Production Company(ies)
ARTE Bavaria Film International, Corazón International,
 
Distributor
Universal Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, 1401 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and a scene of sensuality
 
Year of Release
1991
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scott Glenn, directed by Ron Howard, written by Gregory Widen, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Bob Fenster, Bill Cosford, Michael H Price, Jay Boyar, Angie Errigo, Kathleen Carroll, Don Shanahan, Mark Jackson, John Ferguson, Chris Hicks, Eddie Harrison, R rating, firefighting, arson, conspiracy, political corruption, family drama, action movie, special effects, Chicago, oxygen-induced infernos, backdrafts, firefighting brothers, rivals, arson unit, investigation, crooked politician, combustible relationship, firefighting crew, firefighting techniques, firefighting equipment, firefighting training, firefighting bravery, firefighting danger, firefighting heroism, firefighting sacrifice, firefighting brotherhood, firefighting teamwork, firefighting adrenaline rush, firefighting danger, firefighting rescue, firefighting tragedy, firefighting triumph
 

Cast & Crew

Kurt Russell

Dennis McCaffrey

Stephen “Bull” McCaffrey

William Baldwin

Robert De Niro

Stephen “Bull” McCaffrey

Dennis McCaffrey

Brian McCaffrey

Donald ‘Shadow’ Rimgale

Ronald Bartel

Kurt Russell – Stephen “Bull” McCaffrey, Dennis McCaffrey
William Baldwin – Brian McCaffrey
Robert De Niro – Donald ‘Shadow’ Rimgale
Donald Sutherland – Ronald Bartel
Jennifer Jason Leigh – Jennifer Vaitkus
Scott Glenn – John “Axe” Adcox

 

Ron Howard

Gregory Widen

Pen Densham

Richard B. Lewis

John Watson

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Ron Howard
 
Writer(s)
Gregory Widen
 
Producer(s)
Pen Densham, Richard B. Lewis, John Watson

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
1 win & 11 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Bob Fenster

Bill Cosford

Michael H. Price

Jay Boyar

Angie Errigo

Arizona Republic

Miami Herald

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Orlando Sentinel

Empire Magazine

BACKDRAFT
 All Critics (58) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (14)
 Although the movie is unrealistic in its depiction of fircfighting, it’s a stunning piece of cinematic storytelling.
 
 August 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Bob Fenster
 Arizona Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 Until Backdraft, no one had mastered the effects necessary to show what it’s like inside a burning building. Now someone has.
 
 August 3, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Bill Cosford
 Miami Herald
 TOP CRITIC
 Ron Howard and screenwriter Steve Widen have distilled an essence of fear.
 
 August 3, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
 
 Michael H. Price
 Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
 TOP CRITIC
 [Howard’s] intuitive sense of the rhythms of popular entertainment keeps the picture from bogging down.
 
 August 3, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Jay Boyar
 Orlando Sentinel
 TOP CRITIC
 Dramatically, of course, it’s utter twaddle, but with state-of-the-art incendiary special effects and a sex scene on top of a fire engine, there’s plenty of bang for your buck.
 
 August 3, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Angie Errigo
 Empire Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 The movie definitely cools off when it gets bogged down with a murky plot involving an arsonist and political corruption. But it succeeds in exploring the combustible relationship between two firefighting brothers.
 
 August 3, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Kathleen Carroll
 New York Daily News
 TOP CRITIC
 Make no apologies for losing this movie about melodramatic and manly brothers.
 
 April 15, 2022
 
 Don Shanahan
 Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast
 After watching “Backdraft” you’ll find you’re no longer resentful when hit with the full force of an NYFD hook & ladder barreling down the block, sirens shrieking and air horn blaring “GAAGGHHH!!! GAAAGHHH!!!!” You’ll respect America’s firefighters more.
 
 August 27, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Mark Jackson
 Epoch Times
 The plot is hardly original, but Howard marshals the sprawling elements with great finesse and the fire footage, if harrowing at times, is genuinely exhilarating.
 
 August 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 John Ferguson
 Radio Times
 Director Ron Howard and screenwriter Gregory Widen seem to aspire to serious notions, but they are constantly sidetracked by soap opera cliches and slam-bang pyrotechnics.
 
 August 3, 2021
 
 Chris Hicks
 Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
 …a decent thrill ride, and a smoking-hot slice of old-school entertainment…
 
 August 3, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Eddie Harrison
 film-authority.com
 Objectively, this is an overlong and overheated piece of work. But Ron Howard’s visually stunning spectacle nevertheless feels human in its messiness and, for all its indulgence, memorably tactile and urgent in its conveyance of lives jeopardized.
 
