Sanctuary (2023)
78%RT Audience Score: 62%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Sanctuary is a film that defies categorization, blending elements of romantic comedy, psychosexual thriller, and class warfare drama into a deliciously twisted and unpredictable whole. Director Zachary Wigon plays with audience expectations, revealing the true dynamic between the two leads in a way that is both surprising and satisfying. Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott give standout performances, their chemistry fluctuating between desire, desperation, and despisal with ease. The film’s message about the shifting power dynamics between men and women is engaging and thought-provoking, and the witty dialogue and energetic pacing make for a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience. Overall, Sanctuary is a smart, sexy, and subversive film that is not to be missed.
Sanctuary is the perfect movie for those who want a little bit of everything – romance, comedy, and a twisty thriller all rolled into one. The chemistry between Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott is electric, and the film keeps you guessing until the very end. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie that explores power dynamics and the blurred lines between desire and desperation? It’s a wild ride that you won’t want to miss.
Production Company(ies)
Mosaic, Psychological
Distributor
NEON
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
SHOOT LOCATION(S):
New York, United States
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2023
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 36m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:NA
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Margaret Qualley, Christopher Abbott, directed by Zachary Wigon, written by Micah Bloomberg, mystery, thriller, drama, R rating, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Jeannette Catsoulis, Greg Nussen, Hannah Strong, Nick Schager, Amy Nicholson, David Ehrlich, Mark Jackson, Josh Bell, Travis Hopson, Zoë Rose Bryant, Danielle Solzman, produced by Pavel Burian, David Lancaster, Ilya Stewart, Stephanie Wilcox, NEON, Hype Studios, Mosaic Films, Rumble Films (II), Charades, dominatrix, hotel room, inheritance, relationship, disaster, sexual content, language.
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $7,500,000
Production budget ranking: 1,767
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,038,750
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Christopher Abbott – Hal
Zachary Wigon – Director
Micah Bloomberg – Screenwriter
Pavel Burian – Producer
David Lancaster – Producer
Director(s)
NA
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (1)
A jet-black romantic comedy hidden inside a twisty psychosexual thriller. Or maybe it’s the other way around.
May 18, 2023
Jeannette Catsoulis
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
This is a theatrical story told in a purposefully and self-consciously theatrical manner.
May 13, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Greg Nussen
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Despite the imperfections within Bloomberg’s screenplay, Abbott and Qualley sell the hell out of it – they possess an easy chemistry that fluctuates between desire, desperation and despisal.
March 7, 2023
Hannah Strong
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
There’s no way to get a total read on what Qualley’s protagonist is up to, which turns out to be the primary thrill of this snapshot of personal, professional, and class warfare.
September 16, 2022
Nick Schager
The Daily Beast
TOP CRITIC
The film has the confidence and generosity to allow the audience to ask its own questions before it makes its first (of many) giddily upending reveals.
September 16, 2022 | Rating: A-
Amy Nicholson
Variety
TOP CRITIC
What makes Sanctuary such a salaciously enjoyable slice of snack-sized fun is how it argues that some people have more to give than they would ever know without the right person to take it from them.
September 14, 2022 | Rating: B
David Ehrlich
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
The message–that women have usurped so many traditionally male roles–while not a groundbreaking concept in and of itself, has a particular logic here that’s engaging.
May 19, 2023
Mark Jackson
Epoch Times
Director Zachary Wigon plays with audience assumptions as he reveals the true dynamic between Hal and Rebecca, and Sanctuary continues to brilliantly defy expectations for its entire runtime.
May 18, 2023
Josh Bell
CBR
There are plenty of comfortable rom-coms out there, but Sanctuary is a surprisingly beguiling and witty romance for those who like their love stories to need a safe word.
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/5
Travis Hopson
Punch Drunk Critics
The summer movie season is synonymous with bombastic blockbusters, but “Sanctuary” shows that there are just as many fireworks that can arise from the unfiltered expression of our unruly human feelings
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 9/10
Zoë Rose Bryant
Next Best Picture
Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott never lose our attention as the duo are acting their hearts out in Sanctuary.
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 4.5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
With energetic insight and humor, Sanctuary scrapes and scrapes at these characters and the power dynamics between them.
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies…
Plot
Sanctuary follows the story of a dominatrix and her wealthy client, who tries to end their relationship but faces disastrous consequences when his attempt backfires.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t say anything goofy or funny or odd about the film Sanctuary.
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78%
The Forger (2023)
78%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Maggie Peren’s The Forger is a film that takes a standard crime drama and turns it on its head, creating a story with much more at stake than just getting rich. The film’s protagonist, Cioma Schönhaus, is a clever and cocky kid who becomes a hero almost by accident, and the film’s focus on his daily life and his best friend never strays from sobriety. While there are attempts to create an emotionally resonant atmosphere towards the end, the storytelling struggles to construct an engaging portrait. However, the clashes between tone and setting create a sense of detachment that proves very effective, and Hofmann’s performance as Cioma is both courageous and charming. Overall, The Forger is a clever and casual film that is frustratingly underwhelming at times, but ultimately worth the watch.
“The Forger” is a film about a guy who fakes documents during the Holocaust, but don’t worry, it’s not as depressing as it sounds! Critics seem to be split on whether or not the movie is emotionally engaging, but they all agree that the lead actor, August Diehl, is charming and courageous. The director, Maggie Peren, takes a risk by making the tone of the film more casual, which some critics found effective and others found frustrating. Overall, “The Forger” is a clever crime drama with a unique twist and a hero you can root for.
