Battle in Seattle was widely reviewed, but not always critically acclaimed. The exhilarating recount of such controversy found many viewers hungry for more. Townshend’s biased approach and convenient storylines, however, left others with a bad taste in their mouths.
Owen Gleiberman, of Entertainment Weekly, gave one of the highest grades for the film: “A-“. Many Oscar-bait films have scored lower.
( http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20228550,00.html ).
Conversely, Variety’s Dennis Harvey claims that, while the docu-drama was “credibly staged for the most part”, the “screenplay is more problematic, as the human dramas imposed on nonfiction backdrop” can be “contrived” with “flatfooted dialogue” (http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934682.html?categoryid=2850&cs=1 )
Roger Ebert, in his review for the Chicago Sun Times, offers a more mixed review. He notes high points, such as Woody Harrelson’s emotional arc being “convincing and effective,” then immediately follows with an emphatic “but”. He mentions “an unnecessary romantic attraction” between two lead characters, and how one TV reporter always happens to be at each new action scene. The film is fine, but not fantastic. Ebert even suggests other films the audience may like better.
(http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/REVIEWS/809250301/1023 )
No comments:
Post a Comment