IT: Chapter Two (2019)
76%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: NA
It Chapter Two, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2017 hit, has left audiences divided. Some critics praise the film’s grand scale and production values, while others criticize its predictability and lack of scares. However, one thing is certain: the film is a peculiar mix of crowd-pleasing and patience-testing moments that veer wildly between entertaining and frustrating. Despite its luxurious 170-minute runtime, Chapter Two feels hastily assembled, oddly brief and bloated at the same time, and beneath the text on which it was based. While the film may not be the ghoulish scarefest that some were hoping for, it still manages to deliver a satisfying conclusion to Stephen King’s classic story.
It Chapter Two is like a rollercoaster ride that starts off slow and predictable, but eventually picks up speed and throws you for a loop. While it may not be the scariest horror movie out there, it’s still a fun and enjoyable romp with a grand scale and impressive production values. Just be prepared for some frustrating moments and a few too many jump scares. Overall, it’s a satisfying conclusion to the Losers Club story and a must-see for fans of Stephen King’s classic tale.
Production Company(ies)
Double Dream, KatzSmith Productions, New Line Cinema, Rideback, Supernatural, Vertigo Entertainment, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 49m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 6, 2019 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 7, 2019
Genre(s)
Horror/Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
Loading…
Worldwide gross: $473,093,228
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $211,593,228
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.): $79,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $97,692,207
Production budget ranking: 412
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $52,607,253
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
James McAvoy – Bill Denbrough
Bill Hader – Richie Tozier
Isaiah Mustafa – Mike Hanlon
Jay Ryan – Ben Hanscom
James Ransone – Eddie Kaspbrak
Director – Andy Muschietti
Producers – Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Barbara Muschietti
Writer – Gary Dauberman
Director(s)
Andy Muschietti
Writer(s)
Gary Dauberman
Producer(s)
Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Barbara Muschietti
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (382) | Top Critics (67) | Fresh (237) | Rotten (145)
Trimming the adults’ often soppy individual narratives to focus on their more interesting dynamic as a group might have mitigated some of the numbness that sets in from predictability.
September 22, 2019
Leah Pickett
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
There’s a grandness to its scale and production values that still makes It Chapter Two an enjoyable romp, but it’s not the ghoulish scarefest it could be.
September 10, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
Not unlike the town in which it’s set, Muschietti’s It only sees what it wants to.
September 9, 2019
Jack Hamilton
Slate
TOP CRITIC
A peculiar mix of the crowd-pleasing and the patience-testing, veering wildly between the entertaining and the frustrating, built round a story that ventures inexorably underground without ever getting to the heart of what lies beneath.
September 8, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The result is a film with all the unsettling power and visual elan of the kiddy-friendly Goosebumps series (Jack Black + monsters = zzzz).
September 8, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Yes, there are big-bang scares, but they’re not real scares. In the end, what I come away with is a sense of being at a carnival fun-fair. Attractions, bits…but too much, and you’re tired and sick.
September 6, 2019
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
It Chapter Two is a good conclusion to the Losers Club story. It definitely has more Stephen King flair than the first film, but gives you everything you’d want from a supernatural horror.
March 8, 2023 | Rating: B
Kate Boyle
InSession Film
Amid the repetitive jump scares lies a thoroughly scary and satisfying concluding chapter to Stephen King’s classic story.
October 27, 2022
Rendy Jones
them.
Too many things weigh the movie down and keep it from resonating like the first chapter. And too much time is squandered in the wrong places.
August 22, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
Keith Garlington
Keith & the Movies
Despite the luxurious 170-minute runtime, Chapter Two feels hastily assembled, oddly brief and bloated at the same time, and beneath the text on which it was based.
February 23, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Episode 48: Ready or Not / It Chapter Two / Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
October 18, 2021 | Rating: 36/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Muschietti returns to the director’s chair to craft a sequel that goes bigger and bolder in every sense, while digging deep into It’s mythology, and the dynamic between the adult Losers.
August 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Maria Lattila
Zavvi…
Plot
Defeated by the Losers’ Club as children, Pennywise the evil clown returns 27 years later to terrorize the town of Derry, Maine, once again, forcing the now-adults to confront their deepest fears and destroy him for good in IT: CHAPTER TWO.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Andy-Muschietti.jpg
76%
Midsommar (2019)
76%RT Audience Score: 63%
Awards & Nominations: 28 wins & 77 nominations
Ambitious, impressively crafted, and above all unsettling, Midsommar further proves writer-director Ari Aster is a horror auteur to be reckoned with
Midsommar is the kind of movie that makes you want to sleep with the lights on and never go on a vacation again. It’s a wild ride that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about cults and Swedish traditions. But hey, at least Florence Pugh gives an amazing performance, right? If you’re a horror fan, this movie is a must-watch. Just maybe don’t plan any summer trips to Scandinavia afterwards.