Production Company(ies)
Limp
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2023
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 56m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:NA
Genre(s)
History/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Louis Hofmann, Jonathan Berlin, Luna Wedler, Nina Gummich, André Jung, Marc Limpach, directed by Maggie Peren, written by Maggie Peren, Cioma Schönhaus, genre: History, Drama, Biography, box office performance: $58.3K, budget: unknown, reviewed by Noel Murray, Monica Castillo, Natalia Winkelman, Daniel M. Kimmel, Milagros Amondaray, Ezequiel Boetti, Jeffrey Edalatpour, Andy Klein, Josh Parham, Todd Jorgenson, Dan Mecca, Avi Offer, produced by Alexander Fritzemeyer, Martin Kosok, MPAA rating: unknown, Kino Lorber, Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH & Co. KG (Hamburg), Arte, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, Amour Fou Filmproduktion, Dreifilm GbR.
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $7,500,000
Production budget ranking: 1,767
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,038,750
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jonathan Berlin – Det Kassriel
Luna Wedler – Gerda
Nina Gummich – Frau Peters
André Jung – Herr Dietrich
Marc Limpach – Herr Kaufmann
Director – Maggie Peren
Producers – Alexander Fritzemeyer, Martin Kosok
Writers – Maggie Peren, Cioma Schönhaus, Maggie Peren
Director(s)
NA
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Berlin, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (19) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (6)
This film is more of a finely detailed character sketch, about a cocky kid who becomes a hero almost by accident.
May 5, 2023
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Peren, who wrote and directed “The Forger,” subtly draws out these conflicted characters one by one.
March 3, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Monica Castillo
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
Peren is clever to favor mischief against a backdrop of gloom, but in doing so she draws a frustrating distance between her subject and the audience.
March 2, 2023
Natalia Winkelman
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Perhaps that’s the real message of “The Forger.” It almost didn’t matter what you did under the genocidal regime. Surviving was as much a matter of luck and chance as it was possessing any particular skills or taking any deliberate actions.
May 8, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Daniel M. Kimmel
North Shore Movies
Peren, also responsible for the script, does not take too many risks when it comes to portraying what his protagonist carried out, and her focus on Cioma’s daily life and his best friend never strays from sobriety. [Full review in Spanish]
March 30, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Milagros Amondaray
La Nación (Argentina)
That the protagonist never worries about the disappearance of his family could perhaps be interpreted as a characteristic of his personality or a central fault of an excessively debatable script… [Full review in Spanish]
March 29, 2023 | Rating: 2.5/5
Ezequiel Boetti
Otroscines.com
Under normal circumstances, the story of Cioma Schönhaus’ brief career in forgery would be a standard crime drama. But Maggie Peren’s film, The Forger, inverts the genre, with much more at stake than someone pulling off a scheme to get rich.
March 29, 2023
Jeffrey Edalatpour
East Bay Express
A very clever film [about] a very clever guy.
March 21, 2023
Andy Klein
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
There is an attempt to fashion a more emotionally resonant atmosphere towards the end, but the storytelling struggles to construct an engaging portrait.
March 9, 2023 | Rating: 5/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
The clashes between tone and setting create a sense of detachment, although Hofmann finds the right mix of courage and charm.
March 4, 2023
Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue
There is a casual vibe to The Forger that reflects its hero’s stubborn optimism in the face of very real danger. This informal energy feels incongruous to the content at first, lending an uncomfortableness to this true story that proves very effective.
March 2, 2023 | Rating: B-
Dan Mecca
The Film Stage
Frustratingly underwhelming, tedious, lethargic and anti-climactic.
March 1, 2023
Avi Offer
NYC Movie Guru…
Plot
During WWII, a young Jewish man named Cioma Schönhaus adopts the identity of a marine officer and becomes infamous for his masterfully forged IDs that save the lives of hundreds of Jews by allowing them to escape the country in “The Forger.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t have anything goofy or funny or odd to say about the film Signed in.
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78%
Holy Spider (2022)
78%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Holy Spider is a film that will leave you with a sense of unease, not just because of the stomach-churning murders, but also because of the way it blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Director Abbasi’s attempt to create a realistic portrayal of Iranian society is commendable, but the film’s frequent missteps and manipulations of footage make it difficult to fully trust what we’re seeing. Despite this, the film’s suspenseful storytelling and talented cast make it a gripping watch that will keep your heart pounding until the very end. Just be prepared to question everything you thought you knew about the Iranian judicial system.
Holy Spider is a movie that will make you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster ride, but instead of loops and drops, you’re on a ride of tension and unease. Critics are divided on whether it’s a masterpiece or a mess, but one thing is for sure: it’s not for the faint of heart. The film is based on true events, but don’t let that fool you into thinking you know what’s going to happen. The suspense is so palpable that it will set your heart pounding throughout. Abbasi’s direction is realistic and gritty, with handheld cameras and shaky shots that make you feel like you’re right there in the action. So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride with Holy Spider.