 June 24, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Nick Rogers
 Midwest Film Journal…

 

Plot
A rookie firefighter tries to earn the respect of his older brother and other firefighters while taking part in an investigation of a string of arson/murders. This detailed look into the duties and private lives of firemen naturally features widespread pyrotechnics and special effects.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Backdraft on Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Ron-Howard.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
20th Century Fox
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Lake Powell, Utah, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity
 
Year of Release
1991
 

 
Genre(s)
Action
 
Keyword(s)
starring Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C McGinley, James LeGros, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, written by Kurt Wimmer, W Peter Iliff, action, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Geoff Brown, Juan Carlos Coto, Duane Byrge, Owen Gleiberman, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Arthur Ryel-Lindsey, Grant Watson, Brian Eggert, Mike Massie, Eddie Harrison, starring Patrick Swayze as Bodhi, Keanu Reeves as FBI Special Agent Johnny ‘John’ Utah, Gary Busey as FBI Agent Angelo Pappas, Lori Petty as Tyler Ann Endicott, John C McGinley as FBI Agent Ben Harp, James LeGros as Roach, produced by Peter Abrams, Robert L Levy, R-rated, surfing, bank robberies, undercover, FBI, Southern California, former presidents, addicted, rush of thievery, female surfer, Tyler, sense of duty, 20th Century Fox, Surround
 

Cast & Crew

Patrick Swayze

Keanu Reeves

Gary Busey

Lori Petty

John C. McGinley

Bodhi

FBI Special Agent Johnny ‘John’ Utah

FBI Agent Angelo Pappas

Tyler Ann Endicott

FBI Agent Ben Harp

Patrick Swayze – Bodhi
Keanu Reeves – FBI Special Agent Johnny ‘John’ Utah
Gary Busey – FBI Agent Angelo Pappas
Lori Petty – Tyler Ann Endicott
John C. McGinley – FBI Agent Ben Harp
James LeGros – Roach

 

Kathryn Bigelow

Kurt Wimmer

Peter Abrams

Robert L. Levy

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Kathryn Bigelow
 
Writer(s)
Kurt Wimmer, W. Peter Iliff
 
Producer(s)
Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy

 

Film Festivals
Berlin
 
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 2 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Geoff Brown

Juan Carlos Coto

Duane Byrge

Owen Gleiberman

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Times

Miami Herald

Hollywood Reporter

Entertainment Weekly

Chicago Reader

POINT BREAK
 All Critics (69) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (21)
 Keanu Reeves, boringly cocky FBI agent, goes undercover, and off the film lurches into narrative gobbledegook, surfing, and the spiritual utterances of a tanned guru (Patrick Swayze).
 
 August 17, 2021
 
 Geoff Brown
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 Point Break has some eye-catching visuals in its frenetic action sequences, but even the slow-mo surfing gets tedious. It’s like being trapped in a soft-drink commercial.
 
 August 17, 2021 | Rating: 2/4
 
 Juan Carlos Coto
 Miami Herald
 TOP CRITIC
 While the critics may yammer, Point Break delivers the thrills, spills and crunches its action-hungry audience demands.
 
 July 16, 2019
 
 Duane Byrge
 Hollywood Reporter
 TOP CRITIC
 September 7, 2011 | Rating: C+
 
 Owen Gleiberman
 Entertainment Weekly
 TOP CRITIC
 We might as well be watching a blissed-out Bill and Ted caper.
 
 March 22, 2007
 
 Jonathan Rosenbaum
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 In terms of Hollywood history, Bigelow’s film is the perfect document of its time.
 
 November 1, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Arthur Ryel-Lindsey
 Slant Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 Action cinema is a populist genre that often struggles for respect among critics. It has always deserved better: Point Break is a landmark for the field.
 
 June 7, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
 
 Grant Watson
 Fiction Machine
 This exhilarating movie runs on overdrive, offering an excess of stylish sequences and over-the-top performances that feel heightened by the “radical” and “extreme” behaviors on display.
 
 June 5, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Brian Eggert
 Deep Focus Review
 Much of the film feels as if an excuse for the cast to surf and skydive – a curious combination of daredevilry.
 
 January 2, 2022 | Rating: 6/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 …a propulsive action film that’s rarely been matched for in-camera thrills and spills in the great outdoors….
 
 October 5, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Eddie Harrison
 film-authority.com
 The change in Swayze’s character in the third act soured this a bit for me. The inconsistency took away from the impressive action scenes and fun plot.
 
 September 17, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Justin Brown
 Medium Popcorn
 This is a very good action film despite some of the weird performances. It was very entertaining.
 
 September 17, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Brandon Collins
 Medium Popcorn…

 

Plot
In Los Angeles, California, a gang of bank robbers call themselves The Ex-Presidents. commit their crimes while wearing masks of ex-Presidents Reagan, Carter, Nixon, and Johnson. The F.B.I. believes that the members of the gang could be surfers, and send young Agent Johnny Utah undercover at the beach to mix with the surfers and gather information. Utah meets surfer Bodhi, and gets drawn into the lifestyle of his new friend.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Patrick Swayze plays the charismatic leader of a group of surfers addicted to thievery in Point Break.
 