Production Company(ies)
Act III Productions, Artemis Rising Foundation Maramara Films,
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Budapest, Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for disturbing ritualistic violence and grisly images, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.00 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 25m
-
Language(s):English, Swedish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 2019 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2019
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter, Vilhelm Blomgren, Isabelle Grill, directed by Ari Aster, written by Ari Aster, horror, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Manohla Dargis, Lindsey Bahr, Claudia Puig, Stephen Romei, Wenlei Ma, Jake Wilson, Brian Eggert, Taylor Baker, Kip Mooney, Robin Holabird, Victor Pineyro, R rating, drug use, disturbing ritual violence, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, grisly images, language, produced by Patrik Andersson, Lars Knudsen, A24, Dolby Digital
Worldwide gross: $47,967,636
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $55,424,423
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,281
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,044,103
US/Canada gross: $27,426,361
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $31,689,913
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,256
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,560,030
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $7,579,816
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,029
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $9,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,399,091
Production budget ranking: 1,652
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,599,910
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $39,425,421
ROI to date (est.): 246%
ROI ranking: 538
Jack Reynor – Christian
William Jackson Harper – Josh
Will Poulter – Mark
Vilhelm Blomgren – Pelle
Isabelle Grill – Maja
Director(s)
Ari Aster
Writer(s)
Ari Aster
Producer(s)
Patrik Andersson, Lars Knudsen
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
28 wins & 77 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (399) | Top Critics (75) | Fresh (332) | Rotten (67)
After a while, an unproductive restlessness sets in as you wait for the characters to matter as much as the silky moves and painstaking details. Horror
December 18, 2019
Manohla Dargis
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Midsommar is a waking nightmare and I mean that in the best possible way.
December 18, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
I was never, even for one second, feeling the length… I found it so unsettling and sinister. At moments it was a little uneven, but it’s so watchable and gets under your skin in a really creepy way.
October 1, 2019
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Indeed, it’s cultural sensitivity that lies at the heart of this movie. It is not about serial killers, aliens or supernatural beings. It is about the ordinary humans we know as the Other because they come from somewhere else.
August 27, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Stephen Romei
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Ari Aster’s approach to horror filmmaking seeps into your subconsciousness with great effect, lingering like an uninvited guest.
August 15, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
Even more than Hereditary, Midsommar lives on the edge where horror meets absurdity, prompting the kind of laughter that comes from not knowing how else to respond.
August 9, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Aster wields a two-pronged setup that pokes at feelings of anxiety about remote communities and their link to an untamed wilderness, while also presenting characters whose interpersonal drama underscores every potently disturbing situation in the film.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Episode 42: Crawl / The Last Black Man in San Francisco / Chernobyl / Midsommar
October 4, 2021 | Rating: 97/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
One dizzying, hilarious trip into hell.
August 15, 2021 | Rating: B+
Kip Mooney
College Movie Review
Midsommer is a tasty treat for horror fans.
July 23, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)
Ari Aster’s Hereditary follow-up is a genuinely disturbing tale of nature-worshiping pagans.
April 29, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
James McMahon
NME
Bizarre is the main course in Midsommar, which serves as Florence Pugh’s tour de force. A daylight horror movie that succeeds because of the efficiency of its first act. [Full review in Spanish]
March 1, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Victor Pineyro
Seventh Art Studio…
Plot
Dani (Florence Pugh) and Christian (Jack Reynor) are a young American couple with a relationship on the brink of falling apart. But after a family tragedy keeps them together, Christian invites a grieving Dani to join him and his friends on a trip to a once-in-a-lifetime midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village. What begins as a carefree summer holiday in the North European land of eternal sunlight takes a sinister turn when the insular villagers invite their guests to partake in festivities that render the pastoral paradise increasingly unnerving and viscerally disturbing.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments are given by Fresh Kernels about the film Midsommar.
Ari-Aster.jpg
76%
Little Woods (2019)
76%RT Audience Score: 55%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 6 nominations
Led by standout work from Tessa Thompson, Little Woods tells a grimly absorbing tale that marks a commendable debut for writer-director Nia DaCosta
Little Woods is a neo-western film that tells the story of two sisters living on the edge of ruin in North Dakota. The film is a slow-burning tale of poverty and limited options that gradually closes-in on the viewer with a claustrophobic sense of tension. Tessa Thompson and Lily James deliver charismatic performances that anchor the film effortlessly. It’s a humane film that’s non-judgmental, even on the most sensitive of topics. Overall, Little Woods is a stunning, deep, and thoughtful portrait of two marginalized women in America forgotten by city folk and the political class.
Production Company(ies)
Lost Boys of Sudan National Geographic Films, Silver Nitrate Pictures,
Distributor
Neon
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Austin, Texas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some drug material
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 45m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 16, 2019
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Tessa Thompson, Lily James, Luke Kirby, James Badge Dale, Lance Reddick, Elizabeth Maxwell, directed by Nia DaCosta, written by Nia DaCosta, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Roxana Hadadi, Claudia Puig, Wenlei Ma, Sandra Hall, Valerie Complex, Bilge Ebiri, Brian Eggert, Kip Mooney, Matthew St Clair, Yasser Medina, Jennie Kermode, produced by Tim Headington, Rachael Fung, Gabrielle Nadig, David Stone, MPAA rating R, North Dakota, sisters, mortgage, poverty, crime, Western genre, neo-western, limited options, tension, wits, homelessness, jail, estranged sisters, mother’s death, one week, pay back mortgage, grimly absorbing tale, commendable debut, standout work, driven to extremes, timely, empathetic, forgotten by city folk, political class, non-judgmental, forceful, charismatic performance, high tension, farthest northern reaches of North Dakota, one slip up, homeless, in jail, reliant on each other
Worldwide gross: $171,912
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $198,637
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,933
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 21,662
US/Canada gross: $150,010
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $173,330
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,568
US/Canada opening weekend: $57,610
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $66,566
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,100
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
Lily James – Deb
Luke Kirby – Bill
James Badge Dale – Ian
Lance Reddick – Carter
Elizabeth Maxwell – Jenny
Director(s)
Nia DaCosta
Writer(s)
Nia DaCosta
Producer(s)
Tim Headington, Rachael Fung, Gabrielle Nadig, David Stone
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (98) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (5)
DaCosta, Thompson, and James have created something tense and timely and empathetic in Little Woods, further expanding the Western genre and adding another slice of American life to it.