Production Company(ies)
Ensemble, Foreign Language
Distributor
Utopia
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Jordan
MPAA / Certificate
NR
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 56m
-
Language(s):Persian/Farsi/Dari
-
Country of origin:Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 28, 2022 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 21, 2023
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
Crime, Drama, Mystery & thriller, Persian language, Ali Abbasi, Sol Bondy, Jacob Jarek, Ali Abbasi, Afshin Kamran Bahrami, Utopia, Scope (2.35:1), Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, Rahimi, Mehdi Bajestani, Saeed, Arash Ashtiani, Sharifi, Forouzan Jamshidnejad, Fatima, Sina Parvaneh, Rostami, Nima Akbarpour, Le juge, reviewed by Wendy Ide, Kevin Maher, Danny Leigh, David Jenkins, Catherine Bray, Tim Cogshell, Amber Wilkinson, Edward Porter, Agustín Acevedo Kanopa, Pablo Villaça, Alexa Dalby, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, Holy Spider, Saeed, Iranian city of Mashhad, street prostitutes, religious quest, murders, public interest, divine mission, visceral, outraged, dramatization, appalling actual events, tense, atmospheric, stomach-churning, pacy, David Fincher, Zodiac, Iranian social history, serial killer movie, moral purpose, formal flair, greater society, Iranian woman, puzzle, murderer, society, public, corruption, judicial system, thematic ambitions, screenplay, missteps, suspenseful, heart pounding, realistic, handheld, shaky, victims, audience score, critic consensus, featured audience reviews, RT25, XFL, ESPN+, streaming movies, TV shows, most popular, Cocaine Bear, Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, Children of the Corn, Tomorrow’s Hope, Wildflower, Magic Mike’s Last Dance, We Lost Our Human, The Disappearance of Mrs Wu, Gotham: The Fall and Rise of New York, Coffee Wars, I Am Zlatan, Furies, Johnny, Stalker, Followers, Last Sentinel, 88, Chantilly Bridge, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, Myanmar Diaries
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,706,638
Production budget ranking: 1,604
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,765,525
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Mehdi Bajestani – Saeed
Arash Ashtiani – Sharifi
Forouzan Jamshidnejad – Fatima
Sina Parvaneh – Rostami
Nima Akbarpour – Le juge
Director – Ali Abbasi
Producers – Sol Bondy, Jacob Jarek
Writers – Ali Abbasi, Afshin Kamran Bahrami
Director(s)
Ali Abbasi
Writer(s)
Ali Abbasi, Afshin Kamran Bahrami
Producer(s)
Sol Bondy, Jacob Jarek
Film Festivals
Berlin, Cannes, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (133) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (111) | Rotten (22)
It’s a tense, atmospheric piece of film-making but it made me profoundly uncomfortable – and not, I should add, in a good way.
January 22, 2023 | Rating: 2/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
An intensely stylish and appropriately troubling film, with stomach-churning murders and a pacy first half that’s reminiscent of David Fincher’s Zodiac.
January 20, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The film is an Iranian social history that looks, at first, like a serial killer movie… it is both.
January 19, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Trying to be objective here, but this will likely be a love/loathe prospect for many.
January 18, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
A frustrating but fascinating film, made by an evidently talented filmmaker, which never quite manages to resolve the tensions between its apparent moral purpose and the formal flair with which it depicts events it purports to condemn.
January 17, 2023 | Rating: 2/5
Catherine Bray
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A striking film in any case, especially with what is going on in Iran right now… It’s well constructed and allows us to see the greater society through this Iranian woman.
November 30, 2022
Tim Cogshell
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
This is less about the puzzle of who the murderer is… than about the way he slots into society and, after his arrest, is viewed by the public.
March 17, 2023
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
… The film is a little crude but its punchy storytelling exerts a grip.
March 2, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Edward Porter
Sunday Times (UK)
(…) the plot generates intrigues that, after a short time, are revealed as mere fireworks, if not gross manipulation of the footage (and which generates problematically contradictory comments about the corruption of the Iranian judicial system).
February 27, 2023 | Rating: 5/10
Agustín Acevedo Kanopa
La Diaria
Unfortunately, Abbasi’s thematic ambitions are constantly sabotaged by the screenplay´s frequent missteps. [Full review in Portuguese]
February 8, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
Even though Holy Spider is based on true events, so you may already know what happened, this is so suspenseful that it set my heart pounding throughout.
February 8, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Alexa Dalby
Dog and Wolf
Abbasi strives to make his film as realistic as possible; his camera is handheld, shaky, and he directs his actors to interact credibly, most notably in the scenes where the assassin intervenes with his victims. [Full review in Spanish]
February 7, 2023
Nilton Arana
Cinencuentro…
Plot
Female journalist Rahimi travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate a serial killer who believes he is doing the work of God, cleansing the streets of sinners by murdering sex workers. As the body count mounts, and Rahimi draws closer to exposing his crimes, the opportunity for justice grows harder to attain as the ‘Spider Killer’ is embraced by many as a hero. Based on the true story of serial killer Saeed Hanaei.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
In the first scene of Rahimi and Sharifi together, style of Sharifi’s sleeves repeatedly changes in different shots.
Ali-Abbasi.jpg
78%
Corsage (2022)
78%RT Audience Score: 68%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Corsage puts a refreshingly irreverent spin on period biopic formulas, further elevated by Vicky Krieps’ terrific turn in the central role.
“Corsage” is a refreshing take on the period biopic genre, elevated by a fantastic performance from Vicky Krieps in the lead role. It puts a unique spin on the traditional formula and is a must-see for fans of the genre.
Production Company(ies)
Foreign Language
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Vienna, Austria; Luxembourg; Belgium
MPAA / Certificate
NR
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 53m
-
Language(s):English, French, German, Hungarian
-
Country of origin:Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 2022 Limited
Genre(s)
History/Drama
Keyword(s)
Corsage, Vicky Krieps, Florian Teichtmeister, Colin Morgan, Finnegan Oldfield, Tamás Lengyel, Alma Hasun, Marie Kreutzer, Alexander Glehr, Johanna Scherz, History, Drama, Biography, German, IFC Films, Dolby Digital, Scope, Empress Elizabeth, Sissi, Bay Middleton, Louis Le Prince, Gyula Andrássy, Box Office, $38.3K, MPAA rating, reviewed by Jonathan Romney, K Austin Collins, Robert Abele, Clarisse Loughrey, Thelma Adams, Caryn James, Neely Swanson, Kelly Vance, Violet Lucca, Paul Whitington, Brian Orndorf, Alistair Harkness, directed by Marie Kreutzer, written by Marie Kreutzer, produced by Alexander Glehr, Johanna Scherz, period biopic, refreshingly irreverent, Vicky Krieps’ terrific turn, Empress Elisabeth, Emperor Franz Joseph, Fanny Feifalik, lacing her corset tighter and tighter, hunger for knowledge, zest for life, restless in Vienna, travels to England, travels to Bavaria, former lovers, old friends, excitement, purpose, future of strictly ceremonial duties, hyperbolized image, plan to protect her legacy
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: $3,228,525
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,456,665
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,150
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): €7,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $8,029,979
Production budget ranking: 1,710
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,324,143
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Florian Teichtmeister – Emperor Franz Joseph
Colin Morgan – Bay Middleton
Finnegan Oldfield – Louis Le Prince
Tamás Lengyel – Gyula Andrássy
Alma Hasun – Fanny Feifalik
Director(s)
Marie Kreutzer
Writer(s)
Marie Kreutzer
Producer(s)
Alexander Glehr, Johanna Scherz
Film Festivals
Cannes, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (85) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (75) | Rotten (10)
You sense that as an actor, Krieps’s own imperial phase is just beginning.
