Babylon (2022)
53%RT Audience Score: 52%
Awards & Nominations: 3 Oscars
40 wins & 139 nominations
Babylon’s overwhelming muchness is exhausting, but much like the industry it honors, its well-acted, well-crafted glitz and glamour can often be an effective distraction.
Babylon has some entertaining moments and its ambition is impressive, but the movie’s chaotic and disjointed execution makes it difficult to really enjoy.
Production Company(ies)
Ensemble, Film/TV/Theater, Marc Platt Productions, Material Pictures, Paramount Pictures
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, United States; Los Angeles Thirty Mile Zone, California, United States; Santa Clarita, California, United States
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:3h 9m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 2022 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 31, 2023
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Babylon, R-rated, Comedy, Drama, 3h 9m, Damien Chazelle, Marc Platt, Matthew Plouffe, Olivia Hamilton, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li, drug use, bloody violence, graphic nudity, pervasive language, strong & crude sexual content, Hollywood, rise and fall, unbridled decadence, depravity, box office, $15.2M, reviewed by David Stratton, Mark Kermode, Donald Clarke, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Linda Marric, Sandra Hall, Wesley Lovell, John McDonald, Mike Scott, Brian Susbielles, Gisela Savdie, directed by Damien Chazelle, written by Damien Chazelle, produced by Marc Platt, Matthew Plouffe, Olivia Hamilton, starring Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Digital 2.39:1, Hollywood industry, ambition, excess, glitz, glamour, overwhelming muchness, chaotic, disjointed, difficult to enjoy, entertaining moments, impressive ambition, exhausting, well-acted, well-crafted
Worldwide gross: $63,351,455
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $15,351,455
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,603,368
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,857,996
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,141
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $78,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $83,511,777
Production budget ranking: 494
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $44,971,092
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Margot Robbie – Nellie LaRoy
Diego Calva – Manny Torres
Jean Smart – Elinor St. John
Jovan Adepo – Sidney Palmer
Li Jun Li – Lady Fay Zhu
Director – Damien Chazelle
Producers – Marc Platt, Matthew Plouffe, Olivia Hamilton
Writer – Damien Chazelle
Director(s)
Damien Chazelle
Writer(s)
Damien Chazelle
Producer(s)
Marc Platt, Matthew Plouffe, Olivia Hamilton
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 Oscars
40 wins & 139 nominations
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (337) | Top Critics (77) | Fresh (189) | Rotten (148)
Attempts to out-Fellini Fellini are regrettable and for much of its length Babylon is an unsubtle and indigestible mess so that despite all the talent involved and the fascinating subject matter, it must be seen as something of a disaster.
January 27, 2023 | Rating: 2.5/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Subtle it is not. Nor is it good.
January 23, 2023 | Rating: 2/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Chazelle’s film commemorates the era’s hubris as it indulges in a bit of its own. This is how a world ends. Not with a whimper but a great deal of banging, baby. And vomiting. And snorting.
January 21, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Babylon is a disaster of biblical proportions, precisely because it had so much potential.
January 20, 2023 | Rating: 1/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Babylon is not so much a film of two halves, but a third of a brilliant movie and two hours of unmitigated mess and chaos.
January 20, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
In the end, Chazelle does evoke the elegiac mood he’s after, finishing with a wistful meditation on the evanescence of fame and the fragility of those who fail to survive its demands.
January 20, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Outside of these production moments, the film feels like it’s toiling away at revealing plot threads that aren’t nearly as engaging as they could be.
February 27, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Wesley Lovell
Cinema Sight
Surely there came a point in this extravaganza when the director, the producers, the actors, and the people who did the catering, began to feel it had all gone wrong.
February 18, 2023
John McDonald
Australian Financial Review
Chazelle’s overstuffed homage to old Hollywood is often totally bonkers, but it’s also consistently mesmerizing. Running longer than 3 hours, it’s an undeniably self-indulgent exercise, but one that showcases magnificent craftsmanship at every level.
February 15, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mike Scott
Times-Picayune
It may have been a box office failure, but all three hours are utilized perfectly and never goes flat.
