Lassie (2006)
80%RT Audience Score: 64%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Lassie, the beloved collie that captured our hearts in 1943, has returned to the big screen in a heartwarming and beautifully crafted family film. Writer and director Charles Sturridge has stayed true to the original short story, delivering a film that is both emotionally resonant and visually stunning. Lassie proves to be top dog once again, as she navigates the challenges of a grown-up world alongside her human companions. This film is a welcome throwback to the carefully crafted family films of the studio era, and a reminder that sometimes the simplest stories are the most powerful. So grab your tissues and prepare to cry and cheer as Lassie comes home once again.
Lassie is the ultimate feel-good movie for dog lovers and families alike. This classic tale of a boy and his dog will have you laughing, crying, and cheering all at once. The stunning Yorkshire scenery and heartwarming performances from the cast will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good collie? So grab some popcorn, snuggle up with your furry friend, and get ready for a movie that will make you believe in the power of love and loyalty.
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Marvel Enterprises Marvel Studios,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-PG
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Nov 14, 2006
Genre(s)
Adventure
Keyword(s)
Lassie, Adventure, PG, Peter O’Toole, Samantha Morton, John Lynch, Peter Dinklage, Steve Pemberton, Jemma Redgrave, directed by Charles Sturridge, written by Charles Sturridge, produced by Ed Guiney, Francesca Barra, Charles Sturridge, reviewed by Michael Wilmington, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Steven D Greydanus, Richard Roeper, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Nancy Churnin, Richard Propes, Debbie Lynn Elias, Jane Boursaw, Simon Weaving, Cole Smithey, box office gross $651.4K, budget unknown, World War II, collie, family film, Yorkshire, unemployment, dog-lover, emotional, heart-warming, faithful, journey, reunion, Duke of Rudling, granddaughter, MPAA rating PG, some mild violent 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.): 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
Samantha Morton – Sarah Carraclough
John Lynch – Sam Carraclough
Peter Dinklage – Rowlie
Steve Pemberton – Eddie Hynes
Jemma Redgrave – Daisy
Charles Sturridge – Director, Writer
Ed Guiney – Producer
Francesca Barra – Producer
Director(s)
Charles Sturridge
Writer(s)
Charles Sturridge
Producer(s)
Ed Guiney, Francesca Barra, Charles Sturridge
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (70) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (5)
Dog and movie lovers, take note: Lassie has come home.
December 26, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
It’s a welcome throwback to the carefully crafted family films of the studio era.
December 26, 2006
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Knows that kids live in a grown-up world, that they are not isolated from such realities as unemployment or war, and can relate to the problems of adult characters as well as those of children and animals.
September 8, 2006 | Rating: A-
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
I think just one of the best family films of the year.
September 5, 2006
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
TOP CRITIC
Lassie proves to be top dog in her latest feature film.
September 2, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Kathy Cano-Murillo
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
…The collie that became a star back in 1943 can still make you cry and cheer in the all-new Lassie.
September 2, 2006 | Rating: B+
Nancy Churnin
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Without a doubt, the best kind of family film that exists.
September 13, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Lassie has finally come home — Come home to the big screen and back into our hearts where she belongs.
November 13, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
Schmaltzy return for classic cinema canine.
January 1, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Jane Boursaw
Common Sense Media
This story of a boy and his dog comes home to its roots in Yorkshire with a beautifully sensitive and traditional rendering. Using the original 1938 short story as its source, writer & director Charles Sturridge %u2013 best known for his superb work on Br
October 10, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/5
Simon Weaving
Screenwize
Writer/director Charles Sturridge adapts the heart-warming story with strict attention to its modest emotional underpinnings of family, devotion, and a beautiful collie.
April 20, 2009 | Rating: B
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
An ode to the beleaguered people who face hardships, physical and emotional, with hopeful optimism.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 7/10
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies…
Plot
During World War II, a family is forced to sell their beloved collie, Lassie, to the Duke of Rudling, but when Lassie escapes, she embarks on a 500-mile journey to reunite with her family in the heartwarming adventure film, Lassie.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Peter O’Toole stars as the Duke of Rudling in Lassie.
