ***
Secretary
(September 2002) - Theatre She says: A rather fascinating look at an S&M
relationship. It's a bit odd, it's certainly not politically correct,
but it's nevertheless loving and even liberating. Both stars are very
impressive in these challenging roles. *** The Secret Life of Bees (October 2008) - Rental Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah. Young teenage girl leaves her abusive father to explore her late mother's past with a group of bee-keeping sisters. She says: A pretty good adaptation
of the novel. Performances were good and though the “critical consensus”
said it was too sentimental, I didn't find that to be the case. And I
hate sentimental. *½ Secret
Window (March 2004) - Theatre She says: It's rare when you can pick
the exact moment when a movie goes wrong, but with this one, you can.
What starts as an effective thriller takes a plot twist that it just can't
recover from. Depp is fine, but he can't save every film. And the irony?
One of the movie's themes is that nothing matters if the ending isn't
good. ***½ Seducing
Dr. Lewis (La Grande Séduction) (December 2003) - Theatre
She says: This was the funniest movie
I've seen in a long time. Highly recommended. *** Serenity
- Theatre (September 2005) She says: While not as much character
development is possible in a two-hour movie compared with a television
series, still proves that you can have a shoot-em-up action movie with
heart, smarts, and humour. And yes, character development. Thanks, Joss. **½ Sherrybaby
(December 2007) - Rental She says: Gyllenhal is great, the movie
is alright—a bit dark, a bit slight, but certainly worthier than
many on the video shelf. **½
The
Shipping News (January 2002) - Rental She says: Except for Kevin Spacey, I think the
gold-star cast is really a detriment to this movie. I couldn't buy Judi
Dench and Julianne Moore as Newfoundlanders. Their star presence detracted
from the story. *** Shopgirl
(October 2005) - Rental She says: They did a nice job of adapting
this novella, which was very "interior", without too
much voiceover (though some was used). Claire Danes is great, and so is
Jason Schwartzman, as the initially hopeless Jeremy. ***½ Shortbus
(October 2006) - Theatre She says: Surprisingly sweet, considering
all the sex in it. Also arty enough to be intellectual intriguing. Feels
like the movie works on the right side of your brain. ***½
Shrek
(March 2001) - Theatre She says: It's great fun how this movie subverts
the usual clichés of the cartoon fairy tale "genre."
And the computer animation is amazing. ***½ Shrek
2 (May 2004) - Theatre She says: Quite a fun little movie.
Zips along nicely, looks great, and is full of humour and sly pop references. *** Shut
Up and Sing (October 2006) - Theatre She says: Well-constructed documentary
that neatly contrasts the real and very likeable women the Dixie Chicks
are with the violent, nasty attacks against them. Just astounding, especially
when you see the actual footage of what was a very innocuous, offhand
comment. *** Sicko
(July 2007) - Theatre She says: Strongest and most alarming
in presenting the stories of Americans with insurance who get
denied care for absurd reasons, often with tragic consequences. Sure,
he oversimplifies the case of other countries' funded system, but not
to the detriment of the very strong case that the American "system"
really is sicko. **** Sideways
(October 2004) - Theatre She says: “They” are right;
it's almost impossible not to like this little movie about wine, friendship,
romance, and growth. A great and rare blend of very funny scenes with
quite serious ones. ***
Signs
(August 2002) - Theatre She says: I'm not sure I agree with the vision
of faith put forth in this movie, but does serve as a very solid framework
for the narrative. A well-executed, suspenseful movie with surprising
— and very welcome — bursts of humour. *** A
Single Man (December 2009) - Rental She says: I found this movie really compelling
while watching it, and feel even more impressed after thinking back on
