Sarah Kerr

Right from the opening shot of Breaking the Waves...von Trier seems to be looking for the first time at life, not just the movies.

Leigh at his best is a renderer of moments--the wisest and deepest observer, probably, among living directors.

Anderson is young enough to be post-hip and post-ironic, if such terms are possible.

The talk sounds a little canned – an adult's foggy reconstruction of what it was like to hang out – but, for a while, Linklater is able to extract odd momentary glances and giggles from the actors to freshen it up.

Altman's grief once seemed a revelation. With this movie, it begins to look like a misanthrope's stubborn routine.