Charles-Sturridge.jpg
80%
Sketches of Frank Gehry (2006)
80%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
This affectionate, casually framed portrait of the acclaimed architect reveals him to be an engaging, likeable subject
If you’re looking for a documentary that’s both informative and entertaining, Sketches of Frank Gehry is the perfect pick. While some critics may argue that it lacks a critical edge, it’s hard not to be charmed by Gehry’s witty and amiable personality. Plus, the shots of his stunning buildings – including the iconic Guggenheim in Bilbao – are enough to make anyone appreciate his genius. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or just a fan of great architecture, this documentary is definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Pakula-Mulligan Brentwood Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Aug 22, 2006
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Frank Gehry, architect, Sydney Pollack, PG-13, Ultan Guilfoyle, $437.5K, Barry Diller, Michael Eisner, Bob Geldof, Dennis Hopper, Michael Ovitz, reviewed by Roger Moore, Derek Malcolm, Anthony Quinn, Sukhdev Sandhu, Peter Bradshaw, James Christopher, Dorothy Woodend, Enrique Buchichio, Anton Bitel, David Noh, Cherryl Dawson, Leigh Ann Palone, directed by Sydney Pollack, written by Sydney Pollack, starring Barry Diller, Michael Eisner, Bob Geldof, Dennis Hopper, Michael Ovitz, Sydney Pollack
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
Michael Eisner – Self
Bob Geldof – Self
Dennis Hopper – Self
Michael Ovitz – Self
Sydney Pollack – Self
Director(s)
Sydney Pollack
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Ultan Guilfoyle
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (77) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (14)
May 13, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The result is a persuasive movie which proves beyond doubt that at least some geniuses are intensely practical as well as intuitive.
June 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
While Pollack continually favours celebrity gush over objective analysis, the shots of Gehry’s buildings – the Guggenheim in Bilbao being the centrepiece – and his stunning use of light do make a case for him as a genuine visionary.
June 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
What’s missing is a critical edge.
June 29, 2007
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
an intelligent piece of partisan adoration – although he gives some space to Gehry’s detractors, too.
June 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Ultimately the picture is as revealing about the director as it is about the subject. But it won’t appeal to those who like their documentaries to come armed with teeth.
June 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
James Christopher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Pollack is not a particularly introspective documentary maker; he is content to let his subject merely expound and ramble at length. However, in Gehry’s case, this actually works. He is a good raconteur: witty and amiable.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
(…) Un documental que debería ver todo aquel que alguna vez haya sentido la necesidad o las ganas de crear algo, ya sea una pieza de cerámica, un edificio o una película.
October 13, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total
too vague for real insight, too conventional to match its subject’s iconoclasm, and too affectionate to offer a truly critical account of the Gehry phenomenon.
June 21, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Anton Bitel
Film4
[Pollack] and Gehry share a long friendship, which is evident in this elegant, diverting, affectionate documentary.
March 1, 2007
David Noh
Film Journal International
Watching Frank work in his studio is a lesson in creativity. He seems to pride himself on buildings with no right angles; it all comes together to create facades that stand out in a skyline.
December 20, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com
The film is a credit to Sydney Pollack, whose warm and intelligent style infiltrates this fascinating documentary allowing us the pleasure of spending some time with an architect whose approach to design is as fundamental as to life itself
November 10, 2006
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile…
Plot
“Sketches of Frank Gehry” is a documentary that explores the life and work of architect Frank Gehry, featuring interviews with friends and admirers and examining his creative process and rise to prominence in the world of architecture.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels database.
Sydney-Pollack.jpg
80%
A History of Violence (2005)
80%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
37 wins & 84 nominations total
A History of Violence raises compelling and thoughtful questions about the nature of violence, while representing a return to form for director David Cronenberg in one of his more uncharacteristic pieces
A History of Violence is a movie that will leave you questioning your own morality and why you enjoy watching people get hurt so much. Cronenberg’s direction is both measured and explosive, and the cast is excellent, especially Harris, who plays a steely-eyed and snaky character. The violence that enters the characters’ perfect domestic existence is permanent, and each act reveals truths about the people who use it and the audience who enjoys it. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking and morally ambiguous film that’s worth watching, but maybe not on a first date.