it more. It's very simple, really, all taking place on one fairly ordinary
day, but rendered special by the main character deciding this day will
be his last. I'd never seen the subtle but effective use of color tone
to reflect the character's mood. And the whole movie is gorgeous; get
the Blu-Ray. ***½ Slumdog
Millionaire (December 2008) - Theatre She says: Widely advertised as a “feel
good” movie, I was a little unprepared for the grim opening acts
of this film. But things do turn around, and it is an engaging story throughout. ***½ Snow
Cake (2006) - Theatre She says: Recommended. Funny despite
the tragedy that sets off the action, great characters, and definitely
cool to see Northern Ontario playing itself. (Although the main character's
planned journey is completely illogical, if you're familiar with the area...) ***
The
Snow Walker (2003) - Pay-TV “View on Demand” She says: A great-looking movie with a spare
but compelling story. I kept expecting cliches and highly emotional scenes,
but kept being surprised on that count. ***½ The Social Network (October 2010) - Theatre Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake. An inside look at those responsible for the creation of Facebook. She says: Witty, fast-paced, and fascinating look at the anti-social nature of the man who created Facebook. Made me want to read that old New Yorker profile again. He says: A really fascinating movie about really sad, unlikeable men. ***½
Spider-man
(May 2002) - Theatre She says: Finally, a big-budget action movie
that also has a decent plot and interesting characters. **½ Spider-Man
2 (July 2004) - Theatre She says: Nicely done, once again proving
that just because it's an expensive movie based on a comic book doesn't
mean you can't have good acting, well-developed characters, and human
emotion. (***) *** Stage
Beauty (October 2004) - Rental She says: A quite interesting film,
looking at sexual identity, acting techniques, and women's issues—all
in the context of a kind of offbeat romantic comedy. Crudup and Danes
are both very good and have nice chemistry. *** Stardust
(August 2007) - Theatre She says: That was pretty enjoyable.
Kind of reminded me of Princess Bride. Although not as good as
that movie. ***½ Star
Trek (May 2009) - Theatre She says: Very entertaining without
being stupid. Lots of action, but good characters as well. No way Kirk
could survive so many blows to the head in such a short time, but I'll
let it pass. **½ The
Stone Angel (June 2008) - Theatre She says: Well-acted, funny at times,
certainly holds the attention, but it's undoubtedly a drama. *** Superbad
(May 2008) - Rental She says: Crude, certainly; exaggerated,
for sure—but also funny, and kind of sweet. On the good side of
the Apatow canon, from my perspective. ***½ Super-Size
Me (May 2004) - Theatre She says: You go in expecting nothing
but a gross-out, but get quite an interesting exploration of the marketing
of food in America in general. It's truly stunning to see the dramatic
and rapid negative effects that befall this man who is perfectly healthy
at the start. T**** Take
This Waltz (June 2012) - Theatre She says: This movie took me on a journey. The beginning was rocky: slow, presenting the initial meet of Margot and Daniel, but then focusing more on the quirks of her marriage with Lou. The couple comes off as really annoying. At this point, I didn’t particularly like the movie. But most of the movie focuses on the “in between”, which Margot confesses, in the beginning, is a state she can’t stand. During this part, I got caught up in her dilemma: Will she or won’t she give in to her passion? Should she or shouldn’t she? Margot and Daniel circle around each in a desirous dance that could hardly be sexier (though that response may be a girl thing)… And the way the movie concludes, which I won’t spoil, made me love it. The cinematography, the music, the story progression… Fab. He says: I knew before you said that you liked that one, but I just didn’t get it. I didn’t understand them, I didn’t understand the point. Michelle Williams was adorable, though. I love her look.