February 25, 2020
Roxana Hadadi
AWFJ Women on Film
TOP CRITIC
A taut and affecting thriller.
September 27, 2019
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
The directorial debut by Nia DaCosta is a stunning, deep and thoughtful portrait of two marginalised women in America forgotten by city folk and the political class.
June 21, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
It’s the kind of scenario we’ve often seen on screen, but the ambience is new and precisely evoked as a world of cruel contrasts.
May 16, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
“Little Woods” is a neo-western film that serves as a full deconstruction of what ails the United States of America through the eyes of women.
May 10, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Valerie Complex
HN Entertainment
TOP CRITIC
It’s a testament to the strength of Thompson’s performance, and DaCosta’s control of tone and action, that for all the bleakness of this world, we keep watching.
May 7, 2019
Bilge Ebiri
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
A slow-burning tale of poverty and limited options that gradually closes-in on the viewer with a claustrophobic sense of tension.
March 3, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
A humane film, one that’s non-judgmental, even on the most sensitive of topics.
August 15, 2021 | Rating: B+
Kip Mooney
College Movie Review
Little Woods is a worthy entry in the Western genre effortlessly anchored by its two charismatic leading actresses.
October 9, 2020
Matthew St. Clair
Cinema Sentries
The performances from Tessa Thompson and Lily James convince me in this crime-slashed and neo-western drama that represents Nia DaCosta’s directorial debut, even if the narrative is not as strong. [Full review in Spanish]
July 26, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
[Tessa] Thompson’s forceful, charismatic performance brings life to what could have been a relentlessly grim film, but it also unbalances the drama somewhat.
January 27, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film
This is a film of high tension about two sisters living on the edge of ruin in the farthest northern reaches of North Dakota. One slip up and they could end up homeless, or in jail. The only things they have to rely on are their wits and each other.
January 26, 2020 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope…
Plot
In Little Woods, two sisters in North Dakota are forced to turn to illegal means to pay off their mother’s mortgage after her death, leading them down a dangerous path.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Led by standout work from Tessa Thompson, Little Woods tells a grimly absorbing tale that marks a commendable debut for writer-director Nia DaCosta.
Nia-DaCosta.jpg
76%
Blade (1998)
76%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: Won 2 Oscars
101 wins & 165 nominations total
Though some may find the plot a bit lacking, Blade’s action is fierce, plentiful, and appropriately stylish for a comic book adaptation
Blade is the ultimate vampire-killing, butt-kicking, action-packed movie that will leave you wanting more. With Wesley Snipes as the charismatic lead, the movie is a perfect blend of gore, humor, and martial arts. The blood rave scene alone is worth the watch, and the action sequences will keep you on the edge of your seat. Blade may be the first black superhero lead on film, but it’s a movie that everyone can enjoy. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready for a wild ride.
Production Company(ies)
Agi Orsi Productions, Forever Films, Quicksilver Entertainment,
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Stock Exchange Palace, Szabadság Square, Budapest, Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, some sexuality, nudity and language
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos Auro 11.1 IMAX 6-Track Dolby Surround 7.1 Sonics-DDP SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):English, Finnish, Japanese, Hungarian, Russian, Somali, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 21, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 9, 2004
Genre(s)
Horror/Action
Keyword(s)
starring Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, N’Bushe Wright, Donal Logue, Udo Kier, directed by Stephen Norrington, written by David S Goyer, horror, action, fantasy, adventure, R rating, box office gross $70.0M, produced by Robert Engelman, Peter Frankfurt, Wesley Snipes, reviewed by Peter Bradshaw, Chris Stuckmann, Michael O’Sullivan, Xan Brooks, Jay Boyar, Dave Kehr, Trace Thurman, Joe Lipsett, Toussaint Egan, Alan Ng, Sezín Koehler, Blade, Eric, Deacon Frost, Abraham Whistler, Dr Karen Jenson, Quinn, Dragonetti, comic book adaptation, vampire, martial arts, special effects, Blood Rave song, Confusion (Pump Panel Remix) by New Order, modern-day, technologically advanced vampires, human race, evil god, special blood type, vampire council, vampire Elders, La Magra, Blood God, goth-culture, aesthetics, fight choreography, Only-One-Guy-Attacks-At-A-Time Syndrome, plot-hole
Worldwide gross: $259,352,064
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $312,839,815
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 482
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 34,115,574
US/Canada gross: $92,071,675
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $111,060,176
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 679
US/Canada opening weekend: $32,753,122
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $39,507,997
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 316
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $150,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $180,935,411
Production budget ranking: 146
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $97,433,719
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $34,470,685
ROI to date (est.): 12%
ROI ranking: 1,334
Stephen Dorff – Deacon Frost
Kris Kristofferson – Abraham Whistler
N’Bushe Wright – Dr. Karen Jenson
Donal Logue – Quinn
Udo Kier – Dragonetti
Director – Stephen Norrington
Producers – Robert Engelman, Peter Frankfurt, Wesley Snipes
Writer – David S. Goyer
Director(s)
Stephen Norrington
Writer(s)
David S. Goyer
Producer(s)
Robert Engelman, Peter Frankfurt, Wesley Snipes
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
101 wins & 165 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (107) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (61) | Rotten (46)
Blade is an entertainingly macabre and excitingly staged action horror, with a propulsive energy…
October 27, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Not only is this an important movie for comic book films in general — it’s just a f—ing blast!
October 19, 2020 | Rating: B+
Chris Stuckmann
ChrisStuckmann.com
TOP CRITIC
Blade’s stomach-turning special effects, bone-crunching martial arts and cynical humor will more than satisfy any action-film addict’s need for a fix of eye-popping escapist adrenaline.
