Elvis
90%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The standard rock biopic formula gets all shook up in Elvis, with Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling energy and style perfectly complemented by Austin Butler’s outstanding lead performance.
NA
Elvis’s life is seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The story delves into the complex dynamic between the two spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley.
Tagline
The Man. The Legend. The King of Rock & Roll.
Production Company(ies)
DUST,HBO Max,Roadshow Films,Screen Queensland,The Jackal Group,Warner Bros.,Warner Bros. Pictures,Whalerock Industries
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
(Originating Distributor)
Release Date:
06-24-2022
Release Type
THEATRICAL, THEATRICAL (WIDE)
Filming Location(s)
Queensland, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital, Dolby, Dolby Surround 7.1
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2 h 39 m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Jun 24, 2022
Genre(s)
Animation,Biographical,Cult,Drama,Music,Period Piece,Sport,War
Keyword(s)
Biographical Drama Movie, Music Drama Movie, Period Piece, Movies Directed by Baz Luhrmann, Movies Written by Baz Luhrmann, Movies Written by Sam Bromell, Movies Written by Jeremy Doner, Movies Written by Craig Pearce, Movies Starring Austin Butler, Movies Starring Tom Hanks, Bazmark Films Movie, Warner Bros. Pictures Movie, The Jackal Group Movie, Whalerock Industries Movie, Roadshow Films Movie, Screen Queensland Movie, Movies from 2022, Movies from the 2020s, Medium Budget Movie, Movies from United States, English Language, Cannes International Film Festival, Big Budget Movie, Movies Starring Luke Bracey, Movies Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Movies Starring Dacre Montgomery, Movies Starring David Wenham, Movies Starring Richard Roxburgh, Movies Starring Kate Mulvany, Movies Starring Elizabeth Cullen, Movies Starring Natasha Bassett, Movies Starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Movies Starring Olivia DeJonge, Movies Starring Yola, Movies Starring Helen Thomson, Movies Starring Alton Mason, Movies Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Movies Starring Rufus Sewell, Movies from 2021, Impacted by COVID-19, Female Producer, Black Lead Cast
Worldwide gross: $286,040,048
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $286,040,048
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 523
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 31,193,026
US/Canada gross: $151,040,048
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $151,040,048
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 509
US/Canada opening weekend: $31,211,579
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $31,211,579
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 432
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $85,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $85,000,000
Production budget ranking: 477
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $45,772,500
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $155,267,548
ROI to date (est.): 119%
ROI ranking: 861
Elvis Presley
Tom Hanks
Colonel Tom Parker
Helen Thomson
Gladys
Richard Roxburgh
Vernon Presley
Olivia DeJonge
Priscilla Presley
Luke Bracey
Jerry Schilling
Director(s)
Baz Luhrmann
Writer(s)
Baz Luhrmann,Craig Pearce
Executive(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures:
Kevin McCormick
(Studio Exec)
Warner Bros. Pictures:
Courtenay Valenti
(Studio Exec)
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
Synopsis (Warning: Spoilers!)
In the early days, Elvis had battled a poverty-ridden childhood with his parents Vernon and Gladys. He finds music to be a salvation, even though he is ridiculed by his peers because of his fascination with the African American music of Memphis’ Beale Street. Parker is a carnival “huckster” who fancies himself a modern-day PT Barnum, playing upon the gullible nature of his audience.
Although Parker is already managing country singer Hank Snow, as soon as he hears Presley on the radio, he seems to be impressed with what he hears and has aspirations of becoming his manager. Parker eventually meets and persuades Elvis to let him take control of his career, which begins a meteoric ascent. However, not all of the public is impressed with the young entertainer. Many parents fear that his music is corrupting their children, and racist politicians also attack him for his involvement with black musicians. After a violent incident at a concert, Elvis finds himself facing a possible jail term. However, it is implied that Parker persuades the government to draft Elvis into the US Army as a way of avoiding any further legal entanglements. During his time in the service, Elvis discovers that Gladys has died of alcoholism.
While stationed in Germany, Elvis meets Priscilla Beaulieu, and upon his discharge, he resumes his career-making concert tours and films while Parker’s control of his life becomes even stronger. As the Sixties pass him by, Elvis is heartbroken by the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, wishing to become more politically outspoken in his music while Parker merely wants him to sing frivolous tunes that will be best sellers. After Parker refuses his request for a world tour and locks him into a long contract to entertain at a Las Vegas hotel, Elvis discovers that Parker had denied his world tour due to him being an illegal Dutch immigrant with no passport, and attempts to fire him, only to be sued by the latter for a huge amount that will leave him broke and destitute. A vicious argument ensues, while afterwards Elvis has to admit that he has no choice but to maintain his management from Parker, although they grow apart and rarely see each other afterwards.
Eventually, Elvis’s life spirals downward as Priscilla takes their daughter Lisa Marie and leaves him over his prescription drug addiction, which grows even stronger after she is gone. This results in his death from a heart attack on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. Before his passing, Elvis had also expressed to Priscilla that no one will remember him after he is gone. At one of Elvis’s final shows, he is bloated and pale, singing “Unchained Melody”. Parker dies old and alone.
Trivia
Goofs
When Elvis goes to Club Handy and the streets are filled with vehicles of the era, there’s a 58 Chevy parked by the curb. It doesn’t exist (yet) at the time the scene is set..
Quotes
Gladys Presley: The way you sing is God-given, so there can’t be nothin’ wrong with it.
Credits
Alternate Versions
NA
Soundtracks
If I Can Dream
Written by Walter Earl Brown
Performed by Måneskin
‘Elvis’ Shakes to Top Position at U.K. Box Office
Jun 28 – Variety Film + TV
‘Elvis’ Beats ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ By 1 Million in Heated Box Office Battle
Jun 27 – Variety Film + TV
Links
(Click to Visit)
(Click to Visit)
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_(2022_film)
Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/elvis
HBO
Search
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Watch Now
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Coming soon…
The Sting
The Sting (1973)
96%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: Won 7 Oscars
18 wins & 6 nominations total
Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and director George Roy Hill prove that charm, humor, and a few slick twists can add up to a great film.