January 1, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Jonathan Romney
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Corsage is not a great movie, but it’s good at detailing one woman’s circumstances. It doesn’t browbeat us with meaning, which it had every right to do, but instead attempts something humbler.
December 29, 2022
K. Austin Collins
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Overall, “Corsage” shows a tantalizing way forward for the hopelessly staid biopic genre: honoring, provoking and upending with verve and humor as it liberates a complex woman from iconography’s deadening glamour.
December 29, 2022
Robert Abele
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Corsage reimagines it all, granting her unexpected agency… There’s something magnificently empowering about that.
December 28, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This astounding film reimagines the breakthrough moment of Elisabeth’s rebellion to reclaim herself and her agency… It’s both exhilarating and tragic.
December 27, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Thelma Adams
AARP Movies for Grownups
TOP CRITIC
The story departs from the facts most radically in creating a new final act for Elisabeth, one that is not necessarily happier but is true to her wilful nature and to this audacious film’s savvy sense of invention.
December 27, 2022
Caryn James
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Telling the story of an unhappy royal, Kreuzer would have done better to tell it historically or, like [Baz] Luhrmann, she should have followed the adage “go big or go home.” She did neither.
December 30, 2022
Neely Swanson
Beverly Hills Courier
Corsage is neither humorous nor cruel enough to take the empress’ midlife crisis to the next level. Eventually, it quietly runs out of gas and is over.
December 29, 2022
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express
[A] beautiful, quietly furious film.
December 29, 2022
Violet Lucca
Bust Magazine
Krieps is sensational in the lead role, playing Sissi as a ball of nerves, but also a single-minded and cultivated woman who’s no longer prepared to conform to blind convention.
December 28, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Whitington
Irish Independent
Krieps does a fine job making the storm raging inside Elisabeth feel as real as possible, with Kreutzer occasionally struggling to make a film as interesting as her star.
December 28, 2022 | Rating: B-
Brian Orndorf
Blu-ray.com
Corsage turns the isolating life of a leading female royal into an anachronistic meditation on female celebrity, patriarchal oppression and the psychological damage both inflict.
December 28, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Alistair Harkness
Scotsman…
Plot
Empress Elizabeth of Austria and Queen of Hungary is idolized for her beauty and renowned for inspiring fashion trends. But in 1877, ‘Sisi’ turns 40 and is officially deemed an old woman. She fights to maintain her public image by lacing her corset tighter and tighter. Despite being instrumental in Austria’s alliance with Hungary, the Empress’s role has since been reduced against her wishes to purely performative. She becomes restless in Vienna and travels to England and Hungary, visiting former lovers and political allies, seeking the excitement of her youth. With a future of strictly ceremonial duties laid out in front of her, Elizabeth comes up with a plan to protect her legacy.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
In the Goofs section, Fresh Kernels notes that in the first fencing scene of the film, emergency signs are visible, and in the later fencing scene, the signs are still visible but appear to be blurred with CGI.
Marie-Kreutzer.jpg
78%
The Good House (2022)
78%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Good House creaks in spots, but with Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver providing load-bearing performances, it’s far from a fixer-upper.
If you’re looking for a spooky flick to watch, The Good House might just be the one for you. Sure, the house itself might creak a bit, but with Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver holding it down with their killer performances, it’s definitely not a fixer-upper. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you watch the story unfold, wondering what’s lurking around every corner. So grab some popcorn and get ready for a wild ride!
Production Company(ies)
Amblin Partners, FilmNation Entertainment, Lionsgate, Participant, Tribeca Productions
Distributor
Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2022 Limited
Genre(s)
Romance/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, David Rasche, Rebecca Henderson, directed by Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, written by Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, Thomas Bezucha, romance, comedy, drama, R-rated, Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions, box office gross $2.2M, Dolby Digital, reviewed by Richard Roeper, Thelma Adams, Christy Lemire, Peter Travers, Mark Keizer, Nell Minow, Allison Rose, Alexandra MacAaron, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Jackie K Cooper, Robin Holabird, realtor, Salem witches, wine, secrets, compartmentalized life, romance, high-school flame, family secrets, addiction, love/hate relationship with alcohol, second chance at love
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kevin Kline – Frank Getchell
Morena Baccarin – Rebecca McAllister
Rob Delaney – Peter Newbold
David Rasche – Scott Good
Rebecca Henderson – Tess Good
Director – Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky
Producers – Jane Rosenthal, Berry Welsh, Aaron Ryder
Writers – Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, Thomas Bezucha
Director(s)
Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky
Writer(s)
Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, Thomas Bezucha
Producer(s)
Jane Rosenthal, Berry Welsh, Aaron Ryder
Film Festivals
Tribeca, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (75) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (21)
You might not buy all the plot machinations, but as for the sight of Weaver and Kline together again: That’s an easy sell.
October 1, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The pair generate heat and heart connection in a mature sleeper that’s ultimately about the struggle to live an authentic life.
September 30, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Thelma Adams
AARP Movies for Grownups
TOP CRITIC
Even when the film falters, Weaver consistently finds room to explore the many fascinating flaws revealed by her character’s addiction.