Production Company(ies)
Santana Pictures, Corporation,
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Millbrook, Ontario, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong brutal violence, graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some drug use
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 36m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2005 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 14, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt, Ashton Holmes, Stephen McHattie, Peter MacNeill, directed by David Cronenberg, written by Josh Olson, drama, R-rated, box office gross $31.5M, reviewed by Christy Lemire, David Denby, Joe Morgenstern, Radheyan Simonpillai, Richard Falcon, Ken Tucker, David Harris, Tom Meek, Ed Travis, Felicia Feaster, produced by J.C Spink, Chris Bender, New Line Cinema, graphic sexuality, nudity, strong brutal violence, language, some drug use, Sheriff Sam Carney, Leland Jones, Richie Cusack, Jack Stall, Tom Stall, Edie Stall, Philadelphia mobster, small-town diner, violent past, family man, moral ambiguity, sexual perversity, alternative realities, heroism, hero worship, villainy, cause and effect, family dynamics, flat aspect ratio, surround sound mix
Worldwide gross: $61,385,065
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $93,549,816
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,047
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,201,725
US/Canada gross: $31,504,633
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $48,012,536
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,090
US/Canada opening weekend: $364,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $554,730
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,378
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $32,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $48,767,467
Production budget ranking: 811
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $26,261,281
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,521,068
ROI to date (est.): 25%
ROI ranking: 1,267
Maria Bello – Edie Stall
William Hurt – Richie Cusack
Ashton Holmes – Jack Stall
Stephen McHattie – Leland Jones
Peter MacNeill – Sheriff Sam Carney
Director(s)
David Cronenberg
Writer(s)
Josh Olson
Producer(s)
J.C. Spink, Chris Bender
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
37 wins & 84 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (215) | Top Critics (56) | Fresh (188) | Rotten (27)
The less you know about this movie before seeing it — and you really should see it — the better.
April 15, 2013
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
Cronenberg’s direction, mirroring the split in Tom, is alternately measured and frighteningly explosive, and, as always, he gives the movie a nasty underlay of sexual perversity.
April 15, 2013
David Denby
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
This peculiarly predictable picture has been calculated, or miscalculated, to set up certain expectations, fulfill them, and then do the same thing again, thereby giving us a chance to see what’s coming and, at least in theory, be shocked.
April 15, 2013
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
The violence that enters the characters’ perfect domestic existence is permanent, and each act reveals truths about the people who use it and the audience who enjoys it.
June 7, 2010 | Rating: 83/100
Radheyan Simonpillai
AskMen.com
TOP CRITIC
Cronenberg’s masterful, intelligent and gripping meta-thriller leaves us pondering about our enduringly perverse desire for alternative realities, in which surrogate violent alter egos run righteously and preposterously amok.
September 28, 2006
Richard Falcon
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
A remarkably convincing examination of heroism, hero worship, and the seductive allure of villainy.
May 12, 2006
Ken Tucker
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
With A History of Violence, Cronenberg dares us to examine why we enjoy blood and gore so much.
March 3, 2021
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
The cast is excellent, especially Harris, steely-eyed and snaky, with William Hurt and Maria Bello…
November 13, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
A History of Violence was my favorite film of the year…
April 10, 2020
Ed Travis
Hollywood Jesus
[An] intense, thoughtful, morally ambiguous film.
January 30, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
Reveals its hand way too early, and then proceeds to deliver a second hour that left me cold.
November 19, 2019 | Rating: C+
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
A fully realized, wholly rendered, singular work of art.
June 5, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)…
Plot
Leading a happy and quiet life with his lawyer wife and their two children in the small town of Millbrook, Indiana, mild-mannered Tom Stall cherishes his simple, uneventful existence. However, their idyllic lifestyle is shattered when, one night, Tom saves his customers and friends in self-defence, foiling a vicious attempted robbery in his diner by two violent wanted criminals. Now, heralded as a local hero, Tom’s life is changed overnight, attracting unwanted attention, and a national media feeding frenzy. Uncomfortable with his newfound celebrity, Tom tries to return to normalcy, only to find himself confronted by a mysterious man who arrives in town believing Tom is the man who wronged him in the past. More and more, as Tom and his family struggle to cope with their new reality and this case of mistaken identity, they have no other choice but to fight back and protect all that they hold dear. But, is there more to Tom than meets the eye? Does he have, indeed, a history of violence?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of A History of Violence includes Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, and William Hurt.