February 14, 2023
Brian Susbielles
InSession Film
Babylon is as chaotic and messy as what it tries to describe, but it’s wonderful, and manages to make us reflect on the implications of fame, with its moments of glory and decline. [Full review in Spanish]
February 13, 2023 | Rating: B+
Gisela Savdie
El Heraldo
The back half of the film, while it does have its highlights, demonstrates an inability for the movie to fully carry its own weight, and the multi-faceted narrative descends into tropes and some groan-worthy material before the end credits start to roll.
February 9, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Eric Eisenberg
CinemaBlend…
Plot
Babylon follows the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
At 02:51:40, a billboard for Jackass Forever appears in the 1952 epilogue. It is slightly hidden behind the trees on the right of the frame.
Damien-Chazelle.jpg
53%
Twilight (1998)
53%RT Audience Score: 30%
Awards & Nominations: 32 wins & 16 nominations
It suffers from a frustratingly deliberate pace, but with nuanced performances from Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon, and Reese Witherspoon to fall back on, Twilight can’t help but be compelling
Twilight is like a classic detective novel set in Los Angeles, but with a Hollywood twist. The cast is full of B-list actors, but when Newman, Sarandon, and Hackman are on screen together, it’s like a century of film-acting experience is right in front of you. The movie has a sleepy, sad look that reminds me of Chinatown, but with a message that’s a bit too obvious and a plot that’s a bit too absurd. Overall, it’s engaging and intelligent, but lacking in energy. It’s worth a watch if you’re a fan of the genre or just want to see some Hollywood legends in action.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
218 Rim Drive, Washougal, Columbia River Gorge, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 34m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 1998
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon, Reese Witherspoon, Stockard Channing, James Garner, directed by Robert Benton, written by Robert Benton, Richard Russo, drama, R rating, box office gross $15.0M, reviewed by Mike Clark, Owen Gleiberman, Kenneth Turan, Marjorie Baumgarten, Jeff Millar, Roger Ebert, Arlene Donovan, Scott Rudin, produced by Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, private eye, retired, apartment, estate, movie stars, blackmail, mystery, regret, guilt, Hollywood class resentment, vintage Los Angeles-based detective fiction, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, Flat (1.85:1)
Worldwide gross: $408,430,415
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $562,597,290
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 249
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 61,351,940
US/Canada gross: $193,962,473
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $267,175,895
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 231
US/Canada opening weekend: $69,637,740
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $95,923,326
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 86
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $37,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $50,966,086
Production budget ranking: 781
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $27,445,237
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $484,185,966
ROI to date (est.): 617%
ROI ranking: 207
Susan Sarandon – Catherine Ames
Gene Hackman – Jack Ames
Reese Witherspoon – Mel Ames
Stockard Channing – Lieutenant Verna Hollander
James Garner – Raymond Hope
Director(s)
Robert Benton
Writer(s)
Robert Benton, Richard Russo
Producer(s)
Arlene Donovan, Scott Rudin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
32 wins & 16 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (55) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (22)
With its underlying theme of Hollywood class resentment and an array of B-list citizenry, Robert Benton’s aptly titled Twilight is better than a lot of contemporary films at capturing the feel of vintage Los Angeles-based detective fiction.
January 9, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Mike Clark
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
November 22, 2011 | Rating: C+
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Despite its pluses, despite trying to do all the right things, Twilight comes up lacking in both energy and plot, two areas that no noir, geezer or otherwise, can afford to be caught short in.
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 2/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Drably conventional and obvious.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Whenever Newman, Sarandon and Hackman are in the same scene, there’s something like 107 years of film-acting is up there on the screen, and it shows.
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The movie’s story is too obvious in its message, and too absurd in its plotting.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The movie has a hazy, sleepy, and sad look that reminded me (favorably) of Chinatown. Brilliant.
May 26, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
Never less than engaging and intelligent.
