White Noise (2022)
65%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Noah Baumbach’s adaptation of Don DeLillo’s White Noise is a maximalist, screwball satire that will leave you scratching your head and giggling at the same time. While the film struggles to articulate the book’s ideas with clarity, it succeeds in creating a strange beauty in the synchronized shopping scenes. Baumbach’s self-conscious work of literature adaptation juggles big themes and highly literate dialogue with ease, but the weak script leaves the cast grappling for tone and clarity. Overall, White Noise is a project worth rooting for, but it falls short of its potential and becomes a chore to endure in its later acts.
White Noise” is a movie that will leave you feeling like you just went on a wild ride through the ’80s. While some critics found it hard to follow, I found myself enjoying the synchronized shopping scenes and the witty banter between characters. Sure, the script could have been stronger, but the cast did their best with what they had. Overall, it’s a fun and quirky film that’s worth a watch if you’re in the mood for something a little offbeat.
Production Company(ies)
HBO Max, Heyday Films, Netflix, Passage Pictures, Psychological, Verse
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Cleveland, Ohio, United States; Wellington, Ohio, United States; Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States; Oberlin, Ohio, United States; San Francisco, California, United States; Georgia, United States; California, United States; Ohio, United States
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital, Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 16m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 25, 2022 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 30, 2022
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle, Raffey Cassidy, Sam Nivola, May Nivola, directed by Noah Baumbach, written by Noah Baumbach, comedy, drama, horror, R rating, box office performance, budget, reviewed by A.O Scott, Jake Coyle, Anthony Lane, Dwight Brown, Pippa Bailey, Paul Attard, Joanna Langfield, Hope Madden, Avi Offer, Laura Clifford, Richard Propes, producer Noah Baumbach, David Heyman, Uri Singer, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1), love, death, family, uncertainty, American life, literature adaptation, satire, synchronicity, shopping, everyday life, universal mysteries, happiness, apocalyptic, absurd, lyrical, contemporary, American family, conflicts, mundane, critic reviews, audience score, Netflix, limited release, streaming, November 25, 2022, December 30, 2022, 2h 16m
Worldwide gross: $91,196,419
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $56,386,759
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.): $80,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $80,000,000
Production budget ranking: 511
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $43,080,000
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Greta Gerwig – Babbette
Don Cheadle – Murray Siskind
Raffey Cassidy – Denise
Sam Nivola – Heinrich
May Nivola – Steffie
Noah Baumbach – Director, Producer, Writer
David Heyman – Producer
Uri Singer – Producer
Director(s)
Noah Baumbach
Writer(s)
Noah Baumbach
Producer(s)
Noah Baumbach, David Heyman, Uri Singer
Film Festivals
Berlin, Venice
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (78) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (20)
“White Noise” is an expression of sincere and admirable faith. I just wish I could believe in it.
November 23, 2022
A.O. Scott
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
In very ’80s environs, Baumbach’s film always remains — purposefully, I think — a self-conscious work of literature adaptation, juggling big themes and highly literate dialogue with a screwball touch.
November 23, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jake Coyle
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
If, like me, you enjoy watching smoothly choreographed sequences of people weaving in and out of rooms, chattering and snacking, or rallying one another to the TV, then the everyday crackle and hum of “White Noise” will be enough.
November 19, 2022
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
The cast, acting from a weak script, looks like they’re grappling for tone and clarity.
October 26, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
Dwight Brown
DwightBrownInk.com
TOP CRITIC
White Noise is maximalist, funny, abrasive satire that resists interpretation.
October 12, 2022
Pippa Bailey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
The film rarely articulates the book’s ideas with any real sense of the outside world without resorting to the easy exaggerations that Don DeLillo peddled in the name of satire, which, while maybe fresh back in 1985, ring completely hollow today.
October 5, 2022 | Rating: 1.5/4
Paul Attard
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Noah Baumbach’s adaptation of the venerable novel is a project worth rooting for. But it’s a very hard one to recommend.
November 24, 2022
Joanna Langfield
The Movie Minute
It’s a film that might leave you giggling, scratching your head, or convinced that we’re all doomed, but you’ll be damned near helpless against the strange beauty of synchronized shopping.
November 22, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Hope Madden
MaddWolf
Overlong, clunky and shallow while biting off more than it could chew. It’s ultimately less than the sum of its parts.
November 21, 2022
Avi Offer
NYC Movie Guru
Baumbach’s adaptation works best as it transitions between its first two acts… but the film increasingly becomes a chore to endure.
November 21, 2022 | Rating: C
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
Rather unexpectedly, Noah Baumbach was the perfect filmmaker to bring DeLillo’s White Noise to life.
November 20, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
The material gets away from Baumbach in a way it never does with DeLillo.
November 18, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
Michael Nordine
Film Occasionally…
Plot
At once hilarious and horrifying, lyrical and absurd, ordinary and apocalyptic, White Noise dramatizes a contemporary American family’s attempts to deal with the mundane conflicts of everyday life while grappling with the universal mysteries of love, death, and the possibility of happiness in an uncertain world. Based on Dom DeLillo’s 1986 novel.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels does not have any goofs listed for the film “White Noise (2022).”
Noah-Baumbach.jpg
65%
Armageddon Time (2022)
65%RT Audience Score: 48%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Armageddon Time finds writer-director James Gray excavating his own past and returning with a well-acted drama refreshingly free of nostalgia.
“Armageddon Time” is a well-acted drama from writer-director James Gray that doesn’t rely on nostalgia, but instead focuses on the present.