When you’ve got Paul Newman and Robert Redford on screen together, you know you’re in for a good time. And “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” doesn’t disappoint. Director George Roy Hill brings the perfect mix of charm, humor, and unexpected turns to this classic Western.
Newman and Redford play off each other so well, it’s like they were born to be on screen together. And the way they pull off those slick heists? It’s almost too cool for words. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of laughs to balance out the action.
Sure, it’s a bit of an oldie, but “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” still holds up today. So grab some popcorn, kick back, and enjoy the ride. You won’t regret it.
Production Company(ies)
Zanuck Brown Productions, Universal Pictures,
Distributor
MCA/Universal Home Video, Universal Pictures, Universal Home Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Union Station – Canal St. & Jackson Blvd., Near West Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1973
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 9m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1973 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 31, 1998
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring paul newman, robert redford, robert shaw, charles durning, ray walston, eileen brennan, directed by george roy hill, written by david s ward, produced by tony bill, julia phillips, michael phillips, comedy, drama, box office success, budget, reviewed by alexander walker, derek malcolm, david robinson, tom milne, colin bennett, kenneth robins, margaret minxman, george melly, romola costantino, michael billington, janet maslin, kevin m w, alec b, john b, carlos m, PG rating, con artist, revenge, crime boss, elaborate scheme, twists, improvisation, 1973, MCA/Universal Home Video, Universal Pictures, Universal Home Entertainment, Tubi, streaming, free, AVOD, WatchFree, TubiOriginals, summer of streaming, The Sandlot, RV, The Matrix
Worldwide gross: $156,000,000
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,161,893,517
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 78
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 126,705,945
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $40,964,195
Production budget ranking: 946
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $22,059,219
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,098,870,104
ROI to date (est.): 1,744%
ROI ranking: 59
Robert Redford – Johnny Hooker
Robert Shaw – Doyle Lonnegan
Charles Durning – Lt. William Snyder
Ray Walston – J.J. Singleton
Eileen Brennan – Billie
Director(s)
George Roy Hill
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Tony Bill, Julia Phillips, Michael Phillips
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
Won 7 Oscars
18 wins & 6 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (77) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (5)
Here are all the good old-fashioned film virtues standing up to the test of storytelling in a movie that Is constantly whetting your curiosity to know — “What happens next?”
March 7, 2022
Alexander Walker
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A beautifully ironic thriller with Paul Newman and Robert Redford that echoes Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid without succumbing to its innate pretensions.
March 7, 2022
Derek Malcolm
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
It is an unabashed, light- hearted entertainment, set in a Runyonesque underworld peopled with amiable, picturesque, larger-than-life gangsters with crepe hair and costume boxes always at the ready to stage some ridiculously elaborate con job.
March 7, 2022
David Robinson
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The Sting is a charmer, no doubt about that.
March 7, 2022
Tom Milne
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Add sharp professional playing all round (only Robert Shaw’s limping Irish gangster slows the jollity a bit) and you nave a film to carry you along despite its length; a film to leave you all smiles. The best of the year, though?
March 7, 2022
Colin Bennett
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
The Sting is heartily recommended, for it is a film in which superlative technique transcends any logical carping — not a great film by a long shot but a superb example of the film-maker’s craft which is also top entertainment.
March 7, 2022
Kenneth Robins
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
I suppose when you get right down to it neither Newman nor Redford, nor any of the seasoned cast, are put to too much strain in carrying off the plot with such apparently eff or t less flair. But for sizzling entertainment it could not be bettered.
March 7, 2022
Margaret Minxman
Liverpool Echo
It’s an old-fashioned, full-blooded entertainment, with a plot fast enough to conceal any inconsistencies, some cunningly placed coups de cinema ingenious enough to provoke spectators Into releasing sighs of delight at being thoroughly taken in.
March 7, 2022
George Melly
Observer (UK)
It’s a film of superb style, using one of the American legends — not the Wild West drama or the New York comedy, but the pre-war Chicago underworld one — to provide tough thrills with a comic edge to them.
March 7, 2022
Romola Costantino
The Sun-Herald (Australia)
It is very much a film about disguise, deception and acting; and the cleverness of the plot is that It first of all let us in on who is kidding whom and then pulls a substantial amount of rug from beneath our feet.
March 7, 2022
Michael Billington
Birmingham Post
The Sting is good clean fun, quite a lavish production, and lovely to look at, as are its leading men.
February 10, 2022
Janet Maslin
Boston Phoenix
Certainly loaded with blanks!
January 17, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
James Wegg
JWR…
Plot
Johnny Hooker, a small time grifter, unknowingly steals from Doyle Lonnegan, a big time crime boss, when he pulls a standard street con. Lonnegan demands satisfaction for the insult. After his partner, Luther, is killed, Hooker flees, and seeks the help of Henry Gondorff, one of Luther’s contacts, who is a master of the long con. Hooker wants to use Gondorff’s expertise to take Lonnegan for an enormous sum of money to even the score, since he admits he “doesn’t know enough about killing to kill him.” They devise a complicated scheme and amass a talented group of other con artists who want their share of the reparations. The stakes are high in this game, and our heroes must not only deal with Lonnegan’s murderous tendencies, but also other side players who want a piece of the action. To win, Hooker and Gondorff will need all their skills…and a fair amount of confidence.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no mention of the film US or anyone in its cast on this page.
George-Roy-Hill.jpg
Paper Moon
Paper Moon (1973)
95%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
8 wins & 10 nominations total
Expertly balancing tones, Paper Moon is a deft blend of film nostalgia and finely tuned performances — especially from Tatum O’Neal, who won an Oscar for her debut.
Paper Moon is a classic film that’s as charming as it is hilarious. Shot in black and white, it perfectly captures the feel of Depression-era America, and the performances from Ryan O’Neal and his daughter Tatum are nothing short of sensational. It’s a road trip movie that’s full of heart, humor, and a surprising amount of moral depth. If you’re looking for a film that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking, Paper Moon is definitely worth checking out. Plus, Tatum O’Neal’s performance is so good, it’ll leave a continent-sized impact crater in your heart.