November 15, 2005 | Rating: B+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
September 10, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal
June 29, 2004 | Rating: 5/10
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews
March 29, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat
February 22, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette…
Plot
Bella Swan has always been a little bit different. Never one to run with the crowd, Bella never cared about fitting in with the trendy girls at her Phoenix, Arizona high school. When her mother remarries and Bella chooses to live with her father in the rainy little town of Forks, Washington, she doesn’t expect much of anything to change. But things do change when she meets the mysterious and dazzlingly beautiful Edward Cullen. For Edward is nothing like any boy she’s ever met. He’s nothing like anyone she’s ever met, period. He’s intelligent and witty, and he seems to see straight into her soul. In no time at all, they are swept up in a passionate and decidedly unorthodox romance – unorthodox because Edward really isn’t like the other boys. He can run faster than a mountain lion. He can stop a moving car with his bare hands. Oh, and he hasn’t aged since 1918. Like all vampires, he’s immortal. That’s right – vampire. But he doesn’t have fangs – that’s just in the movies. And he doesn’t drink human blood, though Edward and his family are unique among vampires in that lifestyle choice. To Edward, Bella is that thing he has waited 90 years for – a soul mate. But the closer they get, the more Edward must struggle to resist the primal pull of her scent, which could send him into an uncontrollable frenzy. Somehow or other, they will have to manage their unmanageable love. But when unexpected visitors come to town and realize that there is a human among them Edward must fight to save Bella? A modern, visual, and visceral Romeo and Juliet story of the ultimate forbidden love affair – between vampire and mortal.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Twilight includes Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon, and Reese Witherspoon, making for a star-studded lineup.
Robert-Benton.jpg
53%
The Muse (1999)
53%RT Audience Score: 34%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 8 nominations
Despite quirky and original writing, the subject matter feels too removed to produce laughs
The Muse” is a movie that pokes fun at Hollywood and all its quirks. It’s got some great zingers and a fresh premise that keeps you entertained. Sharon Stone’s performance is droll and sexy, but the comedy itself is a bit too familiar and not quite funny enough. Still, it’s worth a watch if you’re in the mood for a gentle satire that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Plus, it’s always fun to see Albert Brooks on screen, even if he’s playing a terrible filmmaker.
Production Company(ies)
Therapy Content Roswell Films,
Distributor
USA Films, October Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
American Museum of Natural History – Central Park West at 79th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild action, language and brief rude humor
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 37m
-
Language(s):English, Italian, Hebrew
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 27, 1999 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 7, 2010
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Albert Brooks, Sharon Stone, Andie MacDowell, Jeff Bridges, Mark Feuerstein, Steven Wright, directed by Albert Brooks, written by Albert Brooks, Monica McGowan Johnson, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Hillel Italie, Nell Minow, Marc Savlov, John Hartl, Janet Maslin, David L Beck, Betty Jo Tucker, Emanuel Levy, Rob Gonsalves, Joe Lozito, Chuck Rudolph, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, produced by Herb Nanas, PG-13, Hollywood, writer, muse, Academy Award, artistic dry patch, inspiration, suspicious, services, price, inside-Hollywood, zingers, familiar, not funny enough, gentle satire, Tinseltown, neurotic, Woody Allen, L.A., driving, banal dialogue, celebrity cameos, Cameron, Scorsese, movie within a movie, tepid Hollywood idea
Worldwide gross: $574,481,229
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $847,162,807
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 135
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 92,384,166
US/Canada gross: $250,863,268
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $369,937,292
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 133
US/Canada opening weekend: $30,433,781
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $44,879,390
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 267
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $110,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $162,212,278
Production budget ranking: 193
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $87,351,312
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $597,599,217
ROI to date (est.): 239%
ROI ranking: 550
Sharon Stone – Sarah Little
Andie MacDowell – Laura Phillips
Jeff Bridges – Jack Warrick
Mark Feuerstein – Josh Martin
Steven Wright – Stan Spielberg
Director(s)
Albert Brooks
Writer(s)
Albert Brooks, Monica McGowan Johnson
Producer(s)
Herb Nanas
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (78) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (37)
“The Muse” is an intelligent, undemanding comedy.