Production Company(ies)
Focus Features, Keep Your Head, MadRiver Pictures, RT Features, Topical, Universal Pictures
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited), Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
New York, New York, United States; Teaneck, New Jersey, United States; Queens, New York, United States; New Jersey, United States
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital, Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 54m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States, Brazil
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 4, 2022 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 30, 2022
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, directed by James Gray, written by James Gray, drama, $1.8M box office, reviewed by Scott Tobias, Wendy Ide, Clarisse Loughrey, Leslie Felperin, Alex Godfrey, Max Weiss, Carlos Bonfil, Pablo Villaça, Sebastian Zavala Kahn, James Croot, Michael Balderston, Jared Mobarak, R MPAA rating, family, American Dream, coming-of-age, personal, generational, Focus Features, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1), Anthony Katagas, Marc Butan, Rodrigo Teixeira, produced by
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: $70,275
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $75,241
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,054
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $16,059,957
Production budget ranking: 1,451
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,648,287
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jeremy Strong – Irving Graff
Michael Banks Repeta – Paul Graff
Jaylin Webb – Johnny Davis
Tovah Feldshuh – Grandma Mickey
Ryan Sell – Ted Graff
Director – James Gray
Producers – Anthony Katagas, Marc Butan, Rodrigo Teixeira, James Gray
Writer – James Gray
Director(s)
James Gray
Writer(s)
James Gray
Producer(s)
Anthony Katagas, Marc Butan, Rodrigo Teixeira, James Gray
Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (219) | Top Critics (65) | Fresh (165) | Rotten (54)
Armageddon Time is the rare case where the bitterness overwhelms sweetness, and true enlightenment comes from rejecting nostalgia at every turn.
December 19, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Scott Tobias
The Reveal
TOP CRITIC
Preteen drama is amplified by robust and fairly obvious musical choices, but more interesting is the sound design: the city is everywhere, grumbling and fractious, the sound of a short fuse burning out.
November 20, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Gray’s latest, Armageddon Time, is a flawed work. But it sees the filmmaker at his most vulnerable, as he twists the camera back on himself and asks: of all the paths that brought me here, how many were carved out by my own privilege?
November 18, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Both young actors give strong performances, which is more than you can say for Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway, both laying it on too thick as Paul’s highly strung parents.
November 17, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
Leslie Felperin
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Both a coming of age and an exploration of an era, this self-biographical reminiscence feels both regretful and hopeful – a filmmaker trying to make peace. It’s not sugar-coated, but it’s full of love.
November 17, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Alex Godfrey
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The real nourishment comes from unflinching honesty, served with compassion, insight, and a bit of sadness. In that sense, Armageddon Time is a full meal.
November 12, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Max Weiss
Baltimore Magazine
TOP CRITIC
James Gray, always an appealing and chameleonic filmmaker, returns with a fine psychological observation in the intimate tone of his first films. [Full review in Spanish]
January 30, 2023
Carlos Bonfil
La Jornada
Mediocre as narrative, juvenile as social message and tremendously middle class in its satisfaction with its own awareness of the evils of the world. [Full review in Portuguese]
January 25, 2023 | Rating: 1/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
It’s not that it’s a terrible experience, but it never quite connects with the viewer, being too subtle at times, and quite depressing at others. Full review in Spanish.
January 25, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
Cinencuentro
Reminiscent of both Woody Allen films like Radio Days and ‘80s Spielberg directed and produced tales like E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial and The Goonies, Armageddon Time is well worth seeking out.
January 12, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
Gray’s personal tale finds a great balance with its heavy themes and lovely, light moments that endear you to this family and movie as a whole.
January 6, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Michael Balderston
What To Watch
Webb is thus the one true standout. It’s a deeply tragic role that deserves more than being present to absolve everyone else’s guilt by assuring them that they wouldn’t be able to change his fate anyway.
January 6, 2023 | Rating: 5/10
Jared Mobarak
Hey, Have You Seen …?…
Plot
A semi-autobiographical look at a student coming of age at the Kew-Forest School in Queens in the 1980s, where Fred Trump served on the board of the private school and Donald Trump was an alumnus.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Paul is sent to Forest Manor School, which is overseen and financed by Frederick Trump. Trump never oversaw or financed a school. He sat on the board of Kew-Forest, which his children Maryanne and Donald attended. That said, this *goof* was likely intentional on the part of the filmmakers.
James-Gray.jpg
65%
Lightyear (2022)
65%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Lightyear settles for being a rather conventional origin story instead of reaching for the stars, but this gorgeously animated adventure ably accomplishes its mission of straightforward fun.
Even if it doesn’t quite measure up to Toy Story, Lightyear offers an entertaining — although somewhat complicated — origin story for the beloved title character.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Disney/Pixar
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 2022 Wide
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Chris Evans, Taika Waititi, Keke Palmer, James Brolin, Efren Ramirez, Uzo Aduba, directed by Angus MacLane, written by Jason Headley, Angus MacLane, comedy, adventure, action, sci-fi, animation, PG, box office, $89.3M, reviewed by Em Win, Shubhra Gupta, Sara Michelle Fetters, tt stern-enzi, Amy Nicholson, Wendy Ide, Sarah Gopaul, Joshua Mackey, Hugo Hernández Valdivia, Charles Pulliam-Moore, Josie Melendez, LGBTQ representation, Galyn Susman, produced by Disney/Pixar, Buzz Lightyear, space ranger, intergalactic adventure, Izzy, Mo, Darby, Sox, evil Zurg, robot army, team, action, peril, Dolby Atmos, DTS, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1), Pixar
Worldwide gross: $226,425,420
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $240,536,919
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 597
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 26,230,853
US/Canada gross: $118,307,188
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $125,680,441
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 603
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted):
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted):
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.):
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.):
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Taika Waititi – Morrison (voice)
Keke Palmer – Izzy (voice)
James Brolin – (voice)
Efren Ramirez – (voice)
Uzo Aduba – (voice)
Director(s)
Angus MacLane
Writer(s)
Jason Headley, Angus MacLane
Producer(s)
Galyn Susman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (294) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (220) | Rotten (74)
Pixar is encouraging us to dream about a reality in which we could’ve received an Alisha action figure for our birthdays.
June 27, 2022
Em Win
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
The Chris Evans film has little soul, spark and moving moments.