April 2, 2019
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Noise and martial-arts action mask its tinny pedigree.
March 29, 2019
Xan Brooks
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
For a while, anyway, this vampire picture flies.
July 15, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Has the comic-book movie reached the end of the line? The glumly familiar, been-there-done-that aspect of Blade certainly suggests so.
July 15, 2015 | Rating: 1/4
Dave Kehr
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
Stylized, smart and boasting a charismatic lead performance from Wesley Snipes, Blade belongs in the upper tier of comic book adaptations.
October 25, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
Blade is not only a significant part of the historical development of Marvel superhero films, but may be the first example of a black superhero lead on film. Stylish, gory and delightful, Blade still kicks butt
October 20, 2021
Joe Lipsett
Horror Queers Podcast
Come for the blood rave, stay for the kickass action sequences.
October 19, 2021
Toussaint Egan
Polygon
Blade is just good, plain action movie fun.
July 29, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Alan Ng
Film Threat
In so many ways Blade was made for today: for today’s politics, for today’s television screens, and for today’s marginalized audiences.
May 23, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Sezín Koehler
Black Girl Nerds
I found it fascinating how Blade works through a lot of that nastiness in its own way.
February 6, 2020
VyceVictus
Lewton Bus…
Plot
Thirty years after the events of Blade Runner (1982), a new Blade Runner, L.A.P.D. Officer “K” (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former L.A.P.D. Blade Runner, who has been missing for thirty years.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Blade on Fresh Kernels.
Stephen-Norrington.jpg
76%
Jackie (2016)
76%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
45 wins & 171 nominations total
Jackie offers an alluring peek into a beloved American public figure’s private world — and an enthralling starring performance from Natalie Portman in the bargain
Jackie is a movie that will make you feel all the emotions. From heartbreak to anger to doubt, Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Jackie Kennedy is so spot-on that you’ll forget you’re watching a movie. The film is beautifully crafted and the score is hauntingly beautiful. It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves a good biopic or just wants to escape from the chaos of the world for a little while. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Jackie O. moment?
Production Company(ies)
Armada Productions,
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Studios de Paris, La Cité du Cinéma, Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for brief strong violence and some language
Year of Release
2016
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 39m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 2017 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 7, 2017
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, John Hurt, Richard E Grant, directed by Pablo Larraín, written by Noah Oppenheim, biography, R-rated, box office gross $14.0M, reviewed by Thelma Adams, Stephanie Abraham, Adam Nayman, K Austin Collins, Candice Frederick, Linda Holmes, Brian Eggert, David Gonzalez, Anne Brodie, Jennifer Merin, produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, Darren Aronofsky, Mickey Liddell, Scott Franklin, Ari Handel, Fox Searchlight, Jackie Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Nancy Tuckerman, The Journalist, The Priest, Bill Walton, Camelot, JFK assassination, grief, trauma, funeral, legacy, history, private world, public figure, American icon, First Lady, White House, redecoration, period aesthetics, Mica Levi, orchestration, drama, historical film, costumes
Worldwide gross: $29,777,777
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $36,701,067
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,471
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,002,297
US/Canada gross: $13,960,394
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $17,206,166
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,457
US/Canada opening weekend: $278,715
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $343,516
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,497
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $9,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $11,092,487
Production budget ranking: 1,624
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,973,304
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $19,635,276
ROI to date (est.): 115%
ROI ranking: 880
Peter Sarsgaard – Bobby Kennedy
Greta Gerwig – Nancy Tuckerman
Billy Crudup – The Journalist
John Hurt – The Priest
Richard E. Grant – Bill Walton
Director(s)
Pablo Larraín
Writer(s)
Noah Oppenheim
Producer(s)
Juan de Dios Larraín, Darren Aronofsky, Mickey Liddell, Scott Franklin, Ari Handel
Film Festivals
Cannes, Venice, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
45 wins & 171 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (360) | Top Critics (82) | Fresh (315) | Rotten (45)
A musical escape from the current maelstrom.
November 4, 2021
Thelma Adams
AWFJ Women on Film
TOP CRITIC
[A] visually-stunning and emotionally-moving film… [but] The people of color in this film were used as background and not one had a speaking role.
February 17, 2021
Stephanie Abraham
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
If Jackie has a conceptual emblem, this is it: messy reality splattering all over a carefully maintained façade.
September 28, 2017
Adam Nayman
Cinema Scope
TOP CRITIC
Pablo Larraín’s disappointing Jacqueline Kennedy biopic tries but ultimately fails to reconcile the person with the persona.
August 10, 2017
K. Austin Collins
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
A movie that is as brilliant as it is frustrating.
March 22, 2017 | Rating: B
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
[Portman is] at her best here in the moments when Jackie is quiet, when the grief, anger and doubt are in her face more than in her words.
January 30, 2017
Linda Holmes
NPR
TOP CRITIC
Larraín and Portman remember that Jackie was also a human being, and they render her convincingly in a complex portrayal.
April 5, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Jackie is a heartbreaking portrait of a womans most lonesome moments. With the accompaniment of Levis score and Larrains direction, this film should be in consideration for not only awards but in the conversation of top 10 films of 2016.
February 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
David Gonzalez
Reel Talk Inc.
Jackie’s Natalie Portman is so incredibly Jackie it’s tough to imagine anyone else in the role.
November 4, 2021
Anne Brodie
AWFJ Women on Film
Jackie is a stunning profile of an iconic American woman’s personal fortitude at a time of extreme grief. The film is beautifully crafted and Natalie Portman’s performance is superb.
November 4, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film
Natalie Portman delivers a tremendous performance in a movie that marches to its own beat without ever taking its eye off the ball.