 
Kathryn-Bigelow.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Apatow Productions, Film Nation Entertainment, Story Ink
 
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Mare Chiaro bar “Toni’s nut house”, 179 Mulberry street, Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence and language
 
Year of Release
1990
 

 
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
86%
 
Keyword(s)
The Godfather, Coda, The Death of Michael Corleone, Crime, Drama, Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Andy Garcia, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, Mario Puzo, Paramount Pictures, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Zaki Hasan, John Anderson, David Ehrlich, Richard Brody, Claudia Puig, Angie Han, Nick Hasted, Bill Chambers, James Luxford, David Gonzalez, Peter Canavese, MPAA rating, gangster, epic, final installment, director’s cut, producer Francis Ford Coppola, written by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo
 

Cast & Crew

Al Pacino

Diane Keaton

Talia Shire

Andy Garcia

Eli Wallach

Don Michael Corleone

Kay Adams

Connie Corleone-Rizzi

Vincent Mancini-Corleone

Don Altobello

Al Pacino – Don Michael Corleone
Diane Keaton – Kay Adams
Talia Shire – Connie Corleone-Rizzi
Andy Garcia – Vincent Mancini-Corleone
Eli Wallach – Don Altobello
Joe Mantegna – Joey Zasa

 

Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Francis Ford Coppola
 
Writer(s)
Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo
 
Producer(s)
Francis Ford Coppola

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 7 Oscars
6 wins & 23 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Zaki Hasan

John Anderson

David Ehrlich

Richard Brody

Claudia Puig

San Francisco Chronicle

America Magazine

indieWire

New Yorker

FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)

THE GODFATHER, CODA: THE DEATH OF MICHAEL CORLEONE
 All Critics (57) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (8)
 Not enough has been changed to turn around anyone who already dislikes it, but in cutting out 13 minutes of runtime, the director has excised many of the small moments that made it uniquely memorable in the first place.
 
 March 28, 2021
 
 Zaki Hasan
 San Francisco Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Much is tailored to the needs of drama in “Godfather, Coda.” But one cannot manufacture urgency in a film that lacks the kind of cosmic conflict of its two predecessors.
 
 December 18, 2020
 
 John Anderson
 America Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s often gripping, sometimes masterful, and almost never betrays its history as the work of a wayward giant scrambling back toward respectability after a long decade lost in the wilderness.
 
 December 18, 2020
 
 David Ehrlich
 indieWire
 TOP CRITIC
 The film’s tautly controlled turbulence guides the eye to salient details, its clarified lines of dramatic tension calmly burst into images of an explosive yet nearly static intensity.
 
 December 13, 2020
 
 Richard Brody
 New Yorker
 TOP CRITIC
 I almost don’t see a point for Godfather Part III. You’ve ended the story so beautifully with Godfather Part II, why would you go back and continue it? The story doesn’t come together like it did [for the original], but I will say he’s improved it.
 
 December 12, 2020
 
 Claudia Puig
 FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
 TOP CRITIC
 It does improve the pacing, but otherwise it’s very much the same movie. I’ve always been a sucker for movies about men looking back at their lives full of regret and guilt, so this one very much did it for me. I really enjoyed it.
 
 December 12, 2020
 
 Angie Han
 FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
 TOP CRITIC
 For all its flashy flaws, perhaps we should be grateful Coppola scrabbled so close to a legitimate last act.
 
 March 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Nick Hasted
 The Arts Desk
 I’m reminded of Robert Evans objecting to a shortened version of The Godfather that removed all its texture. “Where’s the sauce, Francis?” he asked.
 
 March 3, 2022 | Rating: 1.5/4
 
 Bill Chambers
 Film Freak Central
 Coppola explores some interesting ideas, even if they dont all work out… but aside from a notable change in the final shot, there will be little to win over the haters.
 
 February 28, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
 James Luxford
 City AM
 Still, as Michael is well aware, Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. Thats what Francis Ford Coppola has accomplished with The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, hes pulled us all back in.
 
 February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 David Gonzalez
 Reel Talk Inc.
 An American tragedy writ large. This “CODA” is ultimately the same movie as “The Godfather, Part III”, albeit re-positioned, but still a good, quite worthy movie. (Blu-ray Director’s Cut Review).
 
 January 26, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Peter Canavese
 Celluloid Dreams
 Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (Original title, The Godfather III, 1990) reminds viewers what was once memorable can be new again.
 
 January 29, 2021
 
 Wendy Shreve
 Featuring Film…

 

Plot
In the final installment of the Godfather Trilogy, an aging Don Michael Corleone seeks to legitimize his crime family’s interests and remove himself from the violent underworld but is kept back by the ambitions of the young. While he attempts to link the Corleone’s finances with the Vatican, Michael must deal with the machinations of a hungrier gangster seeking to upset the existing Mafioso order and a young protege’s love affair with his daughter.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.
 