David-Cronenberg.jpg
80%
Being Julia (2004)
80%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
9 wins & 19 nominations total
Annette Bening delivers a captivating performance in Being Julia, a sophisticated comedy that follows a 1930s stage diva who experiences an identity crisis at age 40
Annette Bening shines in Being Julia, playing a ferocious and flamboyant actress who is constantly disguised. While the movie isn’t for kids, it’s definitely worth watching for Bening’s masterful performance. She brings the character to life with such vitality that you can’t help but be swept away by her. The movie is a witty and insightful portrait of a woman searching for her true identity, but it’s also aloof and inconsequential at times. Overall, Being Julia is a beguiling romance that will leave you entertained and impressed by Bening’s acting chops.
Production Company(ies)
T A T Communications, Company,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Kecskemét, Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexuality
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 44m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2005
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons, Bruce Greenwood, Miriam Margolyes, Juliet Stevenson, Shaun Evans, Lucy Punch, directed by István Szabó, written by Ronald Harwood, comedy, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, Nick Schager, Roger Moore, Andrew Sarris, Richard Nilsen, Stella Papamichael, Mark Halverson, Kam Williams, Betsy Bozdech, Marty Mapes, Enrique Buchichio, R rating, aging actress, identity crisis, affair, revenge, theater, stage diva, American actor, MPAA rating, Sony Pictures Classics, Robert Lantos, 1930s, passion, career, love, manipulation, music, theatrical life, control, veteran actress, younger lover, romance, sophisticated comedy
Worldwide gross: $14,339,171
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $21,852,658
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,684
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,383,060
US/Canada gross: $7,739,049
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,794,182
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,567
US/Canada opening weekend: $122,214
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $186,252
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,687
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $27,431,700
Production budget ranking: 1,206
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,771,970
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$20,351,013
ROI to date (est.): -48%
ROI ranking: 1,681
Jeremy Irons – Michael Gosselyn
Bruce Greenwood – Lord Charles
Miriam Margolyes – Dolly de Vries
Juliet Stevenson – Evie
Shaun Evans – Tom
Director(s)
István Szabó
Writer(s)
Ronald Harwood
Producer(s)
Robert Lantos
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
9 wins & 19 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (124) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (95) | Rotten (29)
Annette Bening is great, but this isn’t for kids.
October 14, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Benning … brings this constantly disguised vixen to ferocious, flamboyant life.
May 3, 2005 | Rating: C
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
It is Bening that’s worth the price of admission. She makes even the corniest line ring true.
November 19, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
I enjoyed watching Ms. Bening in close to top form, and I think you will, too.
November 18, 2004
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Bening brings such vitality to the role that she sweeps aside all the quibbles, and you have to sit back and enjoy what is a masterly performance by a great actor playing a great actor.
November 18, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
At best this is a witty and insightful portrait of a woman searching for her true identity; however it’s also aloof and inconsequential.
November 16, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 2/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
A beguiling romance about an aging actress at the peak of her career who embarks on an ill-advised, illicit affair with an admirer half her age.
February 17, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Kam Williams
Princeton Town Topics
Annette Bening is the movie; her performance … is the kind that will pop up on “best of” lists for years to come.
October 22, 2006 | Rating: 4/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com
One of the best movies from this year’s Telluride Film Festival
February 5, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit
(…) Bening recorre todas las emociones posibles, desde la euforia histrica hasta la ms absoluta depresin.
August 27, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total
While much of Being Julia’s appeal stems from no one being as fabulous as [Julia] is, the lack of a worthy sparring partner diminishes the fun.
