Shanghai 2010

Farran Smith Nehme, New York Post: Cusack says at one point: "I did what you do with a puzzle. I stared at it until it made sense." That, I can guarantee you, won't happen with "Shanghai." Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: How many times does John Cusack have to prove he is no leading man? In Shanghai he comes off as Sam Spade with chopsticks. Read more

Andrew Barker, Variety: Goes through all the motions of an old-school wartime spy pic with plenty of technical competence but zero panache, the filmic equivalent of a bar band working through one last Skynyrd cover just before last call. Read more

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, AV Club: Hafstrom directs it like he's sucking too hard on a cigarette, in a quick, over-and-done-with style that results only in fitful coughs of smoke. Read more

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: Under Mikael Hafstrom's visually clunky, rhythmless direction, it's a snooze of epic sameness: choppy action scenes, a blankly stern Cusack, and too many allegiance shifts to count or care for. Read more

Glenn Kenny, New York Times: You might be forgiven for expecting either an unfairly squelched masterpiece or an unholy mess. The movie is neither, although it falls closer to the mess side of the table. Read more

Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer: It is hampered by weak writing and a badly executed story line. Read more

Simon Abrams, Village Voice: The film often feels like a drab collection of scenes where John Cusack disinterestedly questions attractive, elusive Asian cast members. Read more

Mark Jenkins, Washington Post: Director Mikael Hafstrom and a fine cast and crew have made a film that's elegant and gauche in roughly equal measure. Read more