September 30, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Christy Lemire
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
Sigourney Weaver deserves awards attention for turning what could have been a cliched dramedy about a real-estate agent, who’s a functioning alcoholic, into something funny, touching and vital. And cheers to Kevin Kline as the dazed dude who loves her.
September 30, 2022
Peter Travers
ABC News
TOP CRITIC
Weaver is so forceful and present she can plow through the movie’s flaws until we fail to notice them. For a film about denial, that sounds about right.
September 30, 2022 | Rating: C+
Mark Keizer
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
This is a gorgeous role for the endlessly talented Weaver, who gives a layered, deeply lived-in performance, one of the best of the year.
September 30, 2022 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
While The Good House has a solid cast, it really showcases Weaver’s talent and versatility.
December 2, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Allison Rose
FlickDirect
Hildy deserves a second chance at love, but the core of the film — in Weaver’s remarkably capable hands — is her love/hate relationship with alcohol. It’s a relationship many of us can relate to. Weaver’s performance makes ‘The Good House’ pretty great.
November 28, 2022 | Rating: 7.5/10
Alexandra MacAaron
Women’s Voices for Change
The Good House isn’t a great movie but until its overly melodramatic final 10 or so minutes, it’s a pretty darn good one.
October 26, 2022
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Saporta Report (Atlanta)
Sigourney Weaver is the star of this movie but I wish Kevin Kline had been more than just a supporting player.
October 13, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com
Playing with words and mood, The Good House manages a surprising balancing act between lightweight tone and serious subject.
October 10, 2022
Robin Holabird
Robin Holabird
Sigourney Weaver is terrific, handling the role with aplomb. It’s a delicate balancing act with the shift from light comedy to weighty material. Seeing her reunite with Kline after two decades is itself worth the price of admission.
October 9, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Friar
Fort Worth Report…
Plot
Hildy Good, a wry New England realtor and descendant of the Salem witches, loves her wine and her secrets. Her compartmentalized life begins to unravel as she rekindles a romance with her old high-school flame, Frank Getchell, and becomes dangerously entwined in one person’s reckless behavior. Igniting long-buried emotions and family secrets, Hildy is propelled toward a reckoning with the one person she’s been avoiding for decades: herself. Adapted from Ann Leary’s New York Times best-selling novel, “The Good House.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Maya-Forbes.jpg
78%
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
78%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: NA
In some ways, Thor: Love and Thunder feels like Ragnarok redux — but overall, it offers enough fast-paced fun to make this a worthy addition to the MCU.
If you’re a fan of Thor and his hammer-swinging antics, then you’re in for a treat with Love and Thunder. Sure, it might feel a bit like a repeat of Ragnarok, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? The action is fast-paced, the jokes are on point, and the whole thing just feels like a wild ride through the MCU. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready to be thunderstruck!
Production Company(ies)
MARV, Marvel Studios, The Walt Disney Studios
Distributor
Walt Disney Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 5m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 8, 2022 Wide
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $760,928,081
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $760,928,081
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 159
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 82,980,162
US/Canada gross: $343,256,830
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $343,256,830
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 155
US/Canada opening weekend: $144,165,107
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $144,165,107
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 43
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $250,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $250,000,000
Production budget ranking: 31
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $134,625,000
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $376,303,081
ROI to date (est.): 98%
ROI ranking: 944
Natalie Portman – Jane Foster, Mighty Thor
Christian Bale – Gorr
Tessa Thompson – King Valkyrie
Taika Waititi – Korg, Old Kronan God (Voice)
Russell Crowe – Zeus
Director(s)
Taika Waititi
Writer(s)
Taika Waititi, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Producer(s)
Kevin Feige
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (351) | Top Critics (78) | Fresh (235) | Rotten (116)
[Y]ou may feel as if [Taika] Waititi’s hammer is hitting you over the head.
July 13, 2022
Jordan Hoffman
Times of Israel
TOP CRITIC
Hemsworth is almost vaudevillian in Thor: Love and Thunder, one of the funnier superhero movies I’ve seen.
July 12, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Stephen Romei
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
An obscenely entertaining rainbow highway straight to blockbuster heaven.
July 12, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
I was really compelled by the ideas Taika Waititi was teasing in this film, but the actual style of it — the eagerness to please — made me take a step back from everything. [But] what he’s discussing is really smart.
July 11, 2022
Amy Nicholson
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Where “Ragnarok” poked irreverent fun at its genre, “Love and Thunder” feels geared toward the faithful, packed with the kind of cutesy asides and knowing winks that tend to exasperate outsiders.
July 11, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
Rafer Guzman
Newsday
TOP CRITIC
There are moments in Love and Thunder when the film feels like a $185m megaphone, dedicated solely to amplifying the voice of Taika Waititi.
July 10, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It also has a star in Chris Hemsworth who gives it his all, with a cheekier-than-usual (wink, wink) take on the God of Thunder and lots of Guns ‘N Roses. Welcome to the Jungle indeed.
July 13, 2022 | Rating: B
Dana Barbuto
The Patriot Ledger
Thor: Love and Thunder is mostly just a brightly colored filler episode that will likely be forgotten about like most of the Thor franchise.
July 13, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Chris Sawin
Hub Pages
Taika Waititi’s mind is a fascinating place to be in. Only he can take you through Thor’s dad bod-God bod-sad bod journey.
July 12, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Renuka Vyavahare
The Times of India
Bale really commits because that’s what he does. But there isn’t much to commit to when nothing matters except the next joke.
July 12, 2022
Alison Gillmor
Winnipeg Free Press
It’s a Taika Waititi film and not a Marvel product. It’s great to see that Marvel is granting such a free hand to their directors. That surely means they’re ready for some radical changes in the time to come.