She says: A fun and interesting sidelong
view into the Woodstock Festival, and how its influence was felt even
by those who were too far away to really hear the music. *** Tarnation
(October 2004) - Rental She says: Odd, but unique in style
and compulsively watchable. The horrible facts are peppered on-screen
in large subtitles: electric shock therapy, raped in front of her son,
acted out and set fire to the house... The video dates back to the filmmaker's
playing with a camera when he was 11. The whole comes together with recent
events in a very touching way. *** Temple
Grandin (February 2010) - Rental She says: Claire Danes is terrific
in portraying Temple Grandin, and the filmmakers do an interesting job
of giving us a view into her world by filming parts in the visual, literal
way that she sees it. I grew a little tired of the open door metaphor
(that she saw literally), but that's my only complaint. The movie would
probably have been even more compelling if I hadn't gone in knowing a
fair amount about Temple Grandin. ** Topsy-Turvy
(1999) - Rental She says: Surprisingly interesting, considering
it's mostly a love letter to The Mikado, an operetta I don't have
any particular fondness for. Almost surprising how understated the backstage
drama is. ***
Touch of Pink (July 2004) - Theatre She says: A bit pat, but enjoyable
nonetheless. ***½ Toy
Story 3 (June 2010) - Rental She says: Nothing to complain about
in this “kid’s” movie which, to my amusement, was happily
watched by four adults, no kids. It was by turns funny, touching, and
exciting, all edited into a story that held together beautifully. Proof
that sequels don't have to suck, even when they get to number 3. ***
Traffic
(December 2000) - Theatre She says: Interesting exploration of the “war
on drugs.” None of the characters are heroes, because this just isn't
the way to deal with the drug problem. ***½ Transamerica
(December 2005) - Theatre She says: Felicity Huffman is very
good as the transgendered Bree, but I was even more taken with the young
actor playing her street hustler son—very hot guy, but putting in
a very good performance. Though serious issues underlie it, the story
of their road trip together is told with a light touch, and never becomes
dull. ** Tropic
Thunder (August 2008) - Rental She says: Robert Downey Jr. was excellent
in this, and the movie certainly had funny parts, but overall it was a
little too gross and immature for me. U**** United
93 (May 2006) - Theatre She says: The documentary style puts
right in the middle of things and gives you a whole new view of that day.
An emotional experience, but extremely well-done. ***½ Up
(May 2009) - Theatre She says: I went in not knowing anything
about this except that it was Pixar, and it was supposed to be good. And
that's all I needed to know. Once again, Pixar delivers a a completely
engaging movie that effectively mixes pathos and humor. I couldn't detect
the 3D that much (my eyes aren't balanced), but that hardly mattered.
2D or 3D, it's great viewing. ***½ Up
in the Air (December 2009) - Theatre She says: A movie of small surprises,
as all characters turn out to be more than just cliches, and the plot
refuses to follow the conventional arc. Along with the fact that Clooney
and most other actors are excellent and the script is witty, it's highly
worth seeing. V*** A
Very Long Engagement (November 2004) - Theatre She says: Good, but not what I was
expecting. A lot more war and mysterious and a lot less romance than suggested
by the title and the marketing. ***½
The
Virgin Suicides (1999) - Theatre She says: Not as dreary as you might expect;
it actually has a lot of moments of humour. Well worth seeing. *** The
Visitor (March 2012) - Rental She says: A simple yet effective movie.
It's good to watch the main character “blossom” in this late
stage of his life, as he gets involved in Tarek's native music and his
fight to stay in the country. W**½ The
Watchmen: Director’s Cut (December 2009) - Rental She says: Having read the graphic
novel this is based, I was mostly intrigued with seeing its complexities
come to life. It stayed pretty faithful, so nothing was too surprising.