Production Company(ies)
The Directors Company, Saticoy Productions, Paramount Pictures,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Hays, Kansas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1973
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 9, 1973 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 12, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Ryan O’Neal, Tatum O’Neal, Madeline Kahn, John Hillerman, P J Johnson, Jessie Lee Fulton, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, written by Joe David Brown, Alvin Sargent, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Gene Siskel, Jake Wilson, Wendy Ide, Jay Cocks, Roger Moore, produced by Peter Bogdanovich, PG rating, con artists, 1930s Kansas, road trip, father-daughter duo, swindling, burlesque dancer, bootlegger, Depression-era America, Oscar-winning performance, Tatum O’Neal debut, black and white cinematography, period detail, Dust Bowl era, heartless and heartfelt, foul language, women’s problems, unlikely partnership, phenomenal follow-up, The Last Picture Show, film nostalgia, finely tuned performances, expertly balancing tones, film critics, Fresh Kernels
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Tatum O’Neal – Addie Loggins
Madeline Kahn – Trixie Delight
John Hillerman – Deputy Hardin, Jess Hardin
P. J. Johnson – Imogene
Jessie Lee Fulton – Miss Ollie
Director(s)
Peter Bogdanovich
Writer(s)
Joe David Brown, Alvin Sargent
Producer(s)
Peter Bogdanovich
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
8 wins & 10 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (3)
It is distinguished by its moral tone, and it is the tone that lifts it above the average flim-flam comedy.
March 14, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Shot in black and white by the versatile cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, this has a mix of folksiness and precise craft that anticipates the Coen brothers, aiming to charm and succeeding.
September 15, 2018
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Part of an incredible 1970s career run for the director Peter Bogdanovich, Paper Moon remains a high point, not just for the talent involved behind the scenes and in front of the camera, but also for Hollywood.
May 14, 2015 | Rating: 5/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It is very fussy about period detail, and goes to some length to evoke the dim days of Depression America, while just about everything else is left to slide.
August 17, 2010
Jay Cocks
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It’s everything a road picture is supposed to be, a life-changing personal journey, a quest, a bit old-fashioned and a hoot.
May 13, 2009 | Rating: 5/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Tatum O’Neal makes a sensational screen debut.
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
A small but near-flawless gem—as well as a testament to the kind of eccentric film that could a big hit back then…
February 11, 2022
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
Of all the nice things that can be said about Paper Moon, perhaps the nicest is this: it’s the first new film in a long while that’s as enjoyable as it is good, and absolutely first-rate in both departments.
October 8, 2021
Janet Maslin
Boston Phoenix
…grows more and more absorbing as it progresses…
May 25, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
[Paper Moon] is exactly what we have in mind when we talk nostalgically of what movies “used to be”–meaningful rather than metaphorical, engrossing rather than exploitative, humanistic in their comedy and their sentiment.
June 12, 2020
Judith Crist
Texas Monthly
O’Neal leaves a continent-sized impact crater in the center of the film, delivering an instantly iconic performance none have been able to replicate.
May 18, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Nathanael Hood
Unseen Films
Peter Bogdanovich, using all of the hootchie-kootchie at his command, plus Ryan O’Neal, and even more importantly, O’Neal’s nine year old daughter Tatum, has made an ingratiating comedy.
July 10, 2019
Bernard Drew
Gannett News Service…
Plot
Set in the midwest of the depression-era, Paper Moon follows Moses Pray and Addie Loggins – one a con artist, the other, the young girl who’s the daughter of a woman who’s just passed away. The pair meet when ‘Mose’ stops by the sparsely-attended funeral in Kansas of a woman he once knew (we never see her). In attendance, is the woman’s young daughter, Addie, whom Moses agrees to transport to St Joseph, Mo
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Tatum O’Neal won an Oscar for her debut performance in Paper Moon.
Peter-Bogdanovich.jpg
Baadasssss
Baadasssss! (2003)
89%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win
An entertaining and intriguing tribute to a father from his son.
Baadasssss! is a documentary that tells the story of Melvin Van Peebles, the man behind the groundbreaking film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Critics have praised the film for its energy, humor, and raw style, while some have criticized its direction and lack of historical perspective. However, as a non-critic, I can say that this film is a must-watch for anyone who loves movies and wants to learn about the history of American cinema. It’s a fun and creative look at a man who changed the game and paved the way for future filmmakers. Plus, it’s filled with comic amazement and well-targeted humor that will keep you entertained from start to finish. So, grab some popcorn and get ready to be transported back in time to the birth of a new era in cinema.
Production Company(ies)
Altavista Films, Zeta Film
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1973
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 48m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 7, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 14, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Mario Van Peebles, Melvin Van Peebles, Joy Bryant, Terry Crews, Ossie Davis, David Alan Grier, Nia Long, directed by Mario Van Peebles, written by Mario Van Peebles, Bruce Wayne Gillies, drama, R rating, box office gross $365.2K, reviewed by David Denby, Marjorie Baumgarten, Roger Moore, Geoff Pevere, Rene Rodriguez, Liam Lacey, Kaleem Aftab, Deborah Hornblow, Felix Vasquez Jr., Cole Smithey, Joe Lozito, Lewis Beale, produced by Bruce Wayne Gillies, Sony Pictures Classics, English language, 1h 48m runtime, Surround sound mix, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, independent cinema, low-budget filmmaking, Melvin Van Peebles, Mario Van Peebles’ tribute to his father, making of a classic film, controversial scenes, nudity, strong sexuality, pervasive language
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Joy Bryant – Priscilla
Terry Crews – Big T
Ossie Davis – Granddad
David Alan Grier – Clyde Houston
Nia Long – Sandra
Director(s)
Mario Van Peebles
Writer(s)
Mario Van Peebles, Mario Van Peebles
Producer(s)
Bruce Wayne Gillies
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win
Academy Awards
All Critics (109) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (10)
It’s an exhausting, and exhaustingly pleasurable, entertainment.
August 1, 2004
David Denby
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Seethes with well-targeted humor that mixes comfortably with its simmering energy and anger.
July 3, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It’s a great story and well worth remembering.
July 2, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Effectively raw and stylish.
June 25, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Van Peebles’ stiff, needlessly flashy direction lacks the energy this material required to become truly transporting, and the relationships between the characters, particularly the father and son, is never convincing.
June 25, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Not just forgiving toward the elder Van Peebles, it’s filled with a spirit of comic amazement about what he accomplished.