June 12, 2018
Hillel Italie
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
Satire, Hollywood in-jokes won’t appeal to kids.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
March 21, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The casting is so right, the inside-Hollywood zingers so wicked, the whimsical premise so fresh, that the occasional slack moments rarely get in the way.
January 1, 2000
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
One of Brooks’ most broadly entertaining films.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
A dark and often unattractive movie.
January 1, 2000
David L. Beck
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
Like the character he plays here, Albert Brooks needed someone or something to re-inspire him while working on this plodding comedy.
October 30, 2009
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Albert Brooks’ mildly amusing satire about the inner workings of Hollywood benefits from Sharon Stone’s droll and sexy performance, but as a comedy it’s too familiar and not funny enough.
August 20, 2009 | Rating: C+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Brooks’ gentle satire of Hollywood.
August 25, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
In its story of a terrible filmmaker, it almost manages to explain the madness behind why Brooks still gets to crank out excrement like this.
March 7, 2002 | Rating: short
Chuck Rudolph
Matinee Magazine
Squeezes out plenty of laughs at the expense of the Hollywood film community.
February 28, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality & Practice…
Plot
In New York, unemployed and divorced Larry Daley is a complete loser. His son Nick is very disappointed with his father who is going to be evicted. Larry accepts the job of night watchman in the Museum of Natural History and takes the place of three old security guards that have just retired in order to raise some money and pay his bills. On his first shift, Larry soon realizes that everything at the museum is not as it seems as the statues begin to come to life after the sun sets. The Museum transforms into complete chaos with the inexperienced Larry in charge as he learns that an old Egyptian stone that came to the Museum in 1950 brings these statues to life until dawn. When Larry brings his son to spend a night with him, the three old guards break into the Museum to try to steal the magical stone. Larry organizes all the historic characters to help him stop the criminals and save the museum.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sharon Stone plays the titular character, Sarah Little, who is said to be a “veritable muse” for struggling screenwriter Steven Phillips.
Albert-Brooks.jpg
53%
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
53%RT Audience Score: 40%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 7 nominations
A by-the-numbers slasher that arrived a decade too late, the mostly tedious I Know What You Did Last Summer will likely only hook diehard fans of the genre
I Know What You Did Last Summer” is a classic slasher flick that’s perfect for a spooky movie night with friends. Sure, it’s not the most original movie out there, but it’s got all the classic horror movie tropes that we know and love. Plus, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s chase scene is iconic and worth watching for alone. So grab some popcorn, turn off the lights, and get ready to scream at the TV. Just don’t answer any strange phone calls afterwards.
Production Company(ies)
Act III Productions, Artemis Rising Foundation Maramara Films,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Jenner, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong horror violence and language
Year of Release
1997
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 41m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 1997 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 7, 2001
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Freddie Prinze Jr., Muse Watson, Anne Heche, directed by Jim Gillespie, written by Lois Duncan, Kevin Williamson, horror, R rating, box office gross $72.2M, reviewed by Rosalind Bentley, Chris Stuckmann, John Petrakis, Gene Siskel, Lisa Alspector, Ryan Gilbey, produced by Stokely Chaffin, Neal H Moritz, Erik Feig, Columbia Pictures, Dolby, SDDS, Surround, 35mm, Scope (2.35:1), hit and run, slasher, mystery, suspense, thriller, teenagers, high school graduates, vow of secrecy, hit-and-run, fisherman, meat hook, killer, stalking, bloodletting, crime, frightening letter, Benjamin Willis, Melissa ‘Missy’ Egan, horror movies, teen slasher genre, novel adaptation, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Helen Shivers, Ryan Phillippe as Barry William Cox, Freddie Prinze Jr as Ray Bronson, Muse Watson as Benjamin Willis, Anne Heche as Melissa ‘Missy’ Egan
Worldwide gross: $125,586,134
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $234,102,709
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 609
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 25,529,194
US/Canada gross: $72,586,134
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $135,306,423
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 565
US/Canada opening weekend: $15,818,645
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $29,487,233
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 473
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $17,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $31,689,375
Production budget ranking: 1,127
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $17,064,728
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $185,348,606
ROI to date (est.): 380%
ROI ranking: 356
Sarah Michelle Gellar – Helen Shivers
Ryan Phillippe – Barry William Cox
Freddie Prinze Jr. – Ray Bronson
Muse Watson – Benjamin Willis
Anne Heche – Melissa ‘Missy’ Egan
Jim Gillespie – Director
Stokely Chaffin – Producer
Neal H. Moritz – Producer
Erik Feig – Producer
Lois Duncan – Writer
Kevin Williamson – Writer
Director(s)
Jim Gillespie
Writer(s)
Lois Duncan, Kevin Williamson
Producer(s)
Stokely Chaffin, Neal H. Moritz, Erik Feig
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (31) | Rotten (41)
Even though the murders are gruesome, the film is not scary, nor is it clever. We’ve seen this many times before, but with different titles and different stars.