August 17, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Jackie isn’t just a convincing and riveting depiction of a 20th century icon; it’s also a heart-rending portrait of a grieving woman trying to regain control when the life she knows is suddenly and cruelly taken away.
April 27, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Nick Levine
NME…
Plot
This movie is a portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman). Jackie places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband’s assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a portrait of the First Lady as she fights to establish her husband’s legacy and the world of “Camelot” that she created and loved so well.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features an enthralling starring performance from Natalie Portman.
Pablo-Larraín.jpg
76%
A Bigger Splash (2016)
76%RT Audience Score: 58%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 19 nominations
Absorbing, visually arresting, and powerfully acted by an immensely talented cast, A Bigger Splash offers sumptuously soapy delights for fans of psychological adult drama
If you’re looking for a movie that’s equal parts sexy and scandalous, A Bigger Splash is the perfect pick. With a cast that includes Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, and Dakota Johnson, you know you’re in for a treat. And let’s not forget about the stunning Italian scenery that will make you want to book a one-way ticket to Pantelleria ASAP. Just be prepared for a few twists and turns that will leave you gasping for air. Overall, this movie is a must-see for anyone who loves a good drama with a side of steamy romance.
Production Company(ies)
AGBO Hotdog Hands Ley Line Entertainment,
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Pantelleria Island, Sicily, Italy
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for graphic nudity, some strong sexual content, language and brief drug use
Year of Release
2016
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 5m
-
Language(s):English, Italian, French
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 4, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2016
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Aurore Clément, Lily McMenamy, directed by Luca Guadagnino, written by David Kajganich, drama, R rating, Fox Searchlight, Michael Costigan, MPAA rating, box office, budget, reviewed by Rebecca Rose, Max Weiss, Adam Graham, Calvin Wilson, Matthew Lickona, Moira MacDonald, Brian Eggert, Matt Brunson, Jason Adams, Olly Richards, Joanne Laurier, psychological adult drama, rock star, vacation, Sicilian island, old flame, seductive daughter, graphic nudity, brief drug use, language, some strong sexual content, original language, limited release, streaming
Worldwide gross: $7,545,758
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $9,300,136
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,985
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,014,191
US/Canada gross: $2,024,099
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,494,699
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,980
US/Canada opening weekend: $114,419
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $141,021
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,806
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
Dakota Johnson – Penelope Lanier
Matthias Schoenaerts – Paul De Smedt
Tilda Swinton – Marianne Lane
Aurore Clément – Mireille
Lily McMenamy – Sylvie
Director(s)
Luca Guadagnino
Writer(s)
David Kajganich
Producer(s)
Michael Costigan, Luca Guadagnino
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 19 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (185) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (165) | Rotten (20)
Luca Guadagnino’s shimmering remake of Jacques Deray’s 1969 La Piscine transports the action to the far-flung Italian island of Pantelleria, an outpost for celebrities wanting to discreetly recharge.
December 31, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Rebecca Rose
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A Bigger Splash is a film to be savored, especially if you’re able to appreciate its slow and sensuous rhythms.
June 13, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/4
Max Weiss
Baltimore Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A sensuous and thought-provoking adult drama dealing with temptation, sexuality and carnal desires.
May 20, 2016 | Rating: B+
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
“A Bigger Splash”? More like a small trickle.
May 19, 2016 | Rating: 2/4
Calvin Wilson
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Fiennes dominates the screen, his formidable co-stars, and the even more formidable Mediterranean scenery as a man both possessed and obsessed.
May 19, 2016 | Rating: 2/5
Matthew Lickona
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
A study in charisma, with two wildly different performances at its center.
May 19, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Guadagnino leaves us with much to consider, and even more to appreciate in the artful quality of his filmmaking.
April 11, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Positively drenched in thick, tasty Euro-ambiance, the film serves up tantalizing characters and even more tantalizing ideas before turning shockingly tame, predictable and, well, American during the second half.
August 18, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Guadagnino’s camera is on fire, whirling around panoramically 360 degrees to take in every bit of this breathtaking space… this movie is one gorgeous ejaculation after another
July 2, 2021 | Rating: A
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
Ralph Fiennes shines in this scorching and deceptive drama.
June 8, 2021
Olly Richards
NME
His film seems obsessed with gorgeous, complacent beings plotting against one another while dining on succulent dishes in a magnificent villa.
February 26, 2021
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
This is absurd.
May 1, 2020
Andrew Galdi
Movie Bitches…
Plot
While on vacation with her boyfriend, a rock star receives a visit from an old flame and his seductive daughter, leading to a tangled web of temptation, sexuality, and carnal desires in A Bigger Splash.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ralph Fiennes dominates the screen, his formidable co-stars, and the even more formidable Mediterranean scenery as a man both possessed and obsessed.
Luca-Guadagnino.jpg
76%
The Fits (2016)
76%RT Audience Score: 54%
Awards & Nominations: 15 wins & 22 nominations
As gripping as it is unique, the thrillingly kinetic The Fits marks debuting writer-director Anna Rose Holmer as a singular talent
The Fits is like a glass of lemonade made from lemons, but instead of lemons, it’s a mysterious condition that causes girls to have uncontrollable fits. The film celebrates young black women and their bodies, while also being a tactile and visceral sports drama, a low-key horror/sci-fi character study, a portrait of youth in crisis, a social epic, and possibly an elliptically queer narrative. It’s a powerful and incisive declaration from a new narrative filmmaker, with a rhythm as unique and spirited as the girls’ dancing. Plus, who doesn’t love a good mystery?