June 24, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
To infinity and beyond? Hardly, but Lightyear does achieve liftoff, and that in and of itself ain’t too bad.
June 24, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
It’s a pleasant and engaging enough film… I don’t know if I were a little kid, I would run and get this toy. Unfortunately, it didn’t have that pizzazz.
June 23, 2022 | Rating: B-
tt stern-enzi
WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH)
TOP CRITIC
A fairly emotional story about aging and mortality.
June 21, 2022
Amy Nicholson
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
For a film which shoots for the stars, this is disappointingly pedestrian stuff.
June 20, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
As the narrative predates Toy Story, moviegoers shouldn’t expect too many tie-ins beyond Lightyear’s catchphrases. But fans of the toy astronaut will not be disappointed by this space adventure.
July 7, 2022
Sarah Gopaul
Digital Journal
Lightyear is an enjoyable film for all ages. With unexpected twists and heartwarming themes, it’s a summer flick that’s sure to have you believing in Buzz’s motto, “To infinity and beyond.”
July 5, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Joshua Mackey
Geeks of Color
The result is an adventure comedy…without grace or emotion. [Full review in Spanish]
July 5, 2022 | Rating: 40/100
Hugo Hernández Valdivia
Cinexcepción
Though a new version of Buzz anchors the film, its story is actually more about taking its titular astronaut off a pedestal and unpacking why we tend to frame people like him as heroes.
July 5, 2022
Charles Pulliam-Moore
The Verge
El filme presenta mensajes importantes para los espectadores más jóvenes y adultos. Es importante perdonar no solo a los demás por sus errores, sino también perdonarnos a nosotros mismos.
July 5, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Josie Melendez
Todas PR
Lightyear breaks new ground for Pixar with its display of LGBTQ representation while also delivering a fun sci-fi adventure film.
July 3, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies…
Plot
The story of Buzz Lightyear and his adventures to infinity and beyond.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The hyper speed shown in the movie is extremely slow considering the distances involved. When Buzz is doing the fuel tests his speed is measured in c, with 1c being 100% hyper speed. In physics 1c is the speed of light.
The text at the start of the movie states T’Kani Prime is 4.2 million light years from Earth, which means it would take 4.2 million years to travel that distance at the speed of light. Given the Turnip is supposed to be an exploration ship, an 8 million year round trip does not seem practical.
Angus-MacLane.jpg
65%
Ad Astra (2019)
65%RT Audience Score: 40%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
16 wins & 77 nominations total
Ad Astra takes a visually thrilling journey through the vast reaches of space while charting an ambitious course for the heart of the bond between parent and child
Brad Pitt shines in Ad Astra, taking us on a journey through space and his own emotions. It’s a visually stunning film that will leave you feeling both somber and inspired. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Latin title that means “to the stars”? It’s out of this world! (Sorry, I had to.)
Production Company(ies)
El Deseo Renn Productions, France 2 Cinéma
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Dumont Dunes, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some violence and bloody images, and for brief strong languag
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Atmos IMAX 6-Track Auro 11.1Datasat Dolby Surround 7.1
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 4m
-
Language(s):English, Norwegian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 2019 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2019
Genre(s)
Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Kimberly Elise, Loren Dean, directed by James Gray, written by James Gray, Ethan Gross, Adventure, PG-13, produced by Anthony Katagas, Rodrigo Teixeira, Arnon Milchan, James Gray, Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner, Brad Pitt, reviewed by Wenlei Ma, Esther Zuckerman, Scott Marks, Melissa Anderson, Chris Stuckmann, Cath Clarke, Brian Eggert, Tommy Lee Jones as H Clifford McBride, Ruth Negga as Helen Lantos, Donald Sutherland as Thomas Pruitt, Kimberly Elise as Lorraine Deavers, Loren Dean as Donald Stanford, box office performance, $50.2M, budget, Dolby Atmos, DTS, SDDS, Datasat, Scope (2.35:1), parent and child bond, space travel, Neptune, missing father, energy surge, stability of the universe
Worldwide gross: $127,461,872
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $147,276,399
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 841
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 16,060,676
US/Canada gross: $50,188,370
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $57,990,380
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,012
US/Canada opening weekend: $19,001,398
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,955,252
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 604
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $90,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $103,990,909
Production budget ranking: 386
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $55,999,104
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$12,713,614
ROI to date (est.): -8%
ROI ranking: 1,437
Tommy Lee Jones – H. Clifford McBride
Ruth Negga – Helen Lantos
Donald Sutherland – Thomas Pruitt
Kimberly Elise – Lorraine Deavers
Loren Dean – Donald Stanford
Director(s)
James Gray
Writer(s)
James Gray, Ethan Gross
Producer(s)
Anthony Katagas, Rodrigo Teixeira, Arnon Milchan, James Gray, Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner, Brad Pitt
Film Festivals
Venice
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
16 wins & 77 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (394) | Top Critics (81) | Fresh (326) | Rotten (68)
Brad Pitt is nothing short of phenomenal in this remarkable, poignant and visually arresting film from James Gray.
October 19, 2019 | Rating: 4.5/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
There’s larger social commentary here, but the root of the drama is about a man learning to embrace the emotions he’s kept buried for years.
September 30, 2019
Esther Zuckerman
Thrillist
TOP CRITIC
For most of its running time, Ad Astra amounts to a rather somber and sterile two-hour orbit.
September 27, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Scott Marks
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
The film’s Latin title means “to the stars.” But the satisfactions of James Gray’s project lie in a special branch of astronomy-not the study of planets, but of the supernova at the center of “Ad Astra”: Brad Pitt.
September 27, 2019
Melissa Anderson
4Columns
TOP CRITIC
It’s a very somber and moody film. The atmosphere is achieved beautifully.
September 25, 2019 | Rating: A
Chris Stuckmann
ChrisStuckmann.com
TOP CRITIC
McBride is a man living without feeling, and Pitt’s performance is beautifully restrained, expressing whole continents of emotion with the furrow of an eyebrow.
