Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes
Publications list

Dallas Observer

Dallas Observer is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer® when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Andy Klein, Bill Gallo, David Ehrenstein, Jean Oppenheimer, Luke Y. Thompson, Matt Zoller Seitz, Preston Barta, Robert Wilonsky.

Prev Next
Rating Title | Year Author Quote
All That's Left of You (2025) Preston Barta A devastatingly beautiful portrait of a family trying to survive the echoes of the past without letting the noise drown out their humanity.
Posted Jan 23, 2026  Edit critic review
One Battle After Another (2025) Preston Barta From Leo’s iconic whistling to Penn’s intense performance, 'One Battle After Another' is a cinematic feast that keeps you on your toes.
Posted Dec 20, 2025  Edit critic review
Jay Kelly (2025) Preston Barta Yes, it’s a "sad, rich, white person’s movie," but 'Jay Kelly' transcends its premise with a specificity and charm that’s impossible to resist.
Posted Dec 20, 2025  Edit critic review
Fuck My Son! (2025) Preston Barta You might vomit, you will almost certainly squirm, and you’ll likely question the life choices. But for those who appreciate cinema that pushes buttons until the whole console breaks, this is an unmissable event.
Posted Dec 20, 2025  Edit critic review
Train Dreams (2025) Preston Barta 'Train Dreams' is a lyrical tale that captures the beauty and sorrow of the human condition with a grace and wisdom that is all too rare. It’s a testament to the power of a quiet life and a reminder that, in the end, we are all connected to it all.
Posted Dec 20, 2025  Edit critic review
Boogie Nights (1997) Peter Rainer Anderson doesn't just capture the pretensions of this world. He also falls for them. And that's where the film loses its edge.
Posted Sep 23, 2025  Edit critic review
Alien Resurrection (1997) Peter Rainer What sets it somewhat apart from the others is the artfulness with which it achieves a few of its effects. The film may be schlock, but it's a higher grade than we are accustomed to from this series.
Posted Jul 18, 2024  Edit critic review
The Matrix (1999) Bill Gallo The Wachowskis seem to be saying that while state-of-the-art effects speak for themselves, loud and clear, there's still room amid all the kicking and shooting and shouting for the carefully observed human emotion.
Posted Jul 13, 2023  Edit critic review
Magnolia (1999) Robert Wilonsky Magnolia, the third film from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, is a brilliant piece of garbage -- mesmerizing, but only because you can't believe someone has the temerity to put so much into so little.
Posted Jun 29, 2023  Edit critic review
Heavenly Creatures (1994) Matt Zoller Seitz It's so bold, passionate, and perverse that it crosses just about every categorical line in cinema.
Posted May 16, 2023  Edit critic review
My Family/Mi Familia (1995) Matt Zoller Seitz One of the most satisfying dramas I've ever seen.
Posted Aug 26, 2021  Edit critic review
Psychotropic Overload (1994) Matt Zoller Seitz So here it is, Joseph. If bad press really is better than no press, here's something better. And if raw persistence made careers in the film industry, you'd have a three-picture deal by now...
Posted Jul 26, 2021  Edit critic review
The Rat Pack (1998) Robert Wilonsky It's a film about style that has none, a film about tough guys that has no punch, a cocktail without the booze.
Posted Apr 29, 2020  Edit critic review
Event Horizon (1997) Robert Wilonsky In space, apparently, no one can hear you direct.
Posted Dec 15, 2018  Edit critic review
The Exorcist (1973) Robert Wilonsky [Friedkin] knew he wasn't making art; he was concocting gross-out pop -- a movie so "scary" it borders on being silly.
Posted Oct 15, 2014  Edit critic review
The Boxer (1997) Peter Rainer The Boxer is very observant about the ways in which women are enlisted in the IRA cause.
Posted May 14, 2013  Edit critic review
Chicago (2002) Bill Gallo As the show has always taught us, the public is fickle and fame is fleeting. But some things turn out to be timeless. Chicago looks like one of them.
Posted Oct 18, 2008  Edit critic review
Wolf Creek (2005) Luke Y. Thompson Greg McLean, who has many shorts and commercials under his belt, makes a significant feature debut here, with unapologetic horror that doesn't compromise.
Posted Jan 04, 2006  Edit critic review
Mirrormask (2005) Luke Y. Thompson looks as amazing as anything onscreen this year.
Posted Oct 08, 2005  Edit critic review
It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004) Robert Wilonsky The movie leaves us with a broad, genuine smile, not the smirk born of so many mockumentaries. This is phony, absolutely, but the good feeling it leaves behind is plenty real.
Posted May 13, 2005  Edit critic review
Monster-in-Law (2005) Bill Gallo Billed as a comedy, this low-wattage sitcom is both ill-tempered and mean-spirited -- not least when it's cracking anti-gay jokes and making snide suggestions about incest.
Posted May 13, 2005  Edit critic review
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) Robert Wilonsky The droll has been made dull, a most inexplicable and unfortunate turn of events for so adored a genius, goofball work as this.