 
Francis-Ford-Coppola.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
Image Entertainment Inc., TriStar Pictures
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Puerto Rico
 
MPAA / Certificate
R
 
Year of Release
1990
 

 
Genre(s)
Horror/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Jacob’s Ladder, Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Patricia Kalember, Matt Craven, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Jason Alexander, directed by Adrian Lyne, written by Bruce Joel Rubin, horror, drama, R rating, box office gross $24.8M, reviewed by James Berardinelli, John Hartl, Dave Kehr, Peter Rainer, Jay Boyar, Christopher Null, Graeme Tuckett, Emma Wolfe, Ed Travis, Manuela Lazic, Jeffrey M Anderson, starring Eriq LaSalle, Ving Rhames, uncredited Macaulay Culkin, produced by Alan Marshall, Image Entertainment Inc., TriStar Pictures, surround sound, Dolby SR
 

Cast & Crew

Tim Robbins

Elizabeth Peña

Danny Aiello

Matt Craven

Pruitt Taylor Vince

Jacob Singer

Jezebel

Louis

Michael

Paul

Tim Robbins – Jacob Singer
Elizabeth Peña – Jezebel
Danny Aiello – Louis
Matt Craven – Michael
Pruitt Taylor Vince – Paul
Jason Alexander – Geary
Director – Adrian Lyne
Producer – Alan Marshall
Writer – Bruce Joel Rubin

 

Adrian Lyne

Bruce Joel Rubin

Alan Marshall

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Adrian Lyne
 
Writer(s)
Bruce Joel Rubin
 
Producer(s)
Alan Marshall

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 1 nomination
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

James Berardinelli

John Hartl

Dave Kehr

Peter Rainer

Jay Boyar

ReelViews

Seattle Times

Chicago Tribune

Los Angeles Times

Orlando Sentinel

JACOB’S LADDER
 All Critics (67) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (18)
 It’s weird and surreal, but it ends with most of the holes plugged and all but a few of the loose ends tied into a tidy package. Some argue this is a cheat and the film should have been more open ended. That’s a personal choice; I like it the way it is.
 
 August 23, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 James Berardinelli
 ReelViews
 TOP CRITIC
 For hours and days after you’ve seen it, you’ll still be putting it together in your head. While all of it is gripping, it doesn’t come together until the final scene, which is jolting, transcendent, unexpected yet inevitable.
 
 August 23, 2014 | Rating: 4/4
 
 John Hartl
 Seattle Times
 TOP CRITIC
 As long as the movie refuses to commit itself, it is a truly creepy, nerve-jangling experience.
 
 August 23, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Dave Kehr
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 In the best puzzle movies, the pieces fit — eventually. But if you try to piece together Jacob’s Ladder, all you get for your trouble is more pieces.
 
 August 23, 2014
 
 Peter Rainer
 Los Angeles Times
 TOP CRITIC
 Without a strongly sympathetic figure at the center of the movie, Jacob’s plight seems very remote. Watching this film should feel like being caught in a nightmare, but it feels more like watching someone else who is caught in a nightmare.
 
 August 23, 2014 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Jay Boyar
 Orlando Sentinel
 TOP CRITIC
 One of Robbins’ finest unheralded performances, plus a slew of supporting roles from then-unknowns Eriq LaSalle, Ving Rhames, Jason Alexander, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and an uncredited Macaulay Culkin.
 
 August 23, 2014
 
 Christopher Null
 Austin Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 It is just one of those films that will get under your skin and stay with you. In 31 years, it hasn’t aged a day.
 
 October 25, 2021
 
 Graeme Tuckett
 Stuff.co.nz
 It’s just as haunting as I remember.
 
 October 27, 2020
 
 Emma Wolfe
 SpookyAstronauts
 Jacob’s Ladder wrestles with our fear of death, the power of our dreams, and the presence of angels (or are they demons?) in our lives.
 
 April 9, 2020
 
 Ed Travis
 Hollywood Jesus
 It is this constant slippage into uncertainty that makes Jacob’s Ladder unique. Lyne’s focus on the sensual experiences of his character helps blur that line between dream and reality…
 
 August 23, 2019
 
 Manuela Lazic
 The Ringer
 Though [Lyne] arguably focuses more on the thriller elements than the existential ones, he still manages a seductive, nightmare-like quality.
 
 August 23, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Jeffrey M. Anderson
 Combustible Celluloid
 ’90s drama about Vietnam vet has language, violence.
 
 March 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Brian Costello
 Common Sense Media…

 

Plot
Jacob Singer is trying to make sense of his fractured life and memories. Plagued by hallucinations, flashbacks, and conspiracies, he struggles down a path to enlightenment from these manic strains. With nothing but support from friends and loved ones will he be able to push through the haze of his PTSD.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
One of Robbins’ finest unheralded performances, plus a slew of supporting roles from then-unknowns Eriq LaSalle, Ving Rhames, Jason Alexander, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and an uncredited Macaulay Culkin.
 