July 12, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Devesh Sharma
Filmfare
Unfortunately, it was almost immediately apparent—in part from the presence of those Guardians—that the witty edge was a little dulled this time around…
July 12, 2022
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills…
Plot
Thor’s retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
When the flying boat crashes into Gorr’s planet. the name on the boat is backwards, revealing the use of a mirror image.
Taika-Waititi.jpg
78%
The Beta Test (2021)
78%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: 4 nominations
A darkly amusing thriller that discomfits as it entertains, The Beta Test satirizes Hollywood with savage flair.
The Beta Test” is a wild ride that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about Hollywood. With a magnetic performance from Cummings, this dark and satirical movie explores issues of masculinity, temptation, and digital identity in a way that’s both relevant and entertaining. Sure, it may be a bit messy and tangential at times, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? Buckle up and get ready for a high adrenaline, erotic thrill ride that you won’t soon forget.
Production Company(ies)
O2 Filmes, Video Filmes, Globo Filmes,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 34m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 5, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2021
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, Virginia Newcomb, Kevin Changaris, Olivia Grace Applegate, Jessie Barr, directed by Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, written by Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Natalia Winkelman, Claudia Puig, Matt Zoller Seitz, Scott Tobias, Katie Rife, Carlos Aguilar, Josh Parham, Guillem Martinez Oya, Jayne Nelson, Brian Eggert, Carson Timar, MPAA rating, Hollywood, satire, thriller, sexual encounter, murder, infidelity, agent, anonymous letter, lying, masculinity, temptation, digital identity, workplace, Hollywood insider, symbology, erotic thrill ride, desperate masculine posturing, commentary, performer, genre, distributor, producer, Natalie Metzger, Matt Miller, Benjamin Wiessner, limited release, streaming, IFC Films
Worldwide gross: $37,536
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $40,824
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,094
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,452
US/Canada gross: $30,520
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $33,194
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,778
US/Canada opening weekend: $17,841
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $19,404
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,524
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
PJ McCabe – PJ, Co-Director, Co-Writer
Virginia Newcomb – Caroline
Kevin Changaris – Unknown
Olivia Grace Applegate – Unknown
Jessie Barr – Lauren
Natalie Metzger – Producer
Matt Miller – Producer
Benjamin Wiessner – Producer
Director(s)
Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe
Writer(s)
Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe
Producer(s)
Natalie Metzger, Matt Miller, Benjamin Wiessner
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (87) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (80) | Rotten (7)
Tales of angsty alpha males who see the light are a cinematic sacred cow, yet lacking in clarity of vision or a cohesive world, “The Beta Test” comes out looking as confused as its antihero.
December 7, 2021
Natalia Winkelman
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
It is a really great Hollywood satire that I found amusing.
November 6, 2021
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Cummings and co-director/co-star PJ McCabe are more adept at maintaining tone than a lot of better-known filmmakers.
November 5, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Zoller Seitz
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
An unstable and unfocused satire that dabbles haphazardly in issues of masculinity, temptation, digital identity, and reformed workplaces but does so with a brio that keeps it on edge.
November 5, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Scott Tobias
The Reveal
TOP CRITIC
The results won’t help McCabe and Cummings land any well-paying sellout gigs any time soon. But if being a Hollywood insider is anything like it appears in this movie, is that really such a loss?
November 5, 2021 | Rating: B
Katie Rife
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
“The Beta Test” hinges on Cummings’ magnetically deranged turn.
November 5, 2021
Carlos Aguilar
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The topics of discussion have a pointed relevancy that makes them attractive, and centered around a commanding performance from Cummings makes it all the more inviting.
June 5, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
A dark and satiric movie about how we play a role in our social and cultural life. The life as a theatre where everyone plays a role. Here, the symbology is important. Full review in Spanish
February 24, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Guillem Martinez Oya
Cinematismo
The Beta Test can be a disorientating and even unpleasant watch, with a plot that careens as wildly as its lead character… but it’s often impossible to look away.
February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Jayne Nelson
Radio Times
Although occasionally messy and tangential, the film and Cummings’ performance keeps us involved from moment to moment.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
A clear lack of craft and substance lets The Beta Test down yet the film shows no signs of worry or concern by this.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: C-
Carson Timar
ButteredPopcorn
The Beta Test is a high adrenaline, erotic thrill ride that will leave you breathless. Cummings has once again proven that he has a masterful understanding of blending genres.
February 12, 2022
Jeff Nelson
Showbiz Cheat Sheet…
Plot
An engaged Hollywood agent receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for The Beta Test.
Jim-Cummings.jpg
78%
Azor (2021)
78%RT Audience Score: 56%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 19 nominations
An uncommonly patient thriller, Azor elegantly slips the viewer into its cool grasp and never lets go.