September 23, 2019
Cath Clarke
The Big Issue
TOP CRITIC
Ad Astra is rooted in a human drama that unravels somewhere between Earth and the rings of Neptune, two stations as distant as the storys father and son.
February 23, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Episode 49: Hustlers / Ad Astra / Two Lovers / ALTIPLANO
October 18, 2021 | Rating: 88/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
I loved that it really centered on Brad Pitt’s character, and his journey… I personally think [Tommy Lee Jones] is a little bit wasted.
September 20, 2021
Lonita Cook
KCTV5 News at 9
While on a quest to discover other intelligent beings in this galaxy, Ad Astra instead tells us that there are still plenty of discoveries to be made in the people around us.
September 5, 2021
Nicholas Oon
Maximum Hype (YouTube)
…the build up is more effective that the take-away, which isn’t quite as rich or developed as the quest…
August 13, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com
A selfish story about selfishness.
July 30, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
Milana Vujkov
Lola On Film…
Plot
Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet. His journey will uncover secrets that challenge the nature of human existence and our place in the cosmos.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Brad Pitt’s “phenomenal” performance in Ad Astra.
James-Gray.jpg
65%
Stuart Little 2 (2002)
65%RT Audience Score: 41%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
1 win & 4 nominations total
Stuart Little 2 is a sweet, visually impressive sequel that provides wholesome entertainment for kids
Stuart Little 2 is the perfect movie to watch if you want to escape reality for a bit and hang out with a talking mouse. The puns and wisecracks from the Persian cat are hilarious, and Stuart himself is a sweet talker. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie with excellent voice talent? It’s a well-crafted, visually delightful family movie that successfully avoids most of the common family-movie mistakes. And let’s be real, Stuart in his little jeans and sweater is just too cute to resist. Overall, it’s a fluffy, mindless, but ultimately cute sequel that’s worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Daiei
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Dodger Stadium – 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Chavez Ravine, Elysian Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for brief mild language
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 18m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 19, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 10, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
Stuart Little 2, PG, Comedy, Fantasy, 1h 18m, Michael J Fox, Nathan Lane, Melanie Griffith, James Woods, directed by Rob Minkoff, written by Bruce Joel Rubin, E.B White, Douglas Wick, produced by Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Ted Shen, Nell Minow, Kimberley Jones, Robert Denerstein, Peter Bradshaw, Debbie Lynn Elias, Felix Vasquez Jr., David Nusair, Jeffrey Overstreet, Geoffrey Kleinman, Michael Dequina, box office gross $64.7M, budget, Columbia Pictures, Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1), Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipnicki, Anna Hoelck, Ashley Hoelck, Marc John Jefferies, Mrs Little, Mr Little, George Little, Martha Little, Will, MPAA rating PG, talking animals, rescue mission, villainous Falcon, Snowbell, Margalo, wholesome entertainment, visually impressive, sweet, action-packed adventure, Stuart Little returns, plucky, pint-sized hero
Worldwide gross: $169,956,806
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $281,883,999
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 536
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 30,739,804
US/Canada gross: $64,956,806
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $107,734,928
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 699
US/Canada opening weekend: $15,115,152
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $25,069,426
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 546
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $120,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $199,027,510
Production budget ranking: 120
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $107,176,314
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$24,319,825
ROI to date (est.): -8%
ROI ranking: 1,436
Hugh Laurie – Mr. Little
Jonathan Lipnicki – George Little
Anna Hoelck – Martha Little
Ashley Hoelck – Martha Little
Marc John Jefferies – Will, George’s Friend
Nathan Lane – Snowbell (voice)
Melanie Griffith – Margalo (voice)
James Woods – The Falcon (voice)
Director – Rob Minkoff
Producers – Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick
Writers – Bruce Joel Rubin, E.B. White, Douglas Wick
Director(s)
Rob Minkoff
Writer(s)
Bruce Joel Rubin, E.B. White, Bruce Joel Rubin, Douglas Wick
Producer(s)
Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
1 win & 4 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (124) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (101) | Rotten (23)
No doubt, it can be a perfect escapist fare if you’re riddled with self-doubts and is fairly delightful even though you know that the reality outside the 70-odd minutes is not so rosy.
January 3, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
The film is fairly formulaic, though some of its puns and wisecracks are hilarious, especially those delivered by the Littles’ lazy and cynical Persian cat.
August 14, 2012
Ted Shen
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A sweet family movie with excellent voice talent.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
I’m a sucker for talking animals. And Stuart’s a sweet talker if ever there was one.
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
August 9, 2002 | Rating: B
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
It’s painful to admit it, but the tiny, perky FX mouse in jeans and sweater once again carries the summer’s most enjoyable kids’ movie.
August 3, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Stuart Little 2 once again delights us with the further adventures of Stuart as he tries to be just a regular kid in a human world.
November 15, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
A fluffy, mindless but ultimately cute sequel to a lame original that failed to register with me.
April 29, 2009 | Rating: 2/4
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
…unusually enjoyable.
January 1, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
… a well-crafted, visually delightful family movie that successfully avoids most of the common family-movie mistakes.
January 15, 2005 | Rating: B
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
In an era where sequels to kids film often rank below most Saturday Morning Cartoons, it’s refreshing to see a movie that not only matches the quality of the first movie, but it some ways even exceeds it.
February 21, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Geoffrey Kleinman
DVDTalk.com
Click to read review
January 7, 2004 | Rating: 2/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com…
Plot
Stuart’s mother is being over-protective of him, especially when he narrowly escapes injury in a soccer game. His big brother George has also made a new friend, Will, so Stuart is feeing lonely. Stuart rescues a canary, Margalo, from a falcon; she moves in with the Littles. One day, Margalo is nowhere to be found, so Stuart and Snowbell set out across the city to find her while George covers for Stuart (the first time he’s had to lie).
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Stuart Little 2.