June 25, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
[An] enjoyable docu-romp… Sadly, there’s neither enough first-hand evidence from Van Peebles Sr. himself nor sufficient social historical perspective for Baadasssss to make the leap from being a good documentary to a great one.
April 24, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Kaleem Aftab
The List
Audiences unfamiliar with “Sweetback” can enjoy and understand the story chronicled in “Baadasssss!,” but the experience is infinitely richer if you have seen the film that inspired it.
January 2, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Deborah Hornblow
Hartford Courant
This is excellent and well worth the watch for any artist.
September 22, 2013
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
…successfully capture a spirit largely missing in American cinema…
June 10, 2009 | Rating: B-
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
A loving, even moving, homage to a man whose influence still reverberates today.
March 1, 2007
Lewis Beale
Film Journal International…
Plot
Sweet Sweetback is a black orphan who, having grown up in a brothel, now works there as part of a sex show. When the police need a patsy for a murder in the black community, His employer gives him up to two white cops, whom he ends up killing. Suddenly the target of a massive manhunt, he decides to flee to Mexico. As he makes his way there, he is captured by, and escapes from, both the cops and a chapter of the Hell’s Angels.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Mario Van Peebles directs and stars in this tribute to his father, Melvin Van Peebles, and the making of his classic film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.”
Mario-Van-Peebles.jpg
American Graffiti
American Graffiti (1973)
89%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 5 Oscars
9 wins & 13 nominations total
One of the most influential of all teen films, American Graffiti is a funny, nostalgic, and bittersweet look at a group of recent high school grads’ last days of innocence
American Graffiti is a classic coming-of-age film that captures the essence of small-town life in the 1950s. The characters are relatable and the soundtrack is filled with classic rock hits that will have you tapping your feet and singing along. George Lucas did a fantastic job directing this film, and it’s no wonder it’s still beloved by audiences today. So, hop in your car, roll down the windows, and take a trip down memory lane with American Graffiti. Just don’t forget to bring your poodle skirt and leather jacket!
Production Company(ies)
Decla-Bioscop AG,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Mel’s Drive-in – 140 South Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1973
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 1973 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 15, 1998
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, directed by George Lucas, written by George Lucas, Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck, comedy, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kevin Maher, Jan Dawson, Alan R Howard, Jay Cocks, Nell Minow, A.D Murphy, Quentin Tarantino, Richard Propes, Mike Massie, John Simon, Bernard Drew, Danielle Solzman, PG, last day of summer vacation, 1962, small-town California, disc jockey, classic rock’n’roll tunes, high school grads, innocence, nostalgia, coming of age, car culture, cruising, teenage life, Altman-esque vibe, misadventures, authentic, 1950s, teen films, influential, music-filled, vibrant small-town milieu, enslaved to the image of themselves, media, Kevin Maher, Times (UK), Jan Dawson, Sight & Sound, Alan R Howard, Hollywood Reporter, Jay Cocks, TIME Magazine, A.D Murphy, Variety, Quentin Tarantino, The New Beverly, Richard Propes, TheIndependentCritic.com, Mike Massie, Gone With The Twins, John Simon, Esquire Magazine, Bernard Drew, Gannett News Service, Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies, Francis Ford Coppola, Gary Kurtz, Universal Pictures, Surround, Mono, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $115,000,324
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $856,526,480
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 127
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 93,405,287
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $750,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,586,027
Production budget ranking: 1,853
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,008,075
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $847,932,378
ROI to date (est.): 9,866%
ROI ranking: 8
Ron Howard – Steve Bolander
Paul Le Mat – John Milner
Charles Martin Smith – Terry “The Toad” Fields
Cindy Williams – Laurie Henderson
Candy Clark – Debbie Dunham
Director – George Lucas
Producers – Francis Ford Coppola, Gary Kurtz
Writers – George Lucas, Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck
Director(s)
George Lucas
Writer(s)
George Lucas, Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck
Producer(s)
Francis Ford Coppola, Gary Kurtz
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 5 Oscars
9 wins & 13 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (53) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (2)
The ostensible narrative focus is Curt (Richard Dreyfuss), the sensitive scholarship kid determined to break away, but the film, sometimes to its detriment, is more in love with the vibrant small-town milieu.
February 20, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Without unnecessary nudging or underlining, Lucas beautifully establishes his characters as both enslaved to the image of themselves which the media have given them and permanently in need of its company.
March 27, 2020
Jan Dawson
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
The movie is a comic poem which celebrates the past but also catalogues its textures with telling precision. American Graffiti looks like no other movie, an achievement which is always the best measure of a truly gifted director.
August 1, 2017
Alan R. Howard
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
This superb and singular film catches not only the charm and tribal energy of the teen-age 1950s but also the listlessness and the resignation that underscored it all like an incessant bass line in one of the rock-‘n’-roll songs of the period.
July 7, 2014
Jay Cocks
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Brilliant and highly influential.
February 14, 2012 | Rating: A+
Nell Minow
Beliefnet
TOP CRITIC
There is brilliant interplaying and underplaying, of script, performers and direction which will raise howls of laughter from audiences, yet never descends on the screen to overdone mugging, pratfall and other heavy-handed devices normally employed.
June 27, 2007
A.D. Murphy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Like a lot of great nostalgia pieces (Meet Me in St. Louis, Summer of ‘42, Cooley High, New York New York, Dazed and Confused) it seems to get better the further it gets from its original release date.
June 30, 2022
Quentin Tarantino
The New Beverly
I was, and remain, very tempted to add this film to my Top 100.
September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
A fun-filled cultural snapshot imbued with classic rock and reminiscence.
August 27, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
George Lucas has directed with a remarkably firm but unostentatious hand, two virtues equally rare in a young film maker.
July 23, 2020
John Simon
Esquire Magazine
Stop reading this and go out and see it!
October 2, 2019
Bernard Drew
Gannett News Service
… the music-filled picture still holds up nearly a half-century later.