If you’re in the mood for a movie that will make you feel like you’re constantly looking over your shoulder, then AZOR is the perfect pick. Critics are raving about the film’s ability to create an atmosphere of unease and paranoia, with a touch of dark humor thrown in for good measure. Fontana’s debut is a slow-burn thriller that never quite explodes into action, but that’s part of what makes it so haunting. It’s a story about the wealthy and powerful in Argentina during a time of political turmoil, but it’s also a story about the human cost of greed and corruption. So if you’re ready to be on the edge of your seat for a couple of hours, give AZOR a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Macrocosm Entertainment, Citizen Skull Productions, Bond It Media Capital
Distributor
MUBI
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):French, Spanish, English
-
Country of origin:Argentina, France, Switzerland
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 10, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 3, 2021
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Azor, drama, French (France), Andreas Fontana, David Epiney, Eugenia Mumenthaler, written by Andreas Fontana, starring Fabrizio Rongione, Stéphanie Cléau, Elli Medeiros, Alexandre Trocki, Juan Pablo Geretto, Carmen Iriondo, Dirty War, military-ruled Buenos Aires, private banker, Geneva, disappeared colleague, high finance, colonialism, surveillance, sinister web, smoke-filled lounges, lush gardens, patient thriller, uncommonly patient, elegant, cool grasp, box office gross, limited release, MUBI, MPAA rating, critic reviews, reviewed by Adam Nayman, Nick James, Simran Hans, Tara Brady, Robbie Collin, Danny Leigh, Carlos Cruz Salido, Guillem Martinez Oya, Rich Cline, Filipe Freitas, Carla Hay, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, audience score, drama, suspenseful, wealthy, political uncertainties, Argentina, 1970s, runtime, 1h 40m, producer, directed by, written by, reviewed by
Worldwide gross: $79,742
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $86,728
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,038
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 9,458
US/Canada gross: $53,932
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,657
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,735
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,320
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,874
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,771
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
Stéphanie Cléau – Inès de Wiel
Elli Medeiros – Magdalena Padel-Camón, Alicia Domecq
Alexandre Trocki – Embassadeur Frydmer
Juan Pablo Geretto – Dekerman
Carmen Iriondo – Viuda Lacrosteguy
Director(s)
Andreas Fontana
Writer(s)
Andreas Fontana
Producer(s)
David Epiney, Eugenia Mumenthaler
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 19 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (46)
If marinating in paranoia is your idea of a good time, Fontana’s beautifully executed debut is as good as it gets.
December 21, 2021
Adam Nayman
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
Restraint and alarm are the film’s keynotes, with a hint of wry black comedy in every exchange.
November 13, 2021
Nick James
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Fontana’s sinewy debut teems with unseen threat. He crafts an atmosphere of grubbiness despite all the polished surfaces.
October 31, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
As with the concealing language of the dictatorship, death is everywhere, just not on screen.
October 29, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
This superb debut feature from Andreas Fontana puts an ingenious spin on the paranoid thriller: its main character is determined to behave as if he isn’t in one.
October 28, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Fontana models the surface of the film after Yvan: assertively calm. But the unease thrums, brilliantly evoked – as if in every scene, something nightmarish was always just out of shot. It is.
October 28, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
As in the worlds of Nicolas Winding Refn or Lucile Hadzihalilovic, atmosphere prevails over narrative prolixity. {Full Review in Spanish]
May 19, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Carlos Cruz Salido
El antepenúltimo mohicano
An ethical story in a context where is no ethic at all. Full review in Spanish
April 23, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Guillem Martinez Oya
Cinematismo
It’s an understated, slow-burn thriller that never breaks out into action, remaining internalised and gnawingly nasty. And where it goes is viscerally haunting.
February 10, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
It’s one of the year’s most cohesive films, and it holds up to repeated viewings.
January 23, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
Filipe Freitas
Always Good Movies
The story unfolds at a pace that might be too slow for some viewers, but it should hold the interest of viewers who are intrigued by how the worlds of politics and finance are intertwined.
December 29, 2021
Carla Hay
Culture Mix
A suspenseful drama about the woes of the wealthy during times of political uncertainties in Argentina.
December 4, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality & Practice…
Plot
In 1970s Buenos Aires, a private banker and his wife become embroiled in a sinister web of colonialism, high finance, and the nation’s “Dirty War” after he replaces a colleague who has mysteriously disappeared in Andreas Fontana’s patient thriller, Azor.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels describes Fabrizio Rongione’s performance in Azor as “excellent.”
Andreas-Fontana.jpg
78%
My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To (2021)
78%RT Audience Score: 58%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 7 nominations
Unsettling and compelling in equal measure, My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To casts a visually striking and thought-provoking spell.
My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To is the perfect movie for those who want to feel like they’re watching a horror movie without actually being scared. It’s a slow burn that explores the complexities of family relationships and the lengths people will go to for their loved ones. Plus, it’s got vampires! But don’t expect any Twilight-style romance here, this is a dark and moody film that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll. Definitely worth a watch if you’re in the mood for something a little different.
Production Company(ies)
Cosmopolitan Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
Distributor
Dark Sky Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 25, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 25, 2021
Genre(s)
Horror/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram, Owen Campbell, Moises L Tovar, Judah Bateman, Katie Preston, directed by Jonathan Cuartas, written by Jonathan Cuartas, horror, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Randy Myers, Richard Whittaker, Peter Sobczynski, Lena Wilson, Dennis Harvey, Meagan Navarro, Dolores Quintana, Audrey Fox, Scott Weinberg, Matt Brunson, Michelle Swope, produced by Jesse R Brown, Patrick Fugit, Anthony Pedone, Ian Peterson, Kenny Riches, MPAA rating, vampire, family, sacrifice, chronic illness, blood, secret, private, close-knit, visually striking, thought-provoking
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ingrid Sophie Schram – Jessie
Owen Campbell – Thomas
Moises L. Tovar – Eduardo
Judah Bateman – Turner
Katie Preston – Pam
Director(s)
Jonathan Cuartas
Writer(s)
Jonathan Cuartas
Producer(s)
Jesse R. Brown, Patrick Fugit, Anthony Pedone, Ian Peterson, Kenny Riches
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (1)
Cuartas is an astonishing talent for horror connoisseurs who like their films classy and textured.
July 9, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
In this rusted nowhere, options are truly limited, and writer/director Jonathan Cuartas leaves their story open-ended at the beginning.
June 25, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A grimly fascinating low-fi debut from writer/director Jonathan Cuartas.
June 25, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Sobczynski
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
This may be dark fodder for a family project, but the result is a visually striking meditation on obligation and complicity.
June 24, 2021
Lena Wilson
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
While “My Heart” could have used a more assertive ending than the director’s screenplay comes up with, its sad, furtive characters still linger in the mind well after the blood they’ve spilt has dried.
June 14, 2021
Dennis Harvey
Variety
TOP CRITIC
It’s an entire meditative, brooding feature that centers on the question of how far you would go in the name of family. Cuartas captures that in the form of personal sacrifice and ruination, in the most bittersweet and devastating way.
