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Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

1. The Flowers of War 2011 "The Flowers of War" seems like a pretty good film until you begin to think about it. full review
2. Pina 2011 For anyone with an interest in dance, "Pina" is a must-see. For anyone not interested in contemporary dance, "Pina" is a should-see. It could change your mind. full review
3. Exit Through The Gift Shop 2010 The plain fact is that, on some level, it doesn't matter whether the film is true or not. Either way, it's fascinating. Either way, we learn a lot. Either way, it's a great film. full review
4. Four Lions 2010 Really, these guys are just knuckleheads. And the movie is full of outrageous laughs. full review
5. Howl 2010 The film forces us to face what a powerful poem "Howl" remains. That poetry isn't just pretty language, it has the ability to make us think about our lives, even to change our lives. full review
6. The Whistleblower 2010 You come away from watching the film with a moral bellyache. full review
7. Amreeka 2009 A good-hearted film about the resilience of the human spirit. full review
8. I.O.U.S.A. 2008 You will not likely forget the Jeremiad it presents about how the United States has been living on borrowed money -- and borrowed time -- for decades and now is presenting the bill for our extravagance to our grandchildren. full review
9. Civic Duty 2007 It does build up considerable suspense and tension; Renfroe has learned well from Hitchcock. full review
10. The Devil Came on Horseback 2007 The Devil Came on Horseback is a documentary about the genocide in that part of Africa, and the film's strength is that it shows us the horror, rather than tells us about it. It's painful to watch. full review
11. The Rape of Europa 2007 It's long for a documentary, almost two hours, but it has a big story to tell. full review
12. 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama 2006 The film never rises above the spiritual or intellectual level of a TV news anchor. It is a dispiriting film to watch, if you have any real interest in the subject. full review
13. Copying Beethoven, (Klang der Stille) 2006 It's a pointless movie, except for Harris. full review
14. Golden Door 2006 The film never really coheres, and although some scenes are amazing, the total is slow, ponderous and sometimes silly. full review
15. Old Joy 2005 It plays for a scant 73 minutes, but if feels as long as a Wagner opera. full review
16. This Film is Not Yet Rated 2005 The same story in print would move more fleetly and makes its points more adroitly. full review
17. Me and You and Everyone We Know 2004 One leaves the theater grateful to have shared the time with these characters on-screen, but hoping we won't meet them in the lobby. full review
18. Vera Drake 2004 All the actors so completely fade away that you come out of the film thinking you've seen the real people, not players reciting a script. full review
19. The Good Thief 2003 It's a heist film with a muddled plot, a character study with no personality.
20. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 2002 The film is episodic, and most of the scenes are evocative and charming. full review
21. Love the Hard Way 2001 One of those films where great acting and occasionally brilliant dialogue attempt to overcome an unbelievable plot and a cowardly Hollywood ending.