August 24, 2018
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies…
Plot
It’s the proverbial end of the summer 1962 in a small southern California town. It’s the evening before best friends and recent high school graduates, Curt Henderson and Steve Bolander, are scheduled to leave town to head to college back east. Curt, who received a lucrative local scholarship, is seen as the promise that their class holds. But Curt is having second thoughts about leaving what Steve basically sees as their dead end town. Curt’s beliefs are strengthened when he spots an unknown beautiful blonde in a T-bird who mouths the words “I love you” to him. As Curt tries to find that blonde while trying to get away from a local gang who have him somewhat hostage, Curt may come to a decision about his immediate future. Outgoing class president Steve, on the other hand, wants to leave, despite meaning that he will leave girlfriend, head cheerleader and Curt’s sister, Laurie Henderson, behind. Steve and Laurie spend the evening “negotiating” the state of their relationship. Meanwhile, two of their friends cruise around town for the evening. Steve has left his car to meek and mild-mannered Terry “Toad” Fields to look after during his absence. The wheels give Toad a new sense of confidence, which he uses to try and impress Debbie Dunham, a more experienced girl generally out of his league. And John Milner, who is seen as the king of the street race in his souped-up yellow deuce coupe, tries to get rid of precocious pre-teen, Carol Morrison, who has somehow become his passenger for the evening, while dealing with the challenge of bold out-of-towner, Bob Falfa.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for American Graffiti.
George-Lucas.jpg
Last Tango in Paris
Last Tango in Paris (1972)
83%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
7 wins & 12 nominations total
Naturalistic but evocative, Last Tango in Paris is a vivid exploration of pain, love, and sex featuring a typically towering Marlon Brando performance
Last Tango in Paris is a film that’s as steamy as a hot shower on a cold day. Brando’s performance is so good, it’s like he’s not even acting. The movie is a bit long and dull in some parts, but the sex scenes are so potent that they make up for it. It’s a character study that’s grounded in real life, and the filmmaking is superb. It’s a must-see for anyone who wants to experience a dark, torrid masterpiece about love and grief. Plus, nobody makes sex films like this anymore, so it’s a bit of a time capsule.
Production Company(ies)
Zentropa Entertainments, Film i Väst Zentropa International, Sweden
Distributor
United Artists, MGM Home Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
1 Rue de l’Alboni, Passy, Paris 16, Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Rated NC-17 for some explicit sexual content
Year of Release
1973
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 10m
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 1972 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 14, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $36,182,181
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $269,486,164
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 548
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 29,387,804
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,250,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $9,310,044
Production budget ranking: 1,703
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,013,459
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $255,162,661
ROI to date (est.): 1,781%
ROI ranking: 56
Maria Schneider – Jeanne
Jean-Pierre Léaud – Tom
Darling Legitimus – Concierge
Catherine Sola – TV Script Girl
Mauro Marchetti – TV Cameraman
Director(s)
Bernardo Bertolucci
Writer(s)
Bernardo Bertolucci, Bernardo Bertolucci, Franco Arcalli, Agnès Varda, Franco Arcalli, Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer(s)
Alberto Grimaldi
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
7 wins & 12 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (39) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (6)
When Brando improvises within Bertolucci’s structure, his full art is realized; his performance is intuitive, rapt, princely. Working with Brando, Bertolucci achieves realism with the terror of actual experience still alive on the screen.
January 3, 2018
Pauline Kael
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Brando gives his all but just ends up becoming himself. Interesting for its historical notoriety, but overlong and dull in places.
December 7, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Helen O’Hara
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
An uneven, convoluted, certainly dispute-provoking study of sexual passion in which Marlon Brando gives a truly remarkable performance.
December 7, 2007
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The operatic extravagance of Bernardo Bertolucci’s style has emerged more clearly since this 1972 drama, which still managed to seem vaguely naturalistic in the midst of its extravagant camera moves and eccentric construction.
December 7, 2007
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Bernardo Bertolucci’s controversial drama is actually a dark, torrid masterpiece about love and grief.
July 17, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Nobody makes sex films like this any more.
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Some of the improvisational small talk ends up being lightly amusing, but nothing about this picture can overcome the potency of the sex scenes.
August 30, 2020 | Rating: 2/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
[Brando provides] two sequences of such power, of such piercing emotional intensity and perception, that he brings an aura of greatness to the entire film. It is, alas, only an aura, for the film is all machismo.
June 12, 2020
Judith Crist
Texas Monthly
Everything in the movie is presented somewhat vaguely, which grants it a certain interest that we could call fascination, if weren’t about something more evident, fundamental, honest, and spontaneous. [Full Review in Spanish]
July 26, 2019
Jesús Fernández Santos
El Pais (Spain)
In this age where the human behavior system is rarely an important facet in film narratives, here is a picture that still throbs with all the pain and misery of its deep emotional wounds.
July 15, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
David Keyes
Cinemaphile.org
What makes it work is it is grounded in real life. It’s a story and a character study with a strong philosophical framework and people that are recognisably human. Factor in superb filmmaking, saturated sensual natural light and cinematography.
August 30, 2018
Anne Brodie
What She Said
Regardless of all its solos, failed majesties, and off-the-mark horrors, even as a highly imperfect adventure, it is still the best adventure in film to be seen in this pullulating year.
March 22, 2018
Norman Mailer
The New York Review of Books…
Plot
While looking for an apartment, Jeanne, a beautiful young Parisienne, encounters Paul, a mysterious American expatriate mourning his wife’s recent suicide. Instantly drawn to each other, they have a stormy, passionate affair, in which they do not reveal their names to each other. Their relationship deeply affects their lives, as Paul struggles with his wife’s death and Jeanne prepares to marry her fiance, Tom, a film director making a cinema-verite documentary about her.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Marlon Brando’s performance in Last Tango in Paris is described as “towering” by Fresh Kernels.
Bernardo-Bertolucci.jpg
Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die (1973)
72%RT Audience Score: 64%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
3 wins & 3 nominations total
While not one of the highest-rated Bond films, Live and Let Die finds Roger Moore adding his stamp to the series with flashes of style and an improved sense of humor
Live and Let Die may not be the best Bond film out there, but it’s still a fun ride. Sure, the plot is a bit absurd and the direction lacks enthusiasm, but who doesn’t love a good speedboat chase? And let’s not forget about the introduction of the worst Bond character ever (sorry, not sorry). But hey, Roger Moore fits smoothly into the role and it’s an enjoyable film overall. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the mindless entertainment.