January 26, 2022 | Rating: 1.5/5
Rosalind Bentley
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A cheesy and sometimes melodramatic slasher film that is certainly not one of the best, but… It’s directed better than a lot of the slasher films in recent years.
October 16, 2020 | Rating: B-
Chris Stuckmann
ChrisStuckmann.com
TOP CRITIC
Wastes more opportunities than it does teenagers.
March 28, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
John Petrakis
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A dreadful mad slasher film that works neither as a thriller nor as a comic commentary on the genre.
March 28, 2019 | Rating: 1/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A poorly conceived 1997 thriller with plenty of empty references.
March 28, 2019
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Tthe frights come fairly regularly, and though the picture neither haunts nor tickles you the way Scream did, it’s diverting enough as mindless Saturday-night entertainment.
March 28, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Ryan Gilbey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
On the minus side, this bright, witty writer seems to have retreated into the very genre he spoofed in Scream.
March 1, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
Takes the foundation of Lois Duncan’s source material and updates it in all the right ways. Williamson’s script is playful and smart , Gillespie’s direction is taunt and SMG remains a queer icon with the best chase scene in modern slasher history
October 20, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Joe Lipsett
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
I Know What You Did Last Summer still retains its entertaining appeal, while still inspiring the filmmakers that have followed in its wake.
July 3, 2021
Stephanie Archer
Film Inquiry
An ’80s slasher in a ’90s world that prioritizes its characters over gore and it’s all the better for it. It’s a perfect dessert after Scream’s main course.
December 30, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
The numerous false alarms, jump scares, frustratingly disbelieving supporting personas, and misdirections are admittedly amusing.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
For all its glaring flaws, I Know What You Did Last Summer has its fun with a loosely adapted story from the novel of the same name by Lois Duncan.
May 7, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
C.H. Newell
Father Son Holy Gore…
Plot
After an accident on a winding road, four teens make the fatal mistake of dumping their victim’s body into the sea. But exactly one year later, the dead man returns from his watery grave and he’s looking for more than an apology.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
Jim-Gillespie.jpg
53%
Picture Perfect (1997)
53%RT Audience Score: 37%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Picture Perfect, a film that has been around for over two decades, has received mixed reviews from critics. While some have praised Jennifer Aniston’s performance and her ability to make the audience root for her, others have criticized the film’s contrived plot and insubstantial nature. However, as a highly intelligent and verbose critic, I must say that Picture Perfect is a midsummer brain cooler that refreshes despite its oversweet and tired ’90s romcom formula. It may not be groundbreaking or revolutionary, but it is an enjoyable fluff that can be a perfect escape from the mundane realities of life. So, if you’re in the mood for some light-hearted entertainment, Picture Perfect might just be the perfect choice for you.
Picture Perfect is a movie that’s like a refreshing midsummer brain cooler, according to Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers. While some critics found the plot contrived and the dialogue insubstantial, others praised Jennifer Aniston’s performance and her ability to make you root for her character. Personally, I think this movie is like a romcom version of a paint-by-numbers kit – it’s predictable, but it gets the job done. Plus, it’s always fun to see Kevin Bacon in a supporting role. Overall, if you’re in the mood for some light and fluffy entertainment, Picture Perfect might just hit the spot.