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures,
Distributor
Oscilloscope Laboratories
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 12m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 16, 2016
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Royalty Hightower, Makyla Burnam, Inayah Rodgers, Alexis Neblett, Da’Sean Minor, Antonio A.B Grant Jr., directed by Anna Rose Holmer, written by Anna Rose Holmer, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Sophia Nguyen, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Soraya Nadia McDonald, Leslie Felperin, Ginette Vincendeau, Simran Hans, Jason Shawhan, Scott Nye, Elissa Suh, Debbie Holloway, Dominic Griffin, C.J Prince, producer Anna Rose Holmer, Lisa Kjerulff, MPAA rating, dance team, coming of age, adolescence, puberty, female empowerment, identity, self-discovery, social commentary, surreal, metaphorical, unique, kinetic, gripping, powerful, immersive, thrilling, singular talent, young black women, body positivity, sports drama, character study, low-key horror, social epic, queer narrative, cathartic ode to performance, soundtrack, cinematography, sound mix, Oscilloscope Laboratories
Worldwide gross: $169,236
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $204,139
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,929
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,262
US/Canada gross: $166,425
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $200,748
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,546
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,602
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,789
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,651
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
Makyla Burnam – Legs
Inayah Rodgers – Karisma
Alexis Neblett – Beezy
Da’Sean Minor – Jermaine
Antonio A.B. Grant Jr. – Donté
Anna Rose Holmer – Director/Producer/Writer
Lisa Kjerulff – Producer
Director(s)
Anna Rose Holmer
Writer(s)
Anna Rose Holmer
Producer(s)
Anna Rose Holmer, Lisa Kjerulff
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
15 wins & 22 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (110) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (106) | Rotten (4)
While leaving plenty unsaid, The Fits rarely achieves the thrill of discovery.
February 10, 2021
Sophia Nguyen
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
So while The Fits never presses towards any ultimate explanation for what triggers its eponymous condition amongst the girls, by privileging .. a demographic whose experiences are so commonly excluded … The Fits is fundamentally ideological.
August 25, 2018
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
The Blue Lenses
TOP CRITIC
If the fits are lemons, caused by metaphorical lead poisoning, then Toni’s amazing closing sequence is lemonade.
September 26, 2017
Soraya Nadia McDonald
Andscape
TOP CRITIC
Holmer draws confident, luminous performances from the cast that rise to the occasion but never seem over-coached or phony.
February 23, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Leslie Felperin
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The Fits celebrates young black women, with an accent on their bodies.
February 23, 2017
Ginette Vincendeau
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
The storytelling is elegantly economical, characterised by a looseness and a spontaneity that’s rooted in authenticity.
February 23, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
A tactile and visceral sports drama, a low-key Larry Cohen-style horror/sci-fi city-based character study, a portrait of youth in crisis, a social epic, possibly an elliptically queer narrative, and a cathartic ode to performance…
September 10, 2021
Jason Shawhan
Nashville Scene
As a declaration of a new narrative filmmaker, The Fits is a powerful, incisive, and thrilling one.
January 6, 2021
Scott Nye
Battleship Pretension
The Fits exhibits a rhythm all its own as unique and spirited as the girls’ dancing.
February 27, 2020
Elissa Suh
MUBI
The Fits is dark and cavernous, mysterious and pulsating, with a surreal take on adolescence and what it means to grow up.
October 21, 2019
Debbie Holloway
Narrative Muse
By leaving that underpinning ambiguous, The Fits becomes a welcome cypher. Excising any real specificity engenders a deeper sense of universality that allows the film to speak purely on something otherwise untranslatable.
July 16, 2019 | Rating: 7.5/10
Dominic Griffin
Deadshirt.net
On a moment-by-moment basis, The Fits remains compelling, and at several points Holmer achieves a synergy that combines form and content into something truly singular.
May 22, 2019
C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie…
Plot
The Fits is a psychological portrait of 11-year-old Toni-a tomboy assimilating to a tight-knit dance team in Cincinnati’s West End. Enamored by the power and confidence of this strong community of girls, Toni eagerly absorbs routines, masters drills, and even pierces her own ears to fit in. When a mysterious outbreak of fainting spells plagues the team, Toni’s desire for acceptance is twisted.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises the “mesmerizing performance” of newcomer Royalty Hightower in The Fits.
Anna-Rose-Holmer.jpg
76%
Room 237 (2013)
76%RT Audience Score: 55%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 16 nominations
Mysterious and provocative, Room 237 is a fascinating journey into the world of obsessive cinephilles
Room 237 is like a treasure hunt for conspiracy theorists who love The Shining. It’s a wild ride that will make you question everything you thought you knew about the film. But be warned, you might end up going down a rabbit hole of theories that will leave you feeling like you’re lost in the Overlook Hotel. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready to have your mind blown.
Production Company(ies)
20th Century Studios, Amblin Entertainment, Amblin Partners
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2013
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Stanley Kubrick, The Shining, Room 237, analysis, theories, conspiracy theories, filmmaking, Overlook Hotel, moon landing, numerology, Jackie Robinson, Jay Weidner, Bill Blakemore, Geoffrey Cocks, Juli Kearns, John Fell Ryan, Rodney Ascher, directed by Rodney Ascher, Tim Kirk, produced by Tim Kirk, IFG Films, genre, box office, gross USA, budget, critic reviews, reviewed by J Hoberman, Wendy Ide, David Thomson, Peter Howell, Rick Groen, John Anderson, Brian Eggert, Kyle Anderson, Tony Black, Amie Simon, MPAA rating, documentary film, Stephen King, English, limited release, streaming, rent/buy, audience score, critic score, Tomatometer, Fresh Kernels
Worldwide gross: $367,406
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $473,669
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,749
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 51,654
US/Canada gross: $296,359
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $382,073
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,396
US/Canada opening weekend: $29,693
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $38,281
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,283
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
Bill Blakemore – self
Geoffrey Cocks – self
Juli Kearns – self
John Fell Ryan – self
Rodney Ascher – Director
Director(s)
Rodney Ascher
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Tim Kirk
Film Festivals
Sundance, Cannes, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 16 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (134) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (126) | Rotten (8)
Do the Kabbalist readings or wild free associations that Room 237 celebrates improve The Shining? Let’s say that they create a parallel text: Lost in the Overlook, in search of the overlooked.