June 13, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Meagan Navarro
Bloody Disgusting
TOP CRITIC
The film as a whole is shot through with a sickness of the mind and the heart. It’s a corruption of the family unit that is sadly much more normal and widespread than you might think it is.
December 31, 2021
Dolores Quintana
Dolores Quintana
Cuartas has created a bold statement piece, reconfiguring the vampire mythos to explore the devastating ennui of burdensome, co-dependent relationships that stifle any hope of forwarding momentum.
August 21, 2021
Audrey Fox
We Live Entertainment
worth a look if, like me, you enjoy gloomy “drama” movies that use the horror genre in subtle, humanistic ways.
August 18, 2021
Scott Weinberg
Thrillist
It’s just the ticket for those who don’t always need their horror hardcore.
August 13, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Powerful performances from the entire cast and the captivating use of vampirism as a metaphor for chronic illness and the toll it takes on families make this a must-see horror movie.
July 13, 2021
Michelle Swope
Dread Central
The year’s best horror film.
July 13, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Charles Koplinski
Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam…
Plot
Dwight prowls the streets at night, searching for lonely and forlorn people who won’t be missed, in order to feed his fragile young brother Thomas. But each death takes a larger toll on Dwight, threatening to crack his spirit and burdening him with the weight of his crimes.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Patrick Fugit, known for his role in Almost Famous.
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78%
The Woman Who Ran (2021)
78%RT Audience Score: 56%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 10 nominations
Narratively slight yet cumulatively absorbing, The Woman Who Ran finds writer-director Hong Sang-soo continuing to work in a beguilingly minor key.
The Woman Who Ran is like a puzzle that you can’t help but try to solve even after the movie is over. It’s a funny and moving film that explores the complexities of social interactions. Hong Sang-soo is a master of his craft, and this movie is no exception. It’s a deceptively simple film that becomes more complicated the more you think about it. Plus, it’s always fun to watch strange things happen in a Woody Allen-esque world. Overall, The Woman Who Ran is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good story about friendship, appearances, and the half-truths we tell each other.
Production Company(ies)
The Samuel Goldwyn Company,
Distributor
The Cinema Guild
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
35-99 Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2021
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 17m
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Language(s):Korean
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Country of origin:Korea (South)
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 9, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 11, 2022
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
The Woman Who Ran, Comedy, Drama, 1h 17m, Korean, Hong Sang-soo, written by Hong Sang-soo, starring Kim Min-hee, Seo Young-hwa, Sae-Byuk Kim, Kwon Hae-hyo, Eun-mi Lee, Suk-ho Shin, reviewed by Ela Bittencourt, Justin Chang, A.O Scott, Lawrence Garcia, Peter Bradshaw, Kathleen Sachs, Elissa Suh, Beatrice Loayza, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Andrew Wyatt, Mattie Lucas, Rene Sanchez, box office performance, budget, The Cinema Guild, MPAA rating, interconnecting philosophies, coincidences, dramas small and large, women everywhere, social performativity, perils, funny, moving, absorbing, cinematic sketch, master, Woody Allen, strange things, conversation, friendship, appearances, half-truths, shared history, polite, strained, garden, backyard, architect neighbor, young poet, movie theater, divorced, meat, cat man, business trip, encounters, friends
Worldwide gross: $189,887
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $206,522
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,925
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,522
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Seo Young-hwa – Young-soon
Sae-Byuk Kim – Woo-jin
Kwon Hae-hyo – Mr. Jung
Eun-mi Lee – Young-ji
Suk-ho Shin – Cat Man
Director(s)
Hong Sang-soo
Writer(s)
Hong Sang-soo
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 10 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (43)
More than any filmmaker of recent years, Hang-soo reminds his audience that such social performativity isn’t without its perils.
December 5, 2021
Ela Bittencourt
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Each chapter of The Woman Who Ran is funny, moving and absorbing on its own, but the film is even more intriguing to think about afterward as you puzzle over how those chapters fit together.
July 22, 2021
Justin Chang
NPR
TOP CRITIC
“The Woman Who Ran” is a cinematic sketch, and also the work of a master.
July 10, 2021
A.O. Scott
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
To put it another way, the question we are led to ask during any given scene of The Woman Who Ran is not, “What does this event mean?” but “What does it mean to consider this an event at all?”
July 7, 2021 | Rating: B+
Lawrence Garcia
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Pretty much all the way through, nothing very sensational seems to be happening. And yet the movie’s sensational meaning is hiding in plain sight: in the title.
December 16, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
South Korean writer-director Hong Sang-soo makes deceptively simple films that become more complicated upon consideration, and no less is the case with his 24th feature.
October 19, 2020
Kathleen Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Theres no escaping men, but there is always the cinema. This might be one way of summarizing the latest from the prolific Korean Director Hong Sang-soo.
February 25, 2022
Elissa Suh
Moviepudding
Always the keenest of social observers, Hong fills each scene with parallels, coincidences, and behavioral ticks.
December 5, 2021 | Rating: B+
Beatrice Loayza
The Playlist
Hong is a certified member of the Woody Allen film world where strange things always happen!
December 5, 2021
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality & Practice
This lean but deceptively rich feature can be seen as the apotheosis of Hong Sang-soo’s interest in the act of conversation.
November 8, 2021
Andrew Wyatt
The Lens
Perhaps the loosest of Hong’s more recent films, even less invested in a particular destination than usual, as it focuses instead on exploring subtle human interactions.
August 29, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
A profound and sincere story about friendship, appearances, and the half-truths we decide to share with others. [Full Review in Spanish]
August 9, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Rene Sanchez
Cine Sin Fronteras…
Plot
The Woman Who Ran follows Gamhee as she has three encounters with friends while her husband is away on a business trip, exploring the small and large dramas faced by women everywhere.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Woman Who Ran.
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