It was violent, but I was expecting that. I have no idea what this movie
would be like if you haven't read the original. If you have, you might
want see this. And likely in this extended version. ***½ Waitress
(May 2007) - Theatre She says: A style and a voice not quite
like any other movie I've seen gives a humourous layer to what could be
a really dark story. Every actor seems pitch-perfect in their part. *** Waltz
with Bashir (May 2008) - Rental She says: I'm not sure what this indicates,
but I didn't realize that this was a documentary. I thought all the interviews
and such were just a clever way of framing the movie. But, I knew it was
based on a real incident, one I knew nothing about. I found this an interesting
way to learn about it, with the animated style creating some distance
in the disturbing events. **½ Whale
Rider (June 2003) - Theatre She says: A bit slow at times, but ultimately
quite moving. Interesting to see the “girl power is shared power”
theme isn't just a North American one. (***) *** What
Lies Beneath (July 2000) - Rental She says: A pretty well-executed thriller. Not
recommended for those with a fear of drowning. (And one complaint: the
two actresses looked so much alike it was difficult to see when one morphed
into another.) *** When
You're Strange: A Film About The Doors (April 2010) - Theatre
She says: Moves along well, includes
some little-seen footage, and provides a nice history of a band who was
far more popular at the time (and of course, remains so) than I'd remembered. **½ Whip It (October 2009) - Rental Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore. Young girl finds the thrill of roller derby much more to her taste than her mother's pageant aspirations. She says: It's certainly likable and
moves along, but the story really follows a predictable pattern, and the
roller derby sequences just don't come across as well as they might. **½ Who
Killed the Electric Car? (July 2006) - Theatre She says: Not the best pacing of the
information, particularly once you've read about the main findings of
this documentary. If you don't know them, however—and to some extent,
even if you do so—it's an interesting and somewhat infuriating look
at how a promising environmental technology was destroyed. * Wild
Things (1998) - Rental She says: The plot twists so much that, in the
end, the whole movie makes no sense, and it's just irritating. *** Wimbledon
(September 2004) - Rental She says: A fairly pedestrian romantic
comedy elevated by its two very appealing lead actors, and by some truly
exciting tennis sequences. ***
Winged
Migration (April 2003) - Theatre She says: Features stunning, “how did they
film that?” cinematography and a sort of narrative structure that
holds your interest throughout. ***
With
a Friend Like Harry (April 2001) - Theatre She says: Suspenseful and intriguingly un-American
in its inspirations. *** When
the Levees Broke (August 2006) - Rental She says: This four-part documentary uses copious
interviews, mostly with those involved, to tell the story of Hurricane
Katrina. You revisit parts you heard about at the time, and learn a great
deal that you probably did not. I remain stunned at just how badly the
US government treated its own people, at the time, and afterward.
She says: Quite interesting to see,
especially right after seeing Taking Woodstock. Perhaps most
fascinating the interviews and segments between the music, of the audience
members, townspeople, organizers... But most the musical performances
are quite compelling as well, even of artists I'm not that familiar with,
like the charismatic Richie Havens and the intense Ten Years After. The
camerawork often aided in that, creating some excitement around, say,
a long guitar solo that might otherwise have dragged. Of course, my favorite
part was The Who, in tri-pane... And the least? It may be sacrilege to
say, but I was a bit bored by the Jimi Hendrix finale. So much guitar
canoodling. Brilliant canoodling, I'm sure, but still. *** Wordplay
(June 2006) - Theatre She says: Though I'm not a big crossword
puzzle fan myself, it was still interesting to learn how these puzzles
are created and to see just how fast the best can complete them. Y***
You
Can Count on Me (November 2000) - Theatre She says: Excellent, character-driven movie with
no heroes or villains — just people trying to deal with one another. *** Young@Heart
(April 2008) - Theatre She says: Songs like "Golden Years",
"Stayin' Alive", and "I Wanna Be Sedated" really take
on a different tone when sung by individuals of an average age of 80.
They're an enjoyable group to spend time with; though not necessarily
rock music fans, they love to sing and love the companionship of the choir.
There is certainly a poignancy in that, given the average age, not everyone
will survive the season, but those who participate and those who listen
to them all gain a lot. *** Young
People F*cking (September 2008) - Rental She says: The scenarios are funny
because they are realistic, something that is rarely true about sex on-screen.
Certainly held my interest. ***½
Y
Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too) (March 2002) - Theatre She says: Sexy and fun, but also deeper than
it appears at first, as it focuses on endings — of relationships,
of lifestyles, and of lives.
Z***½ Zodiac
(May 2007) - Rental She says: So strange it's hard to
believe it's based on actual events, but it was. Manages to give some
resolution, even though the case was never actually closed.
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and Catherine McNair
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Webmaster: Catherine McNair
Movies S–Z
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