AltWeeklies Wire
Lion in Winternew
Venus works in large part because O'Toole's mere presence helps you relate to Maurice's history and battles with old age -- it's not just a random old man getting a prostate exam, it's Lawrence of Arabia being jellyfingered.
Bright Spot in Dismal Oscar Seasonnew
"Worst. Oscars. Ever." The admirably concise e-mail from a critic friend handily summed up my own reaction to last week's announcement of the Academy Award nominations.
Queens and Kingsnew
Ten minutes in to Blossoming, you've not only entered a story but a world of indelible images, rituals, textures, eccentricities.
Female Troublenew
Penelope Cruz's magnificent, Oscar-nominated performance also marks a welcome return to Spain from the wife-and-girlfriend ghetto of her disappointing Hollywood sojourn.
