Citizen Ruth

Pros: Funny, satiric to the bone, and intelligent.

Cons: Ungodly offensive.

Review: Citizen Ruth

Directed by Alexander Payne

Written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor

Starring Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place, Kurtwood Smith, Kelly Preston, M.C. Gainey, Alicia Witt, and Burt Reynolds

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Pros: funny, interesting, great cast

Cons: deals with a subject that is touchy with most

Review: Citizen Ruth is the story of a woman, Ruth Stoops, who is a junkie and is constantly in trouble with the law. She has a problem with huffing spray paint and has two children who live with her brother. After being picked up for the umpteenth time and...

Pros: Hilarious. Much needed.

Cons: Cons: none. Cautions: strong language and adult themes.

The Bottom Line: Abortion is a very serious issue. Sometimes we most need to laugh at the things we take most seriously.

Review: Everybody knows the main character has to be sympathetic, right? If you can’t sympathize with the m ...

Pros: Payne's Direction, Script, Score, Locations, & Cast led by Laura Dern.

Cons: Some Who are Serious about Abortion Won't Like This Film, & a Topless Burt Reynolds.

The Bottom Line: "Citizen Ruth" is a Smart, Witty Satire Debut Feature from Alexander Payne & Co. led by Laura Dern's Hilariously Complex Performance.

Review: In this age of political turmoil, it is clear that whenever there's a political issue going around. It's always the person in the middle that becomes the real victim. Most recently, Americans were divided over the issue of euthanasia concerning Terri ...

Pros: Laura Dern, direction, set design, script.

Cons: A few half-sentimental moments.

The Bottom Line: is innocent, he swears.

Review: One of the greatest risks in making satire is the characters: Often, they must be devoid of any likable aspects. Works of satire often face criticisms for not telling the "happy side" of the story, but the happy side is not the focus. Satire is about ...

Pros: hilariously skewers both sides of the abortion debate

Cons: ending an anticlimax

Review: In honor of the upcoming election, I will be (hopefully) viewing and reviewing one movie with a political theme each week until Election Day. This week I chose Citizen Ruth, a movie that satirizes everyone's favorite wedge issue, abortion.
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Pros: Provocative topic, inspired performance by Laura Dern

Cons: May be offensive to those with firm beliefs about abortion

Review: Laura Dern scorches the screen in "Citizen Ruth" as Ruth Stoops, a tough, glue-sniffing drug addict who has just discovered that she's pregnant for the fifth time. Facing jail, she's advised by an exasperated judge to have an...

Pros: Original writing, good acting, "off-beat"

Cons: very few

Review: Ruth Stoops (Laura Dern) made me sick ... and illustrated a good point about society. We say we care, but it isn't really about others. Its about abstract concepts and far away ideas. In our attempt to win the big war we forget to see the soldiers and...

Pros: Fine performances by lead and supporting actors, interesting study in extremist behavior

Cons: The self-destructive behavior of the main character is difficult to watch

The Bottom Line: Searing indictment on Pro-life vs Pro-choice zealotry.

Review: The opening scenes of Citizen Ruth reveal, in stark reality, the nightmarish life of people like Ruth Stoops. Ruth is a hapless addict who is caught in a cycle of self-destructive behaviors that have resulted in multiple arrests, illegitimate children,...

Pros: interesting concept, great acting

Cons: didn't really catch my attention

The Bottom Line: Interesting anti-fanatic piece but fairly low on entertainment value

Review: The debate goes on…pro-life or pro-choice? Is there truly an answer to this nagging question that takes precedence in countless debates, political elections and church meetings? In this movie you will meet two groups of people, each absolutely certain ...