Rob-Minkoff.jpg
65%
The Gift (2000)
65%RT Audience Score: 55%
Awards & Nominations: 11 nominations
With a reported budget of around 10 million, The Gift is obviously a labor of love for those involved. Unfortunately, the A-list cast can’t prevent the movie from becoming a by-the-numbers whodunit with an ending that’s all but unsatisfactory
The Gift” is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. Some critics loved it, some hated it, and some were just meh about it. But hey, at least we can all agree that Cate Blanchett is a star. And if you’re into chaotic, frightening images blinking rapidly over the widening eyes of the protagonist, then this movie is definitely for you. Just don’t expect it to be a must-see film, unless you’re into getting ripped off by traveling sideshows at the county fair.
Production Company(ies)
Kennedy Miller Productions,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Effingham County, Georgia, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, language, and sexuality/nudity
Year of Release
2001
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 19, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 17, 2001
Genre(s)
Mystery & Thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi, Hilary Swank, Katie Holmes, Keanu Reeves, Greg Kinnear, directed by Sam Raimi, written by Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, Peter Travers, Michael Thomson, Marjorie Baumgarten, MPAA rating R, supernatural, clairvoyance, socialite, disappeared, colorful characters, psychological thriller, celebration of human spirit, nudity, language, sexuality, violence, Tom Rosenberg, James Jacks, Rob Tapert, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, Flat (1.85:1), Annie Wilson, Buddy Cole, Donnie Barksdale, Jessica King, Wayne Collins, Valerie Barksdale
Worldwide gross: $44,567,606
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $75,109,272
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,157
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,190,760
US/Canada gross: $12,008,642
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,238,026
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,413
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,827
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $19,932
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,515
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $16,852,884
Production budget ranking: 1,455
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,075,278
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $49,181,109
ROI to date (est.): 190%
ROI ranking: 650
Giovanni Ribisi – Buddy Cole
Keanu Reeves – Donnie Barksdale
Katie Holmes – Jessica King
Greg Kinnear – Wayne Collins
Hilary Swank – Valerie Barksdale
Director – Sam Raimi
Producers – Tom Rosenberg, James Jacks, Rob Tapert
Writers – Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson
Director(s)
Sam Raimi
Writer(s)
Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson
Producer(s)
Tom Rosenberg, James Jacks, Rob Tapert
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (122) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (70) | Rotten (52)
A superior horror movie for older teens.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
June 4, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
April 16, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Michael Thomson
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
February 7, 2001 | Rating: 2/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
February 7, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
There’s really just one reason to see the Southern freak show that is Sam Raimi’s The Gift, and fortunately it’s the best reason: to watch the star of the piece.
January 19, 2001
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Stylistically, viewers will likely recognize the patented Raimi vision: chaotic frightening images blinking rapidly over the widening eyes of the protagonist.
October 28, 2020
Tim Stevens
The Spool
The Gift is not a must-see film, but it is a film worth watching.
September 8, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Post Elizabeth, Cate Blanchett was trying to subvert expectations and to do something completely different. So she chose this gothic thriller from a director who is known for horror movies.
May 1, 2020 | Rating: C
Murtada Elfadl
Sundays with Cate
like going to the county fair and getting ripped off by the traveling sideshows
June 20, 2012 | Rating: D
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
Though “The Gift” is tonally uneven, it’s still worth a watch if only for the mood and inherent dread present.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 2/5
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review…
Plot
When Jessica King goes missing, all eyes turn to Annabelle Wilson. Not as a murder suspect, but as a clairvoyant. Many of the towns folk go to Annabelle for help, and Jessica’s fiancée, Wayne Collins, turns to Annabelle for possible guidance. Annabelle feels that she can’t help, but this doesn’t stop her from constantly getting visions of Jessica’s fate.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Gift boasts an all-star cast including Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi, Keanu Reeves, and Katie Holmes.
Sam-Raimi.jpg
65%
The Yards (2000)
65%RT Audience Score: 51%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 2 nominations
Featuring strong performances and direction, The Yards is a richly textured crime thriller with an authentic feel
The Yards” is a movie that’s like a fancy dinner – it looks great, but it’s a bit heavy and hard to digest. Critics have called it everything from a “slow-burning family melodrama” to a “lament for a good-hearted white loser.” Personally, I think it’s a bit like a Shakespearean tragedy set in the world of crime. The cast is amazing, the visuals are dark and moody, and the story is full of twists and turns. It’s not a movie you watch for fun, but if you’re in the mood for something heavy and thought-provoking, “The Yards” is definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Beimo Films, Persistence of Vision Films,
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
39 India Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, violence and a scene of sexuality
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 55m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 27, 2000 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 2, 2002
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron, James Caan, Ellen Burstyn, Faye Dunaway, directed by James Gray, written by James Gray and Matt Reeves, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Richard Brody, Todd McCarthy, Andrew Sarris, Geoff Andrew, Geoffrey Macnab, Peter Travers, A.S Hamrah, Antonia Quirke, Nick Rogers, Pablo Villaça, Mark Wahlberg as Leo Handler, Joaquin Phoenix as Willie Gutierrez, Charlize Theron as Erica Stoltz, James Caan as Frank Olchin, Ellen Burstyn as Val Handler, Faye Dunaway as Kitty Olchin, produced by Kerry Orent, Paul Webster, Nick Wechsler, R rating, Miramax Films, Dolby SR, SDDS, Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $924,036
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,602,663
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,475
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 174,772
US/Canada gross: $889,352
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,542,506
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,095
US/Canada opening weekend: $57,339
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $99,450
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,935
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $24,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $41,625,979
Production budget ranking: 919
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $22,415,589
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$62,438,905
ROI to date (est.): -97%
ROI ranking: 2,006
Joaquin Phoenix – Willie Gutierrez
Charlize Theron – Erica Stoltz
James Caan – Frank Olchin
Ellen Burstyn – Val Handler
Faye Dunaway – Kitty Olchin
Director – James Gray
Producers – Kerry Orent, Paul Webster, Nick Wechsler
Writers – James Gray, Matt Reeves
Director(s)
James Gray
Writer(s)
James Gray, Matt Reeves
Producer(s)
Kerry Orent, Paul Webster, Nick Wechsler
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (98) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (35)
The tangle of family, business, and crime, with its resulting loyalties and betrayals, is the volatile stuff of which the drama is made.