Production Company(ies)
Scion Films, Canana Films, Creando Films,
Distributor
United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., CBS/Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Home Vídeo
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Jamaica
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1973
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Mono6-Track Stereo
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 11.66 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 1m
-
Language(s):English, Hungarian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 27, 1973 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2006
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour, Clifton James, Geoffrey Holder, Bernard Lee, directed by Guy Hamilton, written by Ian Fleming, Tom Mankiewicz, action, PG, James Bond, spy, adventure, Kananga, Mr Big, Solitaire, Sheriff J.W Pepper, Baron Samedi, M, United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., CBS/Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Home Vídeo, box office, budget, reviewed by John Russell Taylor, Derek Malcolm, Dave Kehr, Ian Nathan, Variety Staff, Richard Schickel, Matt Brunson, Jake Tropila, Mike Massie, Kelechi Ehenulo, Dick Lochte, PG rating, Albert R Broccoli, Harry Saltzman, James Bond 007, mono, flat aspect ratio, tarot-card reader, heroin, self-produced, global threat, assassins, voodoo, crocodile hopping, boat chase, theme song, Jane Seymour’s performance
Worldwide gross: $35,382,710
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $263,531,675
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 558
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 28,738,460
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $52,136,248
Production budget ranking: 761
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $28,075,369
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $183,320,059
ROI to date (est.): 229%
ROI ranking: 578
Yaphet Kotto – Kananga, Mr. Big
Jane Seymour – Solitaire
Clifton James – Sheriff J.W. Pepper
Geoffrey Holder – Baron Samedi
Bernard Lee – M
Director(s)
Guy Hamilton
Writer(s)
Ian Fleming, Tom Mankiewicz
Producer(s)
Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
3 wins & 3 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (18)
Will James Bond live on in the 1970s? Not much farther, if this episode is anything to go by.
December 18, 2020
John Russell Taylor
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It is good, lively, mindless entertainment, slow to warm up but once embarked upon its improbable story quick to appreciate its own absurdity.
December 18, 2020
Derek Malcolm
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Guy Hamilton’s direction lacks enthusiasm and pace, while even the art direction — long the Bond films’ real secret weapon — seems to have fallen to a shrunken budget.
October 13, 2008
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It can’t quite muster an explosive third act to match previous jaunts, but Moore had got his feet under the table.
October 13, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The comic book plot meanders through a series of hardware production numbers.
October 13, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Setting aside an allright speedboat spectacular over land and water, the film is both perfunctory and predictable — leaving the mind free to wander into the question of its overall taste. Or lack of it.
October 13, 2008
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This introduces the worst — I repeat, worst — character to be found in any Bond movie.
September 25, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Live and Let Die’s flaws are apparent, but it’s still a solid adventure, and Moore fits smoothly into the role of Bond. It’s an enjoyable film, and that’s really all you could ask for.
September 23, 2020
Jake Tropila
Film Inquiry
Considering the blandness of this eighth theatrical chapter, it’s miraculous that further adventures would make it to the big screen.
August 30, 2020 | Rating: 2/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
If Live and Let Die was Moore’s acid test, then he passed the test.
July 16, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Kelechi Ehenulo
Confessions From A Geek Mind
While [Bond’s] latest adventure looks as though his producers had trimmed a few million dollars off the budget, it is still fast, funny and frivolous enough to satisfy.
December 31, 2019
Dick Lochte
Los Angeles Free Press
Stands as proof to the maxim that James Bond and the 1970s simply didn’t mix.
October 31, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro…
Plot
Several British agents have been murdered and James Bond is sent to New Orleans, to investigate these mysterious deaths. Mr. Big comes to his knowledge, who is self-producing heroin. Along his journeys he meets Tee Hee who has a claw for a hand, Baron Samedi the voodoo master and Solitaire a tarot card reader. Bond must travel to New Orleans, and deep into the Bayou.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for Live and Let Die.
Guy-Hamilton.jpg
The Black Phone
The Black Phone
87%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Black Phone might have been even more frightening, but it remains an entertaining, well-acted adaptation of scarily good source material.
With a terrific villain and a twisty story stacked with edge-of-your-seat thrills, The Black Phone is a must-watch for fans of suspenseful horror.
Thirteen-year-old Finney is in trouble. A kidnapper locked him in a basement, a place stained with the blood of half a dozen murdered children. With him in his subterranean cell is an antique phone, long since disconnected… but it rings at night with calls from the dead. Based on the short story by Joe Hill.
Tagline
Never Talk to Strangers
Production Company(ies)
Blumhouse Productions, Crooked Highway Productions, Peacock, Supernatural, Universal Pictures
Distributor
Universal Pictures
(Originating Distributor)
Release Date:
06-24-2022
Release Type
STREAMING, STREAMING (PEACOCK), THEATRICAL, THEATRICAL (WIDE)
Filming Location(s)
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:
-
Sound mix:
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1 h 43 m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Jun 24, 2022
Genre(s)
Animation, Cult, Horror, Literary Adaptation, Music, Sport, Supernatural, Teen, War
Keyword(s)
Literary Adaptation Horror Movie, Supernatural, Movies Directed by Scott Derrickson, Movies Written by Scott Derrickson, Movies Written by C. Robert Cargill, Movies Starring Ethan Hawke, Movies Starring Jeremy Davies, Movies Starring James Ransone, Movies Starring Madeleine McGraw, Movies Starring Jacob Moran, Movies Starring Jordan Isaiah White, Movies Starring Brady Hepner, Universal Pictures Movie, Blumhouse Productions Movie, Crooked Highway Productions Movie, Movies from 2022, Movies from the 2020s, Low Budget Movie, Movies from United States, English Language, Tribeca Festival, Movies Starring Mason Thames, Movies Starring E. Roger Mitchell, Movies Starring Michael Banks Repeta, Movies Starring Ron Blake, Movies Starring Braxton Alexander, Movies Starring Gina Jun, Movies Starring Chris Tc Edge, Movies Starring J. Gaven Wilde, Black Lead Cast, Female Producer
Worldwide gross: $159,568,230
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $159,568,230
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 811
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 17,401,116
US/Canada gross: $89,887,230
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $89,887,230
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 799
US/Canada opening weekend: $23,633,220
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $23,633,220
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 565
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,800,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $18,800,000
Production budget ranking: 1,343
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $10,123,800
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $130,644,430
ROI to date (est.): 452%
ROI ranking: 284
The Grabber
Mason Thames
Finney
Madeleine McGraw
Gwen
Jeremy Davies
Terrence
James Ransone
Max
E. Roger Mitchell
Director(s)
Scott Derrickson
Writer(s)
C. Robert Cargill, Scott Derrickson
Executive(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
Synopsis (Warning: Spoilers!)
