Stephen Farber

The subject of mentorship is not treated frequently onscreen, but Mr. Burton may be remembered as one of the definitive explorations of the theme. All the technical credits help to ground the film — cinematography by Stuart Biddlecombe is especially striking — but it is the performances that truly mesmerize.

This is a slight film, but the jolts do stay with you, and the two stars offer a humanity that many horror movies lack.

As a piece of filmmaking, Chasing Chasing Amy is effectively put together.

It provides some great background on Carville and certainly convinces us that he is one of the most colorful figures on the scene today — and still making noise.

Given the craziness of the concept, it is surprising that several of the scenes work as well as they do.

This film, so fresh and enterprising at many moments, ultimately disappoints.

Berger does a fine job controlling all of these performances, and he also creates a rich atmosphere for the production.

Most of the major events in Reagan’s life are covered, but few of them are recounted in an incisive fashion.

The two superb performances and the tactful hand of a gifted new director ensures that the audience will still be thinking about these people long after the journey ends.

Even acknowledging and regretting the conceptual misjudgments that mar the film, there are moments to enjoy. The conversations between the doctor and the don remain stimulating, and the two central performances add to the electricity.