Production Company(ies)
Discovery Channel, Jigsaw Productions, Tall Woods
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Elks Lodge, 1005 Washington St, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sensuality and related dialogue
Year of Release
1997
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Jennifer Aniston, Jay Mohr, Kevin Bacon, Olympia Dukakis, Illeana Douglas, Kevin Dunn, directed by Glenn Gordon Caron, written by Arleen Sorkin, Paul Slansky, produced by Erwin Stoff, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, Derek Adams, Janet Maslin, Peter Travers, Susan Wloszczyna, Susan Stark, David Nusair, Barbara Shulgasser, Emanuel Levy, Caffeinated Clint, Michael Dequina, PG-13, fake fiancé, advertising job, deception, promotion, career-driven, single woman, photo, acquaintance, ruse, boss, married people, soundtrack, romantic comedy, love story, New York City, Manhattan, office politics, lies, relationships, comedy, female protagonist, workplace, corporate culture, romantic interest, engagement, wedding, engagement ring, happy ending, chick flick, 1990s, fashion, style, fashion industry, fashion photography, fashion model, fashion designer, fashion show, fashion magazine, fashion shoot, fashion shoot location, fashion shoot studio, fashion shoot set, fashion shoot crew, fashion shoot models
Worldwide gross: $44,332,015
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $82,638,461
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,110
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 9,011,828
US/Canada gross: $31,407,873
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,546,815
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,004
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,809,026
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,556,656
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 807
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $18,640,809
Production budget ranking: 1,399
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $10,038,075
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $53,959,577
ROI to date (est.): 188%
ROI ranking: 655
Jay Mohr – Nick
Kevin Bacon – Sam Mayfair
Olympia Dukakis – Rita Mosley
Illeana Douglas – Darcy O’Neil
Kevin Dunn – Darcy O’Neil
Director(s)
Glenn Gordon Caron
Writer(s)
Arleen Sorkin, Paul Slansky
Producer(s)
Erwin Stoff
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (23)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
[Aniston] has the rare gift of getting you to root for her in the most trying of circumstances, a quality that will stand her in good stead when she progresses to better material.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
[Aniston] at her best can recall young Barbra Streisand in her What’s Up, Doc? days.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Aniston doesn’t need dialogue to catch Kate’s quicksilver moods. It’s the sitcom lines, at the service of a contrived plot, that choke her.
May 11, 2001
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Insubstantial and oversweet, it still refreshes as a midsummer brain cooler.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4
Susan Wloszczyna
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
…a by-the-numbers yet workable premise that’s employed to consistently underwhelming effect by Caron…
October 27, 2020 | Rating: 2/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Tired ’90s romcom filled with deception, sexual innuendo.
February 3, 2015 | Rating: 2/5
Barbara Shulgasser
Common Sense Media
May 31, 2005 | Rating: 2/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
May 6, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Caffeinated Clint
Film Threat
December 28, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
enjoyable fluff
July 11, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall…
Plot
Kate is working on a career at Mercer Advertising but is passed up for promotion because she’s ‘not stable enough’, still being single and having no ties to the company. A story is made up about her being engaged to Nick, a guy whom she just met at a friend’s wedding, and all seems to work out well for Kate. She even gets the attention of a colleague she had always wanted, but events soon take a dramatic turn, forcing her to ‘present’ her alleged fiance to her boss.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels mentions that Jennifer Aniston “has the rare gift of getting you to root for her in the most trying of circumstances” in their review of Picture Perfect.
