The Black Balloon

If your looking for an uplifting movie, this isn't the one. Very depressing at every turn. Not very many scenes show the positive side of having a child with disabilities. The happy scenes quickly turned sad.... Full review

If your looking for an uplifting movie, this isn't the one. Very depressing at every turn. Not very many scenes show the positive side of having a child with disabilities. The happy scenes quickly turned sad.... Full review

This is a very well done film that truly embraces the relationship of two brothers that one of them is autistic. Superior performances by all in this movie. I highly recommend watching, even if you're not a fan of this film... Full review

This is a very well done film that truly embraces the relationship of two brothers that one of them is autistic. Superior performances by all in this movie. I highly recommend watching, even if you're not a fan of this film... Full review

She and Wakefield also share a strong chemistry....while Ward (looking like Kate Moss' less-strung-out younger sister) may be a tad too attractive for the part, she compensates with a performance rich in depth and complexity.....it pays off beautifully with a story you won't be able to shake..... ... Full Review

The story elements of "The Black Balloon" could have been manipulated to make the film false and cute.....In an acutely embarrassing scene, Thomas is revealed during a swimming class as a 16-year-old who cannot swim.....Charlie is not made into a cute movie creature.....Rare, too, and a tribute to the Australian film industry, to see a film that doesn't allow star power to compromise its vision..... ... Full Review

The story elements of "The Black Balloon" could have been manipulated to make the film false and cute.....In an acutely embarrassing scene, Thomas is revealed during a swimming class as a 16-year-old who cannot swim.....Charlie is not made into a cute movie creature.....Rare, too, and a tribute to the Australian film industry, to see a film that doesn't allow star power to compromise its vision..... ... Full Review

The movie succeeds in its unusual family portrayal.....Still, Thomas is embarrassed and angry for most of the movie.....The Black Balloon is rawer, more real, and maybe a little more special.....While some of the plot may be a bit predictable, the movie stands on its own....And that makes the movie kind of special..... ... Full Review

Down made a beautiful film about character growth.....The pleasure in this film comes from watching a family who love one another try to make good decisions.....Collette, Wakefield and Ford all give really great performances.....Terrific performances by the whole cast really help this coming of age story about two brothers, one of whom has autism..... ... Full Review

Shannon Moore - Celebrity News Service Reporter Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes is going to be a father again. ... Full Article

Ironically the E.N.D. in The E.N.D. stands for "energy never dies," which is surprisingly meta for a band whose breakout single was called "Let's Get Retarded." ... Full Article

Drama. Directed by Elissa Down. With Rhys Wakefield, Toni Collette, Luke Ford, Gemma Ward, Erik Thomson. (PG-13. 97 minutes. At the Lumiere in San Francisco and Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley.) ... Full Article

It's a blazing hot day in 1990 Australia, and the Mollisons are moving into a new house again. They're an army family: dad Simon (Erik Thomson), pregnant mum Maggie (Toni Collette), gangly 15-year-old son Tom (Rhys Wakefield) all carrying cartons... ... Full Article

Note: Movies under this heading are opening for the first time in South Florida. For those movies running in just a few theaters (one to four), we name the theaters at the end of the capsule. ■■■ The Black Balloon... ... Full Article

It's a question of balance that movies rarely get right. Either the lives they portray are too troubled, or they're too happy. Once in a blue moon comes a film that shows a recognizable human existence where laughs and pain,... ... Full Article