 
Adrian-Lyne.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Absolute Clay Productions, Quincy Jones Productions, Shadow Catcher Entertainment,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 
MPAA / Certificate
R
 
Year of Release
1990
 

 
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller
 
Keyword(s)
Presumed Innocent, Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia, Bonnie Bedelia, Paul Winfield, Greta Scacchi, directed by Alan J Pakula, written by Scott Turow, Mystery & thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Joel Siegel, Dolores Barclay, David Ansen, Ted Pigeon, Richard Schickel, Hilary Mantel, Dennis King, Sue Heal, Candice Russell, Gary Thompson, MPAA rating R, courtroom drama, legal thriller, crime, adultery, murder, investigation, trial, defense attorney, prosecutor, political enemies, rape, torrid affair, crafty defense attorney, revelations, twists, turns, blind alleys, female agency, sexuality, criminal justice system, adult drama, effective, outstanding script, focused direction, riveting performance, effective courtroom thriller
 

Cast & Crew

Harrison Ford

Brian Dennehy

Raul Julia

Bonnie Bedelia

Paul Winfield

Rozat ‘Rusty’ Sabich

Raymond Horgan

Alejandro ‘Sandy’ Stern

Barbara Sabich

Judge Larren Lyttle

Harrison Ford – Rozat ‘Rusty’ Sabich
Brian Dennehy – Raymond Horgan
Raul Julia – Alejandro ‘Sandy’ Stern
Bonnie Bedelia – Barbara Sabich
Paul Winfield – Judge Larren Lyttle
Greta Scacchi – Carolyn Polhemus

 

Alan J. Pakula

NA

Sydney Pollack

Mark Rosenberg

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Alan J. Pakula
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
Sydney Pollack, Mark Rosenberg

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 2 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Joel Siegel

John Pym

Dolores Barclay

David Ansen

Ted Pigeon

Chicago Reader

Sight & Sound

Associated Press

Newsweek

Slant Magazine

PRESUMED INNOCENT
 All Critics (56) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (8)
 Presumed Innocent plays the audience for chumps in order to spring its closing-reel Big Whammy.
 
 May 12, 2022 | Rating: 1/4
 
 Joel Siegel
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 Where Presumed Innocent really takes off, though, and begins to catch an authentic flavour of the book is in the courtroom performances.
 
 January 11, 2020
 
 John Pym
 Sight & Sound
 TOP CRITIC
 The movie is plump with twists, turns and blind alleys. Who can be trusted? Who is innocent? Who is guilty?
 
 June 12, 2018
 
 Dolores Barclay
 Associated Press
 TOP CRITIC
 Pakula’s strong suit has always been his work with actors, and he’s got a lot of good ones at his disposal. Ford gives a smart, self-effacing performance.
 
 February 6, 2018
 
 David Ansen
 Newsweek
 TOP CRITIC
 It presents a more intriguing and certainly more complicated portrait of cinema’s historic struggle with representations of female agency and sexuality.
 
 July 30, 2015
 
 Ted Pigeon
 Slant Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 Conscientiously as this movie has been made, it does not work as well as the novel did or as some of Pakula’s other films have.
 
 July 31, 2013
 
 Richard Schickel
 TIME Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 …a refreshingly adult drama that certainly captures the spirit of Turow’s padded-out book.
 
 August 17, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 David Nusair
 Reel Film Reviews
 It is intelligent and absorbing, but it is an entertainment.
 
 April 9, 2019
 
 Hilary Mantel
 The Spectator
 The film’s densely constructed trial sequences are freighted with rich detail, unexpected turns and intimate insights into the criminal justice system.
 
 July 27, 2016 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Dennis King
 Tulsa World
 This could have been a great movie, but, despite being a darn good yarn well told, the essential magic is somehow missing.
 
 July 31, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Sue Heal
 Radio Times
 A thudding disappointment.
 
 July 31, 2013
 
 Candice Russell
 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
 When you get right down to it, Presumed Innocent is really just an elaborate version of the standard courtroom drama — souped-up Perry Mason. On the other hand, this is as good as Perry Mason gets.
 
 July 31, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Gary Thompson
 Philadelphia Daily News…

 

Plot
Rozat Sabich – Rusty to most that know him, even in formal circumstances – is the Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Kindle County, Illinois. His wife, Barbara Sabich, has been struggling with focus on completing her Ph.D. dissertation in Mathemetics – a thus far ten year process – she who nonetheless is applying for a college teaching position. They are generally in a loving, supportive marriage, Barbara who seems to have gotten over Rusty’s infidelity with his colleague Carolyn Polhemus, an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Carolyn is ambitious, she who, in part, used Rusty to try and climb up the ladder. Barbara will still throw the issue of Carolyn in his face whenever there are problems between the two. Rusty and Carolyn’s affair is unknown to others in their personal and professional circles. Rusty is handed the most personal case of his career when his boss and mentor, Chief Prosecuting Attorney Raymond Horgan, assigns him the case to discover who killed Carolyn, her dead body found in her apartment in what looks initially to be a violent rape, with Carolyn eventually strangled and no sign of forced entry, leading to the belief her killer was whoever her lover or possibly someone she prosecuted. Raymond, who is in a difficult reelection campaign, wants a quick resolution to the investigation, as “finding the killer” will greatly increase his chances of getting reelected. Rusty tries to dissuade Raymond from giving him the case because of the affair of which Raymond is unaware, with Rusty eventually having no choice but to accept barring disclosure of the affair. As Rusty proceeds with the investigation, he takes steps to hide the affair largely to protect Barbara and their adolescent son, Nat Sabich. Those measures come back to bite him when they and other evidence collected by the police lead to him being charged for Carolyn’s murder. Rusty hires Sandy Stern, one of his toughest adversaries in a number of previous cases. During the court proceedings, many involved do whatever they can protect their own interest regardless of the truth. Beyond Rusty being convicted or acquitted, a question thus becomes if the truth matters or if the murderer will ever be discovered.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Raul Julia gives a crafty performance as defense attorney Sandy Stein.
 