Glenn-Gordon-Caron.jpg
53%
The Shadow (1994)
53%RT Audience Score: 44%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Bringing a classic pulp character to the big screen, The Shadow features impressive visual effects, but the story ultimately fails to strike a memorable chord
The Shadow” is a movie that’s as confusing as trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. Some critics say it’s a pleasant, nostalgic retreat to the days of crime-fighting, while others say it’s a failed attempt to revive a pulp hero who’s been passe for years. Personally, I think it’s like a rollercoaster ride – it has its ups and downs, but ultimately, it’s a fun time. Alec Baldwin’s performance gives the movie some cohesion, but the supporting cast is just as crackerjack. Sure, it may not strike the same chord as Batman, but it’s still worth a watch if you’re in the mood for some innocent exoticism and splendor of silent thrillers. Just don’t expect to solve that Rubik’s cube anytime soon.
Production Company(ies)
Plattform Produktion Film i Väst Essential Filmproduktion, GmbH,
Distributor
Universal
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
1994
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Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 1, 1994 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2004
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Alec Baldwin, John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller, Peter Boyle, Ian McKellen, Tim Curry, directed by Russell Mulcahy, written by David Koepp, produced by Martin Bregman, Willi Bär, Michael Scott Bregman, action, adventure, box office, budget, PG-13, reviewed by Jack Yeovil, Owen Gleiberman, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Brian Lowry, Derek Adams, Caryn James, Mal Vincent, Mike Massie, Dennis Schwartz, John Tones, Nick Rogers, Alec B, Christopher H, Brendan O, superhero, New York, Shiwan Khan, Genghis Khan, Lamont Cranston, Margo Lane, Farley Claymore, Dr Reinhardt Lane, Moe Shrevnitz, visual effects, pulp character, dark past, world domination, mind manipulation, vigilante, crime fighting, Art Deco, Jerry Goldsmith, soundtrack, Universal, Surround, Stereo
Worldwide gross: $32,063,435
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $32,063,435
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
John Lone – Shiwan Khan
Penelope Ann Miller – Margo Lane
Peter Boyle – Moe Shrevnitz
Ian McKellen – Dr. Reinhardt Lane
Tim Curry – Farley Claymore
Director(s)
Russell Mulcahy
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Martin Bregman, Willi Bär, Michael Scott Bregman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (33)
A pleasant, eye-pleasing movie.
July 16, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Jack Yeovil
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The movie has all the coherence of a bad acid flashback.
July 6, 2010 | Rating: D
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
It has enough of the innocent exoticism and splendor of silent thrillers to suggest a continuity with the past missing from most other movies; all that’s required is a capacity to sit back and dream.
April 25, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Despite similarities as a vigilante creature of the night, however, the Shadow — a character that enjoyed its greatest success in radio after being created in pulp novels — lacks the visceral appeal of Batman and won’t strike the same chord.
April 25, 2007
Brian Lowry
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Baldwin’s low-key performance lacks charisma, Lone alternates between lip-smacking villainy and camp humour, and Miller is chiefly a clothes-horse for a series of slinky ’30s frocks.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It offers a diverting, nostalgic retreat to the innocent days when crime fighting was a pleasant, rich man’s hobby.
August 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Caryn James
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
The Shadow seeks to be another Batman. It is more likely to be another Doc Savage or Flash Gordon – both lackluster attempts to translate past pulp heroes into big-screen money.
February 25, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
For the most part, the film is simply boring.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 2/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
It’s a failed attempt to revive a former pulp hero who has been passe for years.
January 13, 2020 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
The grandiose presence of Alec Baldwin manages to give cohesion to this little gem. [Full Review in Spanish]
July 11, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
John Tones
Espinof
Despite handsome production values and a crackerjack supporting cast, “The Shadow” remains a temperamental trinket that lacks the temerity to truly explore, as its titular hero would say, what evil truly lurks in the hearts of men.
July 1, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/5
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
Very underrated and incredibly entertaining…
June 5, 2013
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed…
Plot
In 1988, Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), hungry to become a detective, begins tracking a serial killer who mysteriously resurfaces every nine years. But when the killer’s crimes begin to defy all scientific explanation, Locke’s obsession with finding the truth threatens to destroy his career, his family, and possibly his sanity.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Shadow features Alec Baldwin in the lead role as Lamont Cranston, aka The Shadow, a reformed criminal turned superhero.
Russell-Mulcahy.jpg