June 28, 2021
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
An On the Waterfront wannabe, directed with a heavy portentousness that smothers the drama in a thick sauce of self-importance.
August 5, 2008
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
I can’t remember when a film so well-acted and so well-rendered visually was also so oppressive to sit through.
April 27, 2007
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
A sensitive, intelligent and ambitious variation on the traditional going-straight story.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Self-consciously elegiac, The Yards is a slow-burning but meticulously crafted family melodrama posing as a thriller.
December 2, 2002
Geoffrey Macnab
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
May 8, 2001 | Rating: 2/5
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
The outer boroughs in James Gray’s New York are forlorn, and The Yards is a lament for a good-hearted white loser…
September 16, 2020
A.S. Hamrah
The Baffler
It has a terrific subject, an unimprovable cast and a trio of trustworthy, even hip, producers. And no life.
November 28, 2017
Antonia Quirke
Independent on Sunday
How “The Yards” shifts toward crime drama through character rather than pure plot is hard to disclose without divesting twists. Inspired by real-life scandal, James Gray lets personal insight color Shakespearean shenanigans of privilege, panic and power.
December 15, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
Sem medo de evocar comparaes com “O Poderoso Chefo”, Gray cria um filme repleto de personagens ambguos e uma forte atmosfera de tristeza e desesperana moral.
November 9, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
…the filmmaker’s use of dark visuals effectively matches the moody, almost operatic tone of the script.
October 30, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Understatement is something that one would not normally associate with such a pulpy tale, but that’s what makes Gray’s film surprisingly effective.
October 14, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com…
Plot
In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city’s subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he’s battling with a minority-owned firm for contracts. Willie Gutierrez, Leo’s best friend, is Frank’s bag man and heads a crew of midnight saboteurs who ruin the work of the Puerto Rican-owned firm. Leo needs a job, so Willie pays him to be his back-up. Then things go badly wrong one night, a cop IDs Leo, and everyone now wants him out of the picture. Besides his ailing mom and his cousin Erica, to whom can Leo turn?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The ensemble cast delivers outstanding performances, with Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, and James Caan standing out in their respective roles.
James-Gray.jpg
65%
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
65%RT Audience Score: 59%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
26 wins & 69 nominations total
Burdened by exposition and populated with stock characters, The Phantom Menace gets the Star Wars prequels off to a bumpy — albeit visually dazzling — start
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace has been a topic of debate among fans for years, but one thing is for sure: it’s not lacking in iconic moments. From the pod races to the final battle with Darth Maul, there’s plenty of action to keep you entertained. However, the film falls short in terms of character development and storytelling. Plus, let’s be real, who really wants to follow a plot about intergalactic trade embargoes? Overall, it’s a fun watch for Star Wars fans, but not the best entry in the franchise.
Production Company(ies)
New Line Cinema, Wing Nut Films, The Saul Zaentz Company,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Sidi Bouhlel, Bouhlel Sdada, Tunisia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for sci-fi action/violence
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 13m
-
Language(s):English, Sanskrit
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2005
Genre(s)
Adventure/Action
Keyword(s)
starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Pernilla August, Frank Oz, directed by George Lucas, written by George Lucas, produced by Rick McCallum, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, PG, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Adam Kempenaar, Evan Williams, Joe Holleman, Kate Muir, Noel Murray, Andrew O’Hagan, Brian Eggert, Cory Woodroof, Betsy Bozdech, Tony Black, Richard Propes, Mike Massie, Star Wars Saga
Worldwide gross: $1,027,082,707
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,843,642,096
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 24
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 201,051,483
US/Canada gross: $474,544,677
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $851,820,927
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 23
US/Canada opening weekend: $64,820,970
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $116,355,448
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 61
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $115,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $206,428,206
Production budget ranking: 106
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $111,161,589
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,526,052,301
ROI to date (est.): 481%
ROI ranking: 264
Ewan McGregor – Obi-Wan Kenobi
Natalie Portman – Queen Amidala, Padmé Naberrie
Jake Lloyd – Anakin Skywalker
Pernilla August – Shmi Skywalker
Frank Oz – Master Yoda (Voice)
Director(s)
George Lucas
Writer(s)
George Lucas
Producer(s)
Rick McCallum
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
26 wins & 69 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (235) | Top Critics (74) | Fresh (121) | Rotten (114)
The dialogue isn’t the issue; the acting isn’t really the issue; nor is it any single annoying character… There’s no sense of wonder. No yearning. No spirit.
December 20, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Adam Kempenaar
Filmspotting
TOP CRITIC
Everything in Phantom Menace exists in a bright noisy vacuum.
December 15, 2015
Evan Williams
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
The movie is fun, for the most part, and several scenes are as good or better than anything Lucas created in the original films. The human characters, however, are not nearly as interesting as those in the earlier episodes.
December 14, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Holleman
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Do kids really want to follow a plot about intergalactic trade embargoes?
November 16, 2015 | Rating: 2/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
If there’s anything really disappointing about Episode I, it’s not being able to line up for Episode 2 tomorrow.
November 16, 2015
Noel Murray
Nashville Scene
TOP CRITIC
The visual effects in The Phantom Menace are so good that you find yourself not caring very much about Qui-Gon’s prophetic murmurings.
November 16, 2015
Andrew O’Hagan
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
By demystifying the original films, Lucas does not so much expand on his original mythology but fills in blanks and answers questions that once enchanted us with their mystifying qualities.
April 25, 2022 | Rating: 1/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
The pod races on Tatooine, and the Duel of the Fates final hanger battle with Darth Maul, stand as raucous, iconic set pieces whose absences would make the sage feel incomplete.