The police search for Finney is unsuccessful. The Grabber brings Finney food and leaves the door to the basement unlocked. Finney prepares to sneak out but is stopped by another boy on the phone called Billy. He explains this is a game that The Grabber plays, and he is waiting upstairs to attack Finney with a belt if he leaves the basement. Billy instructs him to use a cord Billy found to get out via the basement window. While climbing Finney breaks the bars on the window, preventing him from climbing back up. Gwen dreams of Billy being abducted and confides in her father about what is happening.
Wright and Miller speak to an eccentric man called Max who is staying in the area with his brother. It is revealed Finney is being held in Max’s basement, which he is unaware of, and The Grabber is his brother. After an agitated exchange with The Grabber, where he tests Finney’s honesty, he makes it seems as if he would have let Finney go. Finney speaks to another one of his victims, Griffin, on the phone. Griffin shows Finney a combination to a lock and informs him The Grabber has fallen asleep upstairs. Finney sneaks upstairs and unlocks the door but The Grabber’s dog alerts him to Finney’s escape. Finney flees down the street but is recaptured.
Despondent over his failed escape attempt, Finney answers the phone to hear another victim, a punk called Vance whom Finney was scared of. Vance informs Finney of a connecting storage room he can escape through if he breaks a hole in the wall and exit through the freezer on the other side of the wall. Finney creates a hole with a toilet tank cover and enters the back of the freezer only to discover that the door is chained shut. The phone rings one more time with Robin at the end of the line. He comforts Finney and encourages him to finally stand up and fight for himself. He instructs Finney to remove the phone receiver and pack it with the dirt he had dug up to use as a weapon.
Gwen dreams of Vance’s abduction and discovers the property of The Grabber. She finds the house and contacts Wright and Miller. Max realizes Finney is being held in the house and rushes to the basement to free him, but his brother kills him with an ax. The police rush to the house Gwen found but find it abandoned. In the basement, they find the buried bodies of The Grabber’s victims. The Grabber attacks Finney with the ax, but Finney manages to trip the Grabber with the cord, causing him to fall into the tunnel Finney dug, where the Grabber breaks and traps his ankle in the window bars placed at the bottom. The ghosts taunt The Grabber over the phone before Finney breaks his neck with the phone cord, killing him. Finney distracts the guard dog with meat from the freezer and escapes the house using the combination he learned. Finney exits the house across the street from the gravesites where he reunites with Gwen and the police rush to the property. The siblings comfort each other and reunite with their father, who apologizes for his treatment. Back at school, a confident Finney sits next to his crush in class.
Trivia
Goofs
Finney uses what appears to be an LED flashlight during his captivity. These would not have been available in the late 70s and were not common until the 21st century.
Quotes
Gwen Shaw: Jesus? What the fuck.
Credits
Alternate Versions
NA
Soundtracks
Free Ride
Written by Dan Hartman
Performed by The Edgar Winter Group
‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Drops to 45 Million Second Weekend
Jul 16 – The Wrap
10 Scariest Horror Movie Scenes, According To Reddit
Jul 15 – ScreenRant.com
Links
(Click to Visit)
(Click to Visit)
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Phone
Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_black_phone
Peacock
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Coming soon…
Westworld
Westworld (1973)
81%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Yul Brynner gives a memorable performance as a robotic cowboy in this amusing sci-fi/western hybrid
Westworld is a sci-fi classic that’s equal parts thrilling and cheesy. It’s like a 70s Western with a futuristic twist, and Yul Brynner’s monotone maniac is a memorable villain. The central conceit is a bit flimsy, but it’s still a fun scare flick that puts its clever gimmicks to imaginative use. Plus, who doesn’t love the idea of a theme park where you can live out your wildest fantasies? Just be careful not to become prey to the machines. Overall, Westworld is well-acted, well-written, well-directed, and well-worth your attention.
Production Company(ies)
Pathé Renn Productions, France 3 Cinéma
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
1973
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 28m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 1973 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 3, 2001
Genre(s)
Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Norman Bartold, Dick Van Patten, Linda Gaye Scott, directed by Michael Crichton, written by Michael Crichton, sci-fi, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Gavin Bainbridge, J.R Jones, David Nusair, Jennie Kermode, Alan Jones, Steph Cozza, Dick Lochte, Mikel Zorrilla, James Plath, Tim Brayton, Renee Schonfeld, PG, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced by Paul N Lazarus III, roids, futuristic theme park, gunslingers, robot gunslinger, Wild West, artificial, system goes haywire, duel, escapist fantasy, grim reality, Terminator, Jurassic Park, Predator, medieval Europe, ancient Rome, virtual reality, horror, thriller, adventure, action, suspense, drama, classic, memorable performance, monotone maniac, classic premise, sharp, far-reaching, amusing, fun, thrilling, imaginative, chilling, clever gimmicks, well-acted, well-written, well-directed, well-worth your attention, flimsy, silly, cheesy, lame, ridiculous, corny, light, violent, dark, gritty, tension, satire, metaphor, pleasurable, horrific, inventive, fun venture, 1970s sci-fi
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Richard Benjamin – Peter Martin
James Brolin – John Blane
Norman Bartold – Medieval Knight
Dick Van Patten – Banker
Linda Gaye Scott – Arlette
Director(s)
Michael Crichton
Writer(s)
Michael Crichton
Producer(s)
Paul N. Lazarus III
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (6)
A sharp, far-reaching sci-fi that will be remembered for Brynner’s monotone maniac and a classic premise; Westworld is a thrilling What If?
March 13, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Gavin Bainbridge
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Priceless sci-fi schlock.
June 5, 2007
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
…a missed opportunity that generally feels as though it should be much, much better.
July 27, 2021 | Rating: 2/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Sometimes fantasy and science fiction films provide more telling portraits of the times in which they were created than their realist counterparts do.
