“Director Paul A. Kaufman's knack for capturing quiet moments is especially reflected in scenes in which a married couple discover the fate of their son from a telegram delivery or the reaction of the town's residents to the news of President Roosevelt's death.”
“Rich in period detail and featuring a strong cast and beautiful lensing.”
“Alexa Vega, the dynamite young actress who carries the film on her little shoulders.”
“Pic scores with Thom Best's lush photography and Vlasta Svoboda's excellent production design. After watching the film, you really feel like you've visited this farm, lived during the Second World War, and known these people - which is exactly what an effective coming-of-age tale is supposed to do.”
By Kay Gardella
“Occasionally, a film comes along that touches the heart in a very special way. Because it's such a simple film with no earthshaking message, it's hard to explain why a movie like today's choice speaks so eloquently to our sensitivity, our humanity and, especially, our heart.”
“Two major reasons why "Run the Wild Fields" is so effective are: Rodney Vaccaro’s dandy script, based on his play "And the Home of the Brave,” and the understated performance of Sean Patrick Flanery.”
“The film's ending alone is worth your time. There is the added bonus of a fine cast, splendidly directed by Paul A. Kaufman.”
By Lynn Heffley
“Under Paul A. Kaufman's direction, the film's strength is most often found in Whalley and Flanery’s stillness and expressive faces.”
“Some moments ring deeply true: the way eyes follow the wartime telegraph truck's approach with frozen dread; Pug's guilty yearning for Tom to take her father's place; Ruby's try at taking an irrevocable step away from her missing husband; and an understated encounter that wouldn't be fair to give way.”
By Michael Logan
“A film reminiscent of the lush romances that made moviegoers swoon in the 1940’s and ‘50s.”
By Lisa Leigh Parney
“Beautifully performed by Joanne Whalley and Sean Patrick Flanery and especially young Alexa Vega.”
By Sandy Young
“Alex Vega is simply captivating as 10-year-old Pug…Flanery’s able to convey volumes with his expressive face.”
“Joanne Whalley also steps up to the plate with a powerful portrait of Ruby.”
“It’s an engaging story, filled with the promise of better days ahead for all.”
By Michael Farkash
“Maybe to get this made as a theatrical release, you’d have to throw in a couple of gunfights and a bar brawl, but Showtime’s “Run the Wild Fields” is a tender well acted film that deserves exhibition in any and all venues.”
“Touching without lapsing into overt sentimentality, the World War II-era telefilm reflects well on everyone who put this production together.”
“Photography and settings are rich and dreamlike, giving the perfect frame to another era.”
By Barbara D. Phillips
“Moving and atmospheric.”
LITTLE GIRL LOST
By Brian Lowry
"...director Paul A. Kaufman gets a terrific performance from Judy Reyes."
By Ray Richmond
"Little Girl Lost...is wrenching, heavy-duty stuff. The film is powerful and genuine and bolstered by some exceptional work from Reyes, Ortiz and the entire cast."
By Mike Hughes
"...it's one of the best TV movies in years."
"Paul
Kaufman has directed a superb cast, led by Judy Reyes ("Scrubs") as
Luz, Hector Bustamante as her husband and Ana Ortiz ("Ugly Betty") as
his distant cousin."
By David Hinckley
"...tear-jerking and ultimately triumphant movie."
By Len Feldman
"...emotionally powerful."
"Judy Reyes turns in an inspirational Emmy-worthy performance."
By Jackie Cooper
"This
movie will grab you from its earliest moments and hold you captive for
the next hour and a half. It wouldn't be believable if you didn't know
it is based on a true story. In this case truth is absolutely stranger
than fiction. Make sure you don't miss this engrossing film."
SINS OF THE MOTHER
"As a reformed alcoholic mother trying to reconnect
with her tightly wound emotionally stunted daughter, Jill Scott (HBO’s ‘The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency’)
delivers a performance that makes you forget you knew her as a singer.”
"With
great acting all around, including Mimi Rogers as Nona's sponsor, this
adaptation of Carleen Brice's novel, Orange Mint and Honey is one dramatic
powerhouse of a TV movie. It'd be
a sin to miss it!"
"The only thing Jill Scott is guilty of here is
giving a powerful and moving performance."
“Scott
is a powerhouse as Nona, the mother in recovery from alcoholism. Beharie is
intense as Shay, the resentful daughter.”
There are some small, closely observed moments, too, like
in the prayer garden where Nona and Shay surrender their fears. It all rings
true and cathartic. Director Paul A. Kaufman makes Nona’s house and garden
charged characters.”
"...this sob-sister scenario jumps the fence from the other run-of-the-mills."
"Scott, memorable in HBO's "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," manages to morph easily from Precious into Nona here. Her big future on the small screen is assured."
RETURN TO THE BATCAVE
By Cynthia Littleton
"KAPOW!
BAM! THWAP! CBS is looking to stir up some Bat-nostalgia on Sunday with
a cheeky, so-stupid-its funny telefilm about the making of ABC's
1966-68 "Batman" series, staring Adam West and Burt Ward."
By Bill Ervilino
"Hilarious...RETURN
TO THE BATCAVE should leave you howling. In the spirit of the series,
it's campy, kooky, and a whole lot of fun."
"The stop action
shots of Romero being transformed into the Joker are terrific... And
speaking of makeup, this is one of the few movies about the 1960s in
which the women actually LOOK as if they are from the 1960s."
By Robert Bianco
"The
good news for those who loved the'60s camp classic, with its comically
stiff hero and its crooked-camera crooks, is that Return adequately
captures the tone and appeal of the series."
“Jack Brewer and Jason Marsden hilariously playing the younger West and Ward."
By Joanne Ostrow
"POW! - a clever, winking "Batman" reunion movie."
"Expect many bat-laughs."
By Ann Hodges
"'Marvelous! This is such a clever twist on reunion show."
"Like
Batman itself, this is two layers of entertainment-the POW's and
SMACK's for the young-uns, with plenty of double entendres for the
rest. And this script is very skillful at letting West and Ward fill in
their own 'whatever happened to' resumes, as well as weaving their more
serious personal affairs amid the comedy without overwhelming the funny
business."
"Return to the Batcave is fun in a smart new package of old times. Top that, all you creaky old reunion movies."
By Harry Knowles
"They've
actually turned the ol Bat-Theme into a full-fledged rapping song that
frankly, I just love. The best superhero song in years!"
By John Leonard
"Certainly more fun than anything in the subsequent gloomy Hollywood movie version." "There
will be at least one egg-filled food fight, one remarkable Bat Rap (as
in hip-hop), and one discussion about whether Batman and Robin are gay.
We all deserve a break, and affable Adam provides it."
By Kate O'hare
"The movie - every bit as campy and daffy as the 1966-68 ABC series."
By Glenn Garvin
"An endearing couple hours of silliness that sends itself up without putting itself down." "The
best thing about Return to the Batcave is that it allows you to relive
your '60s hallucinations without the muss and fuss of sugar cubes and
bongs."
By Rob Owen
"Fans
of the 'Batman' series will appreciate director Paul A. Kaufman's
adherence to the show's production design. And that's really what
'Return to the Batcave is all about: wallowing in nostalgia and getting
just a whiff of the essence of the original show."