 
Alan-J.-Pakula.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
John Ford Productions,
 
Distributor
Universal Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Maryland House of Correction – House of Correction Road, Jessup, Maryland, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
 
Year of Release
1990
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Musical
 
Keyword(s)
starring Johnny Depp, Amy Locane, Susan Tyrrell, Polly Bergen, Iggy Pop, Ricki Lake, directed by John Waters, written by John Waters, comedy, musical, PG-13, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Henry Sheehan, Gene Siskel, Peter Rainer, Carrie Rickey, Peter Travers, Michael Upchurch, Cody Corrall, Bruce C Steele, Alan Jones, Ralph Novak, produced by Rachel Talalay, Universal Pictures, Neptune Frost, 18 1/2, H.P Lovecraft’s Witch House, Stay Prayed Up, 11th Hour Cleaning, Sh*t Saves the World, Final Caller, Girl in the Picture, Hello, Goodbye, Everything in Between, Confessions from the Hart, The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus, The Sea Beast, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, Incantation, The Road to Galena, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play
 

Cast & Crew

Johnny Depp

Amy Locane

Susan Tyrrell

Polly Bergen

Iggy Pop

Wade ‘Cry-Baby’ Walker

Allison Vernon-Williams

Ramona Rickettes

Mrs. Vernon-Williams

Allison’s Grandmother

Johnny Depp – Wade ‘Cry-Baby’ Walker
Amy Locane – Allison Vernon-Williams
Susan Tyrrell – Ramona Rickettes
Polly Bergen – Mrs. Vernon-Williams, Allison’s Grandmother
Iggy Pop – Uncle Belvedere Rickettes
Ricki Lake – Pepper Walker

 

John Waters

John Waters

Rachel Talalay

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
John Waters
 
Writer(s)
John Waters
 
Producer(s)
Rachel Talalay

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Henry Sheehan

Gene Siskel

Peter Rainer

Carrie Rickey

Peter Travers

Chicago Reader

Chicago Tribune

Los Angeles Times

Philadelphia Inquirer

Rolling Stone

CRY BABY
 All Critics (57) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (15)
 In fact, the movie is so good- humored that it stands in marked contrast to almost every other mainstream American film out now…
 
 May 12, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Henry Sheehan
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 For a while the actors seem intimidated by the ’50s references, but the film eventually develops a musical energy that carries the day.
 
 January 21, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Gene Siskel
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 Cry-Baby is often sweet-spirited even when its crummy, but there’s also something fetid in its foolery.
 
 January 21, 2015
 
 Peter Rainer
 Los Angeles Times
 TOP CRITIC
 If Cry-Baby has a message, it’s that Cry-Baby and Allison deserve each other because they’re young and they’re beautiful, which certainly runs counter to Waters’ affection for the grotesque, the bad and the ugly.
 
 January 21, 2015 | Rating: 2/4
 
 Carrie Rickey
 Philadelphia Inquirer
 TOP CRITIC
 The wizard of odd still runs amok.
 
 January 21, 2015
 
 Peter Travers
 Rolling Stone
 TOP CRITIC
 It all adds up to zany, wide-eyed, quintessential Waters havoc — the “kinder, gentler” 1990s brand, perhaps. But the genuine article, nonetheless.
 
 January 21, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Michael Upchurch
 Seattle Times
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s not Waters’ most revolutionary or provocative work, but Cry-Baby effectively pokes fun at the sanitized Greases and Romeo and Juliets of the world for the queerdos and freaks alike
 
 June 23, 2021
 
 Cody Corrall
 CINE-FILE
 It’s not at all difficult to declare Cry-Baby the best American movie musical in recent memory.
 
 May 21, 2020
 
 Bruce C. Steele
 OutWeek
 The nostalgic delights in Waters’s reform school drool are often more subtle than his other period offering, Hairspray, but it’s still a polished debunking of pop culture from the “Pope of Trash”.
 
 January 21, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Alan Jones
 Radio Times
 Waters’s writing is woefully uneven. It’s as if Sam Kinison had decided to tell knock-knock jokes — sterile, unfunny knock-knock jokes at that.
 
