Special Coverage American Idol Lost Oscars Grammys Pop Style Tech
Movie Review

August (2008)

Reviewed by Owen Gleiberman | Jul 11, 2008
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman is a film critic for EW
EW's GRADE
A-

Details Limited Release: Jul 11, 2008; Rated: R; Length: 88 Minutes; Genre: Drama; With: Naomie Harris and Josh Hartnett

DOT-COMMAND Josh Hartnett gives off movie-star heat in August, an indie Wall Street for Internet boomers | August, Josh Hartnett
Image credit: Jessica Miglio
DOT-COMMAND Josh Hartnett gives off movie-star heat in August, an indie Wall Street for Internet boomers

Anyone who thinks that Josh Hartnett isn't a true movie star should see his riveting, high-wire performance in August, a shrewdly dramatized look back at the bursting of the dot-com bubble. As Tom, the hipster CEO of a start-up that's about to crash and burn, Hartnett has a scruffy glamour worthy of Brad Pitt, as well as a whiplash gift-of-gab intensity all his own. Tom knows he's running on fumes, and the director, Austin Chick, and the screenwriter, Howard A. Rodman, use the summer of 2001 to comment on a culture that is still lethally leveraged. They've made an indie Wall Street for the Internet era of virtual-profit hucksterism. A-

Originally posted Jul 11, 2008 Published in issue #1002 Jul 18, 2008 Order article reprints

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining
Advertisement

Featured Video

OscarWatch TV: 'Avatar' as underdog? Dave Karger and Missy Schwartz on the rise of ''Hurt Locker,'' Sandra leapfrogging Meryl for Best Actress More

Today's Most Popular

  1. Hollywood Insider 'Deadliest Catch' Captain Phil Harris has died
  2. PopWatch Ellen DeGeneres joins the 'American Idol' judges' table: First-timer teaches old dawgs new tricks!
  3. The Ausiello Files ATV spoilers: 'Glee' triangle twist, 'Smallville' spoofs 'Star Wars' and a 'Modern Family' casting coup?!
  4. Ken Tucker's TV The last 'Jay Leno Show': I watched it so you didn't have to
  5. EW's Special Coverage Totally 'Lost'

Special Coverage

Totally 'Lost'! Get up to speed for the final season: New theories and news from Doc Jensen, exclusive video, photos, trivia, and more More