February 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
615 Film
The upcoming Oct. 16 release of Lucasfilm’s first DVD – Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace – is officially a Very Big Deal.
January 15, 2022
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com
The Phantom Menace will always be possibly the single biggest missed opportunity in modern cinematic history
February 16, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
Tony Black
Cultural Conversation
An amazingly disappointing film experience.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 1.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Despite the repetitiveness and subpar feeling existing in just about every aspect, there’s still fun to be had with the lightsaber dueling and space battles.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins…
Plot
The evil Trade Federation, led by Nute Gunray is planning to take over the peaceful world of Naboo. Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to confront the leaders. But not everything goes to plan. The two Jedi escape, and along with their new Gungan friend, Jar Jar Binks head to Naboo to warn Queen Amidala, but droids have already started to capture Naboo and the Queen is not safe there. Eventually, they land on Tatooine, where they become friends with a young boy known as Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon is curious about the boy, and sees a bright future for him. The group must now find a way of getting to Coruscant and to finally solve this trade dispute, but there is someone else hiding in the shadows. Are the Sith really extinct? Is the Queen really who she says she is? And what’s so special about this young boy?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.
George-Lucas.jpg
65%
Blast From the Past (1999)
65%RT Audience Score: 56%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Cute idea, but not consistently funny
Blast From the Past is a movie that takes you on a wild ride through time, but not without a few bumps in the road. While some critics found it to be a squandered opportunity, others praised the clever script and first-rate cast. Personally, I found it to be a bizarre hybrid of romantic comedy cliches and social commentary, but Brendan Fraser’s goofy charm made it all worth it. Plus, any movie that can deliver scintillating humor and a force field of energy around its lead actor is a win in my book. So, if you’re looking for a blast from the past with a side of laughs, give this one a shot.
Production Company(ies)
Cranium Entertainment, Idiot Savant Pictures, Particular Crowd
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
1972 Canyon Drive, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief language, sex and drug references
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 51m
-
Language(s):English, French, German, Latin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2012
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
Blast from the Past, Brendan Fraser, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Walken, directed by Hugh Wilson, written by Bill Kelly and Hugh Wilson, comedy, romance, PG-13, box office gross $26.5M, New Line Cinema, Renny Harlin, reviewed by Jack Mathews, Desson Thomson, John Hartl, Carrie Rickey, Jonathan Foreman, Mark Caro, David Nusair, Maitland McDonagh, Leah Rozen, Yael Shuv, Laura Danese, Alan Jones, starring Sissy Spacek, Dave Foley, Joey Slotnick, sound mix SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, fallout shelter, nuclear apocalypse, Pasadena, California, eccentric father, dangerous restocking mission, subterranean refuge, gorgeous Eve Rustikov, romantic comedy, fish-out-of-water story, Cuban Missile Crisis, chemistry, touching moments, charming, campy
Worldwide gross: $40,263,020
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $72,273,244
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,177
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 7,881,488
US/Canada gross: $26,511,114
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,588,189
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,096
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,771,066
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $13,949,280
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 830
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $35,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $62,825,976
Production budget ranking: 656
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $33,831,788
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$24,384,520
ROI to date (est.): -25%
ROI ranking: 1,539
Alicia Silverstone – Eve Rustikoff
Christopher Walken – Calvin Webber
Sissy Spacek – Helen Thomas Webber
Dave Foley – Troy
Joey Slotnick – Soda Jerk, Archbishop Melker
Director(s)
Hugh Wilson
Writer(s)
Bill Kelly, Hugh Wilson
Producer(s)
Renny Harlin, Hugh Wilson
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (80) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (34)
Blast is finally a squandered opportunity, a lot of situation with very little comedy.
January 3, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jack Mathews
Newsday
TOP CRITIC
Blast From the Past saves its best for first.
March 21, 2014
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Fraser is the sweet, goofy engine that drives this movie. The script doesn’t do enough with his reactions to a world that bears little relation to the Cold War planet Adam has been told about, but Fraser still manages to suggest volumes.
March 21, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Garish and not funny enough, Wilson’s shapeless satire plods on, squandering its nice premise and its appealing actors. Miraculously, Fraser has a force field around him and manages to radiate energy in this comic black hole.
March 21, 2014 | Rating: 2/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Thanks to a clever script, tight direction, a first-rate cast and the dynamite combination of Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone, Blast from the Past blows away the recent crop of romantic comedies.
March 21, 2014
Jonathan Foreman
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
That’s a relatively clever set-up for what’s become a familiar genre: the time-displacement comedy, in which we get a kick out of viewing our era through another era’s eyes. But this movie’s eyes, Adam’s, are awfully twinkly and not too focused.
March 21, 2014 | Rating: 1.5/4
Mark Caro
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
…an irresistible premise that’s generally employed to entertaining (if somewhat erratic) effect…
June 7, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
[A] bizarre hybrid of romantic comedy cliches and less-than-subtle social commentary.
March 21, 2014 | Rating: 2/4
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
Once the movie decides the air is clear and Fraser begins walking the earth, Blast becomes much spottier at hitting its comic targets and suffers from a bad case of the cutes.
March 21, 2014
Leah Rozen
People Magazine
Any movie with a rhyming title should be treated with suspicion. And Blast From The Past — two films inconveniently rolled into one creaking rom-com — is as bad as it gets.
March 21, 2014 | Rating: 2/5
Yael Shuv
Total Film
This fresh idea delivers some scintillating humor.
March 21, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Laura Danese
Christian Science Monitor
It’s pleasant enough, with Fraser’s goofy charm particularly winning.
March 21, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Alan Jones
Radio Times…
Plot
Adam Weber is the child of an eccentric inventor and his wife. Following a bomb scare in the 1960s that locked the Webers in their bomb shelter for 35 years, Adam Weber must venture out into Los Angeles and obtain food and supplies for his family. He meets Eve, who reluctantly agrees to help him out.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Brendan Fraser’s “goofy charm” is particularly winning in Blast from the Past, according to one critic review.