 January 21, 2015
 
 Ralph Novak
 People Magazine
 As Waters moves to a more conventional type of satire, he is losing some of the edge that gave his earlier films their crass appeal.
 
 January 21, 2015 | Rating: 2/4
 
 Gary Thompson
 Philadelphia Daily News
 John Waters progressed from the truly disgusting (“Pink Flamingoes”) to the truly funny (“Hair Spray”) only to now hit the mainstream wall.
 
 January 21, 2015 | Rating: 1/4
 
 Dan Webster
 Spokesman-Review (Washington)…

 

Plot
Allison is a “square” good girl who has decided she wants to be bad and falls hard for Cry-Baby Walker, a Greaser (or “Drape” in John Waters parlance). Spoofing Elvis movies and Juvenile Delinquency scare films of the ’50s, this movie follows the adventures of Cry-Baby who, though he is sent to juvie, is determined to cross class (and taste) boundaries to get Allison back.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Johnny Depp in his first leading role.
 

 
John-Waters.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Why Not Productions, Chic Films, Page 114
 
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment, Live Video, TriStar Pictures, Image Entertainment Inc.
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Estudios Churubusco Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
 
MPAA / Certificate
R
 
Year of Release
1990
 

 
Genre(s)
Action
 
Keyword(s)
starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside, Marshall Bell, directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Philip K Dick, Jon Povill, Gary Goldman, produced by Buzz Feitshans, Ronald Shusett, action, R rating, box office gross $117.8M, budget, reviewed by Kevin Maher, David Robinson, Nigel Andrews, Desmond Ryan, Tom Huddleston, Johanna Steinmetz, Travis Johnson, Eddie Harrison, Mike Massie, Matt Patches, David Hogan, Dennis King, Phillip K Dick’s ideas, sci-fi, virtual reality, Mars, false memories, violence, gore, humor, twists, turns, practical effects, nudity, provocative, shootouts, twists and turns, must-see
 

Cast & Crew

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Rachel Ticotin

Sharon Stone

Ronny Cox

Michael Ironside

Douglas Quaid

Melina

Lori

Vilos Cohaagen

Richter

Arnold Schwarzenegger – Douglas Quaid
Rachel Ticotin – Melina
Sharon Stone – Lori
Ronny Cox – Vilos Cohaagen
Michael Ironside – Richter
Marshall Bell – George, Kuato

 

Paul Verhoeven

Philip K. Dick

Buzz Feitshans

Ronald Shusett

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Paul Verhoeven
 
Writer(s)
Philip K. Dick, Jon Povill, Gary Goldman
 
Producer(s)
Buzz Feitshans, Ronald Shusett

 

Film Festivals
Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
7 wins & 16 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Kevin Maher

David Robinson

Nigel Andrews

Desmond Ryan

Tom Huddleston

Times

Financial Times

Philadelphia Inquirer

Time Out

Chicago Tribune

TOTAL RECALL
 All Critics (73) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (60) | Rotten (13)
 Forget about the disposable Colin Farrell remake from 2012.
 
 November 20, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Kevin Maher
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 The film’s visual invention is offset by its visceral nastiness. Schwarzenegger’s self-deprecatory good humour prevails none the less.
 
 June 23, 2020
 
 David Robinson
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 Suffice it that machines crackle, futureworlds whirl and beings human and animal metamorphose before our eyes. Sci-fl addicts, see and enjoy. Everyone else may await, though not over-eagerly, the video.
 
 June 23, 2020
 
 Nigel Andrews
 Financial Times
 TOP CRITIC
 Schwarzenegger is never going to make the De Niros and Hoffmans of this world lose a night’s sleep, but he has acquired a new confidence as an actor under Verhoeven’s guidance.
 
 July 27, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Desmond Ryan
 Philadelphia Inquirer
 TOP CRITIC
 Total Recall is slick, sly and subversive, and if some of the special effects have aged somewhat, that only adds to the charm.
 
 July 27, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Tom Huddleston
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 As Quaid, Schwarzenegger continues to stretch beyond his reach as an actor, relying on physical prowess to keep him in character.
 
 July 27, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Johanna Steinmetz
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 Total Recall as a film and Verhoeven as a filmmaker both have serious thematic concerns, beyond the simple, iconoclastic joy of throwing as much blood and boobs at the screen as they could get away with.
 
 June 29, 2021
 
 Travis Johnson
 Blunt Magazine
 …much more than just an Arnie vehicle, it’s got the logic of a bad dream, and that makes for one of the great sci-fi action movies…
 
 February 17, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Eddie Harrison
 film-authority.com
 From the outstandingly inventive prosthetics to the nonstop, volatile hullabaloo piled high with death and laugh-out-loud humor, the film is essential science-fiction viewing.
 
 September 25, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 Though the movie might make you think twice before embarking on a virtual staycation, Total Recall is ideal “escapism” – a big action movie with something to say.
 
 August 11, 2020
 
 Matt Patches
 Polygon
 You get the action, the cheese, and some good sci-fi and practical effects. What’s not to love?
 