December 31, 2015
J. Hoberman
Tablet
TOP CRITIC
Don’t watch this film and expect an authoritative critical analysis of the film; watch it and explore the distorting, drug-like pull that some art can exert on its audience.
June 24, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A curious and entertaining documentary.
June 12, 2013
David Thomson
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
The human brain is a marvellously suggestible organ.
May 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
[A] strange, frustrating, occasionally fascinating doc …
May 10, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
There’s enough real evidence supporting the theory that Kubrick was a genius, and that’s pretty entertaining all by itself.
April 18, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
John Anderson
Newsday
TOP CRITIC
It’s a compellingly made documentary in visual terms.
February 23, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
I doubt any two people will have the exact same Shining experience and nor will two people have the same Room 237 experience. It’s a mystery, but one that will keep you thinking for weeks longer than you ever thought you would.
March 17, 2021
Kyle Anderson
Battleship Pretension
It has something to say about obsession & perhaps serves as a warning: look too hard at something, and you may go slightly mad.
February 16, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Tony Black
Cultural Conversation
Room 237 is a fascinating study of what fans of the film believe, and it’s an entertaining look at that world-especially if you’re not immersed it in it everyday.
March 3, 2019
Amie Simon
Three Imaginary Girls
Combining an intelligent and imaginative use of achieve footage, rambling voice-overs and animation, Room 237 is an intriguing labyrinth of abstract hypothesis interwoven with intermittent success.
February 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Patrick Gamble
CineVue
Room 237 (the movie title referring to one of the rooms in The Shining’s fictional Overlook Hotel) is a profoundly vibrant and unconventional documentary that is playfully mysterious, odd, and responsive.
November 18, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Frank Ochieng
SF Crowsnest…
Plot
A subjective documentary that explores the numerous theories about the hidden meanings within Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining (1980). The film may be over 30 years old but it continues to inspire debate, speculation, and mystery. Five very different points of view are illuminated through voice over, film clips, animation and dramatic reenactments. Together they’ll draw the audience into a new maze, one with endless detours and dead ends, many ways in, but no way out.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with various cinephiles, including Jay Weidner, Bill Blakemore, Geoffrey Cocks, Juli Kearns, and John Fell Ryan.
Rodney-Ascher.jpg
76%
The Master (2012)
76%RT Audience Score: 62%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
75 wins & 187 nominations total
Smart and solidly engrossing, The Master extends Paul Thomas Anderson’s winning streak of challenging films for serious audiences
The Master is like a rollercoaster ride that you’re not sure you want to be on, but once you’re strapped in, you can’t look away. Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman give performances that will leave you speechless, and the film’s exploration of cults and power dynamics will make you question everything you thought you knew. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re up for a wild ride, The Master is the film for you. Just don’t forget to buckle up.
Production Company(ies)
Storyville Films, Imagine Documentaries, Storyville
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Mare Island, Vallejo, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity and language
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Datasat Dolby Digital70 mm 6-Track
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 16m
-
Language(s):English, Filipino
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 26, 2013
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons, Amy Ferguson, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, written by Paul Thomas Anderson, produced by JoAnne Sellar, Daniel Lupi, Paul Thomas Anderson, Megan Ellison, drama, R rating, box office gross $16.2M, Weinstein Co., reviewed by J Hoberman, Deborah Ross, Nick Pinkerton, Candice Frederick, David Thomson, Tom Charity, Jonah Koslofsky, Dustin Chang, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Joanne Laurier, Yasser Medina, challenging, serious, engrossing, cult, religion, World War II, trauma, inner demons, religious movement, mentor, charismatic leader, weird teachings, threat, animal instincts, self-control, pain, friendship, sober, centered, brilliant performances, artful, intelligent, intense
Worldwide gross: $28,258,060
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $36,430,981
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,479
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,972,844
US/Canada gross: $16,377,274
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $21,113,982
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,396
US/Canada opening weekend: $736,311
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $949,270
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,286
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $32,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $41,255,182
Production budget ranking: 938
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $22,215,915
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$27,040,116
ROI to date (est.): -43%
ROI ranking: 1,639
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Lancaster Dodd
Amy Adams – Peggy Dodd
Laura Dern – Helen Sullivan
Jesse Plemons – Val Dodd
Amy Ferguson – Martha the Salesgirl
Paul Thomas Anderson – Director/Writer
JoAnne Sellar – Producer
Daniel Lupi – Producer
Megan Ellison – Producer
Director(s)
Paul Thomas Anderson
Writer(s)
Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer(s)
JoAnne Sellar, Daniel Lupi, Paul Thomas Anderson, Megan Ellison
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
75 wins & 187 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (255) | Top Critics (76) | Fresh (215) | Rotten (40)
The main thing is that The Master is so unlike anything else in its seriousness and so admirable in its vitality that one has to support it.
February 25, 2019
J. Hoberman
ARTINFO.com
TOP CRITIC
It is all so enigmatic and underwritten I felt rather shut out. A ‘challenging’ film is one thing, but one that actually slams the door in your face is quite another, as well as rude.