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65%
Wild Things (1998)
65%RT Audience Score: 53%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 4 nominations
Wild Things is a delightfully salacious, flesh-exposed romp that also requires a high degree of love for trash cinema
Wild Things is the kind of movie that’s so bad it’s good. It’s like a train wreck that you can’t look away from, with a plot that’s so convoluted it’s almost impressive. And let’s not forget about that infamous threesome scene that everyone talks about. It’s not a movie for kids, but if you’re in the mood for some sweaty, sexy, naughty neo-noir, then Wild Things is the perfect guilty pleasure.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group Heyday Films,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park – 1200 S. Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, Florida, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, language and some violence
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SDDS DTS
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Aspect ratio:2.40 : 1
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Runtime:1h 47m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2001
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Theresa Russell, Denise Richards, Daphne Rubin-Vega, directed by John McNaughton, written by Stephen Peters, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Rocco T Thompson, Bob Thomas, Owen Gleiberman, Stephen Hunter, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Leonard Klady, Kathy Fennessy, Judith M Redding, Joe Lipsett, Mike Massie, MPAA rating R, Columbia Pictures, produced by Steven A Jones, Rodney Liber, Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, Scope (2.35:1), nudity, language, violence, strong sexuality, scandal, rape, personal-injury lawyer, detective, high school, debutante, guidance counselor, victim, Southern melodrama, lesbian lust, threesome scene, twists, bad girls, erotic, crime story
Worldwide gross: $30,166,293
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $55,359,401
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,282
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,037,012
US/Canada gross: $30,147,739
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $55,325,352
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,023
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,622,444
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $17,658,542
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 717
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $36,702,820
Production budget ranking: 1,020
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $19,764,469
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$1,107,887
ROI to date (est.): -2%
ROI ranking: 1,406
Matt Dillon – Sam Lombardo
Neve Campbell – Suzie Marie Toller
Theresa Russell – Sandra Van Ryan
Denise Richards – Kelly Lanier Van Ryan
Daphne Rubin-Vega – Det. Gloria Perez
John McNaughton – Director
Steven A. Jones, Rodney Liber – Producers
Stephen Peters – Writer
Director(s)
John McNaughton
Writer(s)
Stephen Peters
Producer(s)
Steven A. Jones, Rodney Liber
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (64) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (24)
Wild Things is the ultimate ‘90s neo-noir because it checks off all the requisite boxes, only to then become a commentary on the subgenre itself.
May 29, 2022
Rocco T. Thompson
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Wild Things might qualify as passable Southern melodrama, but Stephen Peters’ screenplay is too ambitious by far. It changes the nature of the protagonists so often that the viewer is left in puzzled exhaustion.
August 7, 2019
Bob Thomas
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The movie is as tawdry as someone else’s lingerie, yet not without a certain prurient watchability.
February 11, 2008
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
What I’m supposed to find ‘satisfying’ is predicated on the idea that almost everyone in the world is trash.
February 11, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Sly, torrid and original, pic is certain to shake up an otherwise complacent marketplace.
February 11, 2008
Leonard Klady
Variety
TOP CRITIC
If he has sympathy for these people, and I believe that he does, it’s because he knows the system is rigged against them.
June 19, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Kathy Fennessy
Seattle Film Blog
Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Although there are moments of lesbian lust between Campbell and Richards, the plot is weak and the film is aimed at a hetero market.
May 24, 2022
Judith M. Redding
Curve
This sweaty, sexy, naughty neo noir is a testament to the kind of film that could never be made today. It is so delightfully convoluted that the explanation for the film’s machinations continue well into the credits
September 15, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Joe Lipsett
Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
It’s difficult to dismiss the notoriety – and silliness – of the much-talked-about threesome scene (short and incomplete as it may be), which overshadows the plot.
September 25, 2020 | Rating: 3/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Absolutely ridiculous. Absolutely riveting.
July 17, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Convoluted erotic thriller, not for kids.
January 1, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Afsheen Nomai
Common Sense Media…
Plot
Having recently been named educator of the year, Sam Lombardo is the well-liked guidance counselor and sailing instructor at Blue Bay High School on the Florida coast just outside Miami. The student body of the school is largely comprised of the offspring of the country club set, and while he helps any student he can, he especially tries to mentor those who are disadvantaged, such as Jimmy Leach who would not have been able to afford being in the sailing program otherwise, and tough Suzie Toller, a proverbial swamp girl who he’s helped through a few scrapes with the law in the absence of any parents, Suzie living with her streetwise grandmother Ruby at an alligator sideshow zoo. Although not socioeconomically part of that country club set himself, he nonetheless has ingratiated himself within it, he having slept with a good number of the country club maidens, he currently settled into a relationship with Barbara Baxter, the well-off daughter of high powered lawyer Tom Baxter. Sam’s world comes crashing down around him when student Kelly Van Ryan, who has made it quite clear to her classmates she is sexually attracted to him and who is the daughter of one of his former bed mates, sexually provocative widow and socially powerful Sandra Van Ryan, accuses him of raping her. Already in trouble in that no one can fight and win against the Van Ryans in Blue Bay, Sam, whose career is ruined regardless of his guilt or innocence in never being able to recover from such accusations, gets into even more problems when Suzie quickly thereafter comes forward also accusing him of previously raping her, her story similar to Kelly’s. The likelihood of Kelly and Suzie colluding together to manufacture similar stories is remote as it is well known that they have always detested each other. Having now become persona non grata among that country club set, Sam is forced to hire sleazy storefront lawyer Ken Bowden to defend him. Blue Bay Police Detective Ray Duquette of the Sex Crimes Division, he investigating with his partner Gloria Perez, goes against her advice and that of DA Bryce Hunter by delving into sensitive areas in believing that not all associated with the case are as they appear on the surface.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a star-studded cast including Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, and Bill Murray.
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