 February 7, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 David Hogan
 hoganreviews.co.uk
 All told, Total Recall is a powerful brew of mordant humor, keen wit, refreshing originality and graphic violence.
 
 July 27, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Dennis King
 Tulsa World…

 

Plot
Douglas Quaid is haunted by a recurring dream about a journey to Mars. He hopes to find out more about this dream and buys a holiday at Rekall Inc. where they sell implanted memories. But something goes wrong with the memory implantation and he remembers being a secret agent fighting against the evil Mars administrator Cohaagen. Now the story really begins and it’s a rollercoaster ride until the massive end of the movie.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Total Recall on Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Paul-Verhoeven.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Walter Shenson Films, Proscenium Films,
 
Distributor
Warner Bros.
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Marshall Field & Co. Department Store – 111 N. State Street, The Loop, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
 
Year of Release
1989
 

 
Genre(s)
Holiday/Comedy
 
Keyword(s)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, PG-13, holiday, comedy, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Diane Ladd, John Randolph, E.G Marshall, directed by Jeremiah S Chechik, written by John Hughes, produced by John Hughes and Tom Jacobson, reviewed by William Thomas, Time Out Staff, Steve Simels, THR Staff, Variety Staff, Nell Minow, Paul McGuire Grimes, Andy Davis, Jo Berry, Jared Mobarak, Ralph Novak, box office gross $70.0M, MPAA rating PG-13, Warner Bros., Christmas, dysfunctional family, holiday bonus, tree decorations, camper, extended family, festive season, American family, authentic characters, positive message, laughs, good cheer, solid seasonal treat
 

Cast & Crew

Chevy Chase

Beverly D’Angelo

Randy Quaid

Diane Ladd

John Randolph

Clark Wilhelm Griswold

Jr

Ellen Griswold

Cousin Eddie Johnson

Nora Griswold

Chevy Chase – Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr.
Beverly D’Angelo – Ellen Griswold
Randy Quaid – Cousin Eddie Johnson
Diane Ladd – Nora Griswold
John Randolph – Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Sr.
E.G. Marshall – Art Smith

 

Jeremiah S. Chechik

John Hughes

John Hughes

Tom Jacobson

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Jeremiah S. Chechik
 
Writer(s)
John Hughes
 
Producer(s)
John Hughes, Tom Jacobson

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

William Thomas

Time Out Staff

Steve Simels

THR Staff

Variety Staff

Empire Magazine

Time Out

Entertainment Weekly

Hollywood Reporter

Variety

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
 All Critics (46) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (31) | Rotten (15)
 If it doesn’t make you at least giggle, then you clearly don’t understand the true meaning of the festive season.
 
 August 12, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 William Thomas
 Empire Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 Sure, it’s crude, episodic and half the jokes don’t work, but ‘Christmas Vacation’ may be the only modern Christmas comedy which really stands up to repeat viewings.
 
 August 12, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Time Out Staff
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 Chase’s befuddled Dad remains a genuinely amusing creation, and the sight gags are impeccably timed.
 
 August 12, 2020
 
 Steve Simels
 Entertainment Weekly
 TOP CRITIC
 In National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Chevy Chase’s family Christmas tree is a little full with a lot of sap, much like this movie. But it’s a big-hearted fullness and it’s a smoothly stirred sap.
 
 December 2, 2014
 
 THR Staff
 Hollywood Reporter
 TOP CRITIC
 Solid family fare with plenty of yocks.
 
 November 27, 2007
 
 Variety Staff
 Variety
 TOP CRITIC
 September 4, 2003 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Nell Minow
 Movie Mom
 TOP CRITIC
 I will laugh out loud every time I watch this…my favorite from the Vacation franchise…
 
 November 4, 2020
 
 Paul McGuire Grimes
 KSTP-TV (St. Paul, MN)
 Chevy Chase has some good moments, and those who enjoy his double-talk and pratfalls will find some redeeming value in this lukewarm movie.
 
 August 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Andy Davis
 Common Sense Media
 It’s silly in the extreme, and the only relief comes from Randy Quaid’s performance as an obnoxious relative.
 
 August 12, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Jo Berry
 Radio Times
 Its nostalgic look at the season’s chaotic brand of heightened emotions and frustrations is universal for anyone who’s used to entertaining the extended family under one festive roof.
 
 August 12, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
 
 Jared Mobarak
 Jaredmobarak.com
 Every comic turn is predictable-from the electrocuted cat to the Scrooge-ified ending.
 
 August 12, 2020
 
 Ralph Novak
 People Magazine
 This film by John Hughes marks the third in the National Lampoon vacation-in-hell series, and is just about as inane as expected. Happily, this film is a lot funnier than expected, too.
 
 August 12, 2020
 
 Dorothy Keenan
 Buffalo News…

 

Plot
It’s Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark’s continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The review mentions Chevy Chase’s character, Clark Griswold, as a “befuddled Dad” and “a genuinely amusing creation.”
 

 
Jeremiah-S.-Chechik.jpg