September 1, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Towering standalone moments all, they are certainly impressive when first encountered, though they wobble perilously the longer one looks at them…It isn’t a great film – but it has a great film rattling around inside it.
April 9, 2018
Nick Pinkerton
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
At least the performances, specifically from Phoenix and Hoffman, kept you engaged enough to want to finish the rest of the movie.
September 7, 2017 | Rating: C+
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
It’s a mess; it’s pretentious; it is thundery with dismay.
June 14, 2013
David Thomson
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
In the end it may not have the emotional uplift the Academy or a popular mainstream audience craves, but make no mistake, this is an enthralling drama about a peculiarly American restlessness, and the striving for insight and grace.
January 8, 2013
Tom Charity
CNN.com
TOP CRITIC
Hoffman conveys an emptiness that can only come from his character’s awareness that he has made up that which he preaches.
November 28, 2021
Jonah Koslofsky
The Spool
PT Anderson seems less concerned with his characters being understood. They have always been arrogant, self-assured pricks. It’s all about them pitted against one another for a dogmatic battle. There Will be Blood could have easily been called The Master.
February 28, 2021
Dustin Chang
Floating World
Offers two fascinating performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman … but that’s about it.
December 2, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Far more interested in the cult of personality than it is in exploring any particular religious or spiritual path.
September 16, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Anderson has sensitive antennae, but they are attuned at the moment to confused social layers and his haphazard approach does little to clear up the confusion.
August 13, 2020
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Is a provocative masterpiece that has amplified my faith for the cinema of the master Paul Thomas Anderson. [Full review in Spanish]
June 25, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados…
Plot
Freddie Quell, a troubled World War II veteran, meets Lancaster Dodd, the leader of a religious movement called the Cause, and tries to adhere to his teachings while forming a close bond with him in The Master.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman are “fascinating” and “stunning,” according to audience reviews.
Paul-Thomas-Anderson.jpg
76%
Neil Young Journeys (2012)
76%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Neil Young Journeys is a captivating and intimate concert film that showcases the legendary musician’s raw talent and undeniable charisma. Director Jonathan Demme’s third collaboration with Young captures the essence of his performance in Toronto, while also providing glimpses into his Canadian upbringing. Despite the occasional speck of spittle on the lens, Young’s greatness shines through, cementing his status as one of the all-time greats. With its rough-hewed charm and special kind of intimacy, this film is a must-see for any Neil Young fan or music lover in general.
Neil Young Journeys” is a concert film that will make you feel like you’re right there in the front row, spittle and all. Jonathan Demme’s camera work gets up close and personal with Young, giving us a glimpse of the legend’s nostrils. But don’t worry, it’s not all about the nose – the film also takes us on a journey through Young’s Canadian boyhood. Overall, it’s a trip worth taking, even if Joe Williams thinks otherwise. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride with one of the all-time greats.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for language including some drug references, and brief thematic material
Year of Release
2012
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 27m
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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): Jun 29, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 16, 2012
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
starring Neil Young, directed by Jonathan Demme, written by Jonathan Demme, Elliot Rabinowitz, genre: Documentary, box office performance: $214.6K, budget: N/A, reviewed by Mike McCahill, Tim Robey, Marjorie Baumgarten, Joe Williams, Tom Long, Dan DeLuca, David Bax, Richard Propes, Debbie Lynn Elias, Mattie Lucas, Craig Williams, Dennis Schwartz, MPAA rating: PG, produced by Jonathan Demme, Elliot Rabinowitz, Marc Benioff, Neil Young, Canadian, singer, hometown, Omemee, Ont., solo concert, Toronto’s Massey Hall, language, brief thematic material, some drug references, English, Sony Pictures Classics
Worldwide gross: $221,082
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $285,024
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,865
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 31,082
US/Canada gross: $215,026
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $277,217
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,478
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,025
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,503
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,591
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
Jonathan Demme – Director, Producer
Elliot Rabinowitz – Producer
Marc Benioff – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Jonathan Demme
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Jonathan Demme, Elliot Rabinowitz
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (64) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (8)
Demme hasn’t stopped seeking out new angles on this old warhorse, and even the odd speck of spittle on the lens cannot obscure the fact Young increasingly looks and sounds like one of the all-time greats.
December 13, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Mike McCahill
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Jonathan Demme makes his third concert film with Young, including shots practically right up his nostrils.
December 13, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
These two world-renowned and individualistic artists from the worlds of music and film clearly bask in each other’s company. We, the audience, would be fools to respond otherwise.
September 7, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
On its own terms, “Neil Young Journeys” is an enjoyable concert film of a solo show in Toronto, interspersed with memories of his Canadian boyhood.
July 27, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
“Journeys” is simply a trip most need not take.
July 26, 2012 | Rating: C-
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
I’d say the movie does a fine job of completing the trilogy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Demme and Young have more in them yet.
July 26, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Dan DeLuca
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Perhaps this is just the fan in me speaking but the problems with this movie are with the filmmaking, not with Neil Young.
March 10, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension
An intimate yet pulsating journey.
September 18, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Perhaps one of the best “concert” documentaries ever made, is one journey you don’t want to miss.
November 26, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
It’s a journey unto itself, a performance doc with a very special kind of intimacy.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Like its subject, Neil Young Journeys has a loose and rough-hewed charm.
February 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Craig Williams
CineVue
It’s an essential Neil Young concert film.
August 10, 2017 | Rating: A
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…
Plot
Neil Young returns to his hometown of Omemee, Ontario and performs a solo concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall in this documentary directed by Jonathan Demme.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film, but they do mention that director Jonathan Demme has made three concert films with Neil Young.
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