Posted Apr 29, 2005  Edit critic review
Dot the I (2003) Bill Gallo If you find dense, self-conscious mystification decorated with all kinds of fashionable postmodern gimmicks more than a bit annoying, best to look elsewhere.
Posted Apr 23, 2005  Edit critic review
The Interpreter (2005) Robert Wilonsky The action gives way, time and time again, to the inaction of people sitting there, explaining why they're there and how they got there and why they're not leaving, which isn't thrilling at all.
Posted Apr 22, 2005  Edit critic review
Dust to Glory (2005) Bill Gallo 94 minutes' worth of mind-numbing repetition, complete with a musical score seemingly lifted from reality TV.
Posted Apr 09, 2005  Edit critic review
Sahara (2005) Robert Wilonsky A stunning piece of work -- stunningly inept, stunningly incoherent, stunningly awful in every single way imaginable.
Posted Apr 09, 2005  Edit critic review
Fever Pitch (2005) Jean Oppenheimer A sweet, ingratiating romantic comedy.
Posted Apr 09, 2005  Edit critic review
Oldboy (2003) Luke Y. Thompson It's a work of art for sure, but a sadistic one. Oldboy is one of the year's best; it just isn't for everyone.
Posted Apr 08, 2005  Edit critic review
The Upside of Anger (2005) Robert Wilonsky A mature, informed piece of work that sticks in your head, your heart and your throat long after it's over.
Posted Apr 02, 2005  Edit critic review
Sin City (2005) Robert Wilonsky What we get isn't so much a dismantled and rearranged puzzle-piece narrative as much as a song stripped of its verses, till all we're left with is the chorus.
Posted Apr 01, 2005  Edit critic review
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005) Robert Wilonsky All it lacks is a laugh track -- appropriate since it also lacks a laugh.
Posted Mar 25, 2005  Edit critic review
Millions (2004) Robert Wilonsky Charming, warming fable.
Posted Mar 25, 2005  Edit critic review
Guess Who (2005) Robert Wilonsky It breaks no ground, but at least it doesn't bury itself beneath so much proselytizing and posing.
Posted Mar 25, 2005  Edit critic review
Walk on Water (2004) Jean Oppenheimer Will resonate with all sorts of viewers.
Posted Mar 25, 2005  Edit critic review
You I Love (2004) Bill Gallo The whole thing has a dour resolve that undermines its attempts at humor.
Posted Mar 25, 2005  Edit critic review
Downfall (2004) Bill Gallo Downfall doesn't provide much new material, but it should prove valuable for generations as a historical document, despite its several odd stances.
Posted Mar 13, 2005  Edit critic review
Robots (2005) Robert Wilonsky If its story line isn't exactly novel -- a dreamer son sets off for the Big City to fulfill his destiny and make his poor parents proud -- its look is hypnotically visionary.
Posted Mar 11, 2005  Edit critic review
Be Cool (2005) Robert Wilonsky A note-for-note, beat-for-beat redo of its predecessor, only with all the entertaining stuff left out.
Posted Mar 04, 2005  Edit critic review
Imaginary Heroes (2004) Bill Gallo Whatever kudos go to Harris for the length of his reach tend to be overshadowed by inexperience and enslavement to genre.
Posted Feb 25, 2005  Edit critic review
Paper Clips (2004) Jean Oppenheimer Low-key but inspirational.
Posted Feb 18, 2005  Edit critic review
Constantine (2005) Robert Wilonsky A deceptively thoughtful tale tricked up like an action movie; it's beautiful to look at but even more lovely to ruminate over.
Posted Feb 18, 2005  Edit critic review
Hitch (2005) Robert Wilonsky Smith is the stale prince of charming grins and adorable asides; it's astounding that this is his first real romantic comedy, because it feels like he's been doing this shtick for years.
Posted Feb 11, 2005  Edit critic review
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) Robert Wilonsky Aims to be loud, dumb fun, only it takes itself too seriously to offer anything approaching a good time.
Posted Jan 23, 2005  Edit critic review
Hotel Rwanda (2004) Jean Oppenheimer May be the most important film released in the past year. Among the class of 2004, it is certainly one of the best.
Posted Jan 15, 2005  Edit critic review
Million Dollar Baby (2004) Bill Gallo It's difficult not to admire Eastwood's dogged (and likely painful) pursuit of real life and authentic emotion.
Posted Jan 15, 2005  Edit critic review
In Good Company (2004) Robert Wilonsky [A] marvelous comedy tinged with substantial sadness around its edges.
Posted Jan 14, 2005  Edit critic review
Coach Carter (2005) Bill Gallo Not even Jackson's thundering dynamism lifts the drama from mediocrity.
Posted Jan 14, 2005  Edit critic review
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) Robert Wilonsky Penn's lead performance is the main attraction here, and it's a fine piece of work -- far superior to his overly showy Oscar-winning role last year.
Posted Jan 14, 2005  Edit critic review
Meet the Fockers (2004) Robert Wilonsky It's left to Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman as Greg's parents to warm up the picture, and they light it on fire.
Posted Dec 27, 2004  Edit critic review
The Aviator (2004) Robert Wilonsky It's great fun, but nothing more.
Posted Dec 27, 2004  Edit critic review
Prev Next