March 13, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film
A fun scare flick that puts its clever gimmicks to imaginative use, with extra resonance coming from the inspired casting of chilling Brynner…
March 13, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Alan Jones
Radio Times
It just felt like a cheesy 70s Western with like a sci-fi twist, but it was enjoyable, it was fun to see where the show originated.
March 30, 2020
Steph Cozza
Aggressive Comix
It is never pretentious and concentrates more on its visceral than sociological effect. It is well-acted, wellwritten, well-directed and wellworth your attention.
December 31, 2019
Dick Lochte
Los Angeles Free Press
An interesting sci-fi movie that does a great job with the approach proposed by Crichton and has Yul Brynner as a memorable villain. [Full review in Spanish]
October 3, 2016
Mikel Zorrilla
Espinof
Some cheesy moments (is there a ’70s movie that escaped them?) date the film, but Westworld is a fun futuristic thriller.
March 29, 2016 | Rating: B
James Plath
Family Home Theater
The central conceit is so flimsy that it’s only possible to take it seriously at all by treating it as a metaphor. Which, fortunately, can be done pretty easily,
June 20, 2015 | Rating: 6/10
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
Classic Man versus Machine adventure is funny but violent.
March 25, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Renee Schonfeld
Common Sense Media
There is some satire here – the devouring tourist becoming prey – but Crichton just lets the joke sit there, heavy on the screen.
July 17, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm…
Plot
This science-fiction Western series from Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy was inspired by Michael Crichton’s Westworld (1973) and is set at a Wild-West theme park created by Dr. Robert Ford (Sir Anthony Hopkins) with human-like androids, where guests are encouraged to indulge their fantasies and desires.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Yul Brynner gives a memorable performance as a robotic cowboy in this amusing sci-fi/western hybrid.
Michael-Crichton.jpg
Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon (1973)
92%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win
Badass to the max, Enter the Dragon is the ultimate kung-fu movie and fitting (if untimely) Bruce Lee swan song.
Enter the Dragon is the ultimate kung fu movie that will have you whooping and hollering from start to finish. It’s a classic corny action flick that never gets boring and is visually stunning. Bruce Lee is at his charismatic best as he takes on an evil overlord in a martial arts tournament. Sure, there are some flaws, like Lee having to share screen time with other battlers, but the formidable kung-fu sequences make up for it. Overall, Enter the Dragon is a ripping entertainment that’s perfect for a movie night with friends.
Production Company(ies)
Large Lab
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Aberdeen Harbour, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, China
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for martial arts violence and brief nudity
Year of Release
1973
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Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Mono (original release)
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 39m
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Language(s):English, Cantonese
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Country of origin:United States, Hong Kong
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1973 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 30, 1998
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee, martial arts, kung-fu, action, adventure, Robert Clouse, directed by, Michael Allin, written by, Paul M Heller, Fred Weintraub, produced by, R rating, box office, Dolby SR, DTS, Mono, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital, Scope, 2.35:1, Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly, Ahna Capri, Angela Mao, Bob Wall, reviewed by, Alan R Howard, Chris Cabin, William Paul, Peter Travers, Dave Kehr, Howard Thompson, James Kendrick, Tom Meek, Mike Massie, Nicholas Bell, Matt Brunson, Enter the Dragon photos, Warner Bros Pictures
Worldwide gross: $68,064
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $506,943
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,737
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 55,283
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $850,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $6,330,830
Production budget ranking: 1,832
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,409,152
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$9,233,039
ROI to date (est.): -95%
ROI ranking: 1,992
John Saxon – Roper
Jim Kelly – Williams
Ahna Capri – Tania
Angela Mao – Su Lin
Bob Wall – Oharra
Director(s)
Robert Clouse
Writer(s)
Michael Allin
Producer(s)
Paul M. Heller, Fred Weintraub
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win
Academy Awards
All Critics (55) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (3)
A whoop-and-holler entertainment, which is to say that it’s a lavish, corny action movie, not boring for a second and as outrageously wry as it is visually appealing.
August 17, 2018
Alan R. Howard
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Director Robert Clouse works the material for efficiency and optimum thrill, while providing a buoyant visual style to the action.
August 26, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Chris Cabin
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Enter the Dragon is the first classy Kung Fu movie specially designed for Western audiences, and that’s not to be confused with first-class.
January 18, 2013
William Paul
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
If kung fu is now the standard badass language, Enter the Dragon — featuring Lee’s great slow-burn stare — is the first grammar lesson.
August 14, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Ripping entertainment overall, with just enough meat for amateur sociologists.
March 1, 2007
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
On an adventure level, the performances are quite good. The one by Mr. Lee, not only the picture’s supermaster killer but a fine actor as well, is downright fascinating.
May 9, 2005 | Rating: 5/5
Howard Thompson
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Lee wanted to ensure that Enter the Dragon was not just a banal Hollywood production that exploited kung fu for action thrills, but was rather a vehicle for both himself as a performer and his philosophical worldview
March 8, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk
Lee is at his charismatic best in this spy thriller wrapped up in a martial arts tournament hosted by an evil overlord. It’s a film I could rewatch perhaps every other week.
February 2, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
The fact that Lee has to share screentime with two other battlers continues to minimize his impressiveness – especially when it comes to Saxon, who is quite unconvincing.
August 29, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Although it features all the period trappings of misogynist tendencies evidenced in the film’s closest cousins, the rampant exploitation films of the 1970s, the formidable kung-fu sequences are the greatest feature.
August 26, 2020
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
What action!
August 8, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Iconic and record shattering in every way, there’s no doubt that Enter The Dragon is the film most Bruce Lee fans immediately associate with him and which largely introduced him as a superstar and cultural icon in the western world.
August 5, 2020
Ed Travis
Cinapse…
Plot
Enter the Dragon revolves around 3 main characters; Lee, a man recruited by an agency to investigate a tournament hosted by Han, since they believe he has an Opium trade there. Roper and Williams are former army buddies since Vietnam and they enter the tournament due to different problems that they have. It’s a deadly tournament they will enter on an island.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Bruce Lee’s performance in Enter the Dragon is described as “downright fascinating” by critic Howard Thompson.
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