April 13, 2005 | Rating: C
Mark Pfeiffer
Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema…
Plot
1938. Julia Lambert (Annette Bening) and Michael Gosselyn (Jeremy Irons) are the royal couple of the London theater scene, Julia, an actress, and Michael, a former actor, who took over running the theater and its troupe after the death of their mentor, Jimmy Langton (Sir Michael Gambon). Jimmy is still constantly with Julia in spirit as she navigates through life. Besides their work, Julia and Michael lead largely separate lives, they, long ago having stopped a sexual relationship. Julia of late has been feeling disenchanted with her life, she not wanting to admit it’s because she is approaching middle age. Her disenchantments manifests itself in wanting Michael to close their current production early so that she can recharge her juices, something he is reluctant to do if only for not wanting to let the theater sit empty. What Julia ends up doing instead is embarking on an affair with Tom Fennel (Shaun Evans), an adoring young American who is young enough to be her son. As Julia and Tom’s relationship progresses, the more she falls in love with him and becomes dependent upon him for her happiness. But as she finds out that Tom is not as innocent and shy as he first made himself to seem, she may learn that Tom cannot be that direct conduit to happiness and fulfillment at this stage in her life. However, she may find an avenue through Tom that may truly re-energize her for herself.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Annette Bening delivers a captivating performance as the aging stage actress Julia Lambert.
István-Szabó.jpg
80%
Bon Voyage (2004)
80%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
9 wins & 19 nominations total
Bon Voyage is a delightful and entertaining romp through World War II-era France, complete with murder, Nazis, and a dash of romance. The film’s all-star cast brings a theatricality to the proceedings that is perfectly balanced by the materiality of the cinema, making for a rollicking adventure yarn with a Hitchcockian flavour. While some may find the movie too cavalier and shallow for its weighty subject matter, it’s hard not to be swept up in the ingeniously plotted story and the interesting and believable characters that populate it. Overall, Bon Voyage is a stylish and enjoyable addition to the genre of all-star comedy-adventure-romance that has traditionally gone down well in France.
Bon Voyage is like a French version of Ocean’s Eleven, but with more romance and adventure. The all-star cast brings their A-game to this stylish and entertaining film. It’s a fun ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns. If you’re in the mood for a World War II-era farce with a touch of Hitchcock, then Bon Voyage is the perfect movie for you. Just make sure you brush up on your French or don’t mind reading subtitles!
Production Company(ies)
Canal+ España Canal+ La Fabrique 2
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Kecskemét, Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexuality
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 54m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:France
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 21, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 15, 2005
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $14,339,171
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $21,852,658
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,684
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,383,060
US/Canada gross: $7,739,049
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,794,182
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,567
US/Canada opening weekend: $122,214
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $186,252
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,687
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $27,431,700
Production budget ranking: 1,206
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,771,970
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$20,351,013
ROI to date (est.): -48%
ROI ranking: 1,681
Elsa Lanchester – Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, The Monster’s Mate
Colin Clive – Dr. Henry Frankenstein
Valerie Hobson – Elizabeth Frankenstein
O.P. Heggie – Hermit
Una O’Connor – Minnie
Director(s)
Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Writer(s)
Gilles Marchand, Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Julien Rappeneau, Jérôme Tonnerre
Producer(s)
Laurent Pétin, Michèle Pétin
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
9 wins & 19 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (98) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (75) | Rotten (23)
This genre of all-star comedy-adventure-romance has traditionally gone down well in France and Bon Voyage has a really opulent professionalism, a merry sweep.
December 14, 2017
Antonia Quirke
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
No more than a shallow, style-mad entertainment, but it never flags or loses its balance, and, despite the theatricality of the staging and the acting, it’s precisely the materiality of the cinema … that makes us devour it with pleasure.
August 1, 2004
David Denby
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
If you like to read subtitles or comprehend French and the beautiful people who speak it, Bon Voyage is a perfectly delightful time-killer at the movies.
May 21, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Handsomely staged, ingeniously plotted and played with evident enjoyment, this is mainstream arthouse at its most entertaining.
May 14, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Not only does the plot have the required twists and the action keep us at the edge of our seats, but the story is populated with interesting and believable characters.
May 13, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
It’s a rollicking adventure yarn with a stellar cast and an engaging Hitchcockian flavour.
May 11, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Neil Smith
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Although visually appealing, the movie is too cavalier and shallow for its more weighty subject matter.
May 4, 2009 | Rating: C+
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Has the kind of clear-cut characters, melodramatic twists, and rapid-fire dialogue of Hollywood’s Golden Era — albeit with a modern polish.
October 29, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com
Are you ready for a World War II, romantic, murder-in-Act-One, escape-from-the-Nazis, French farce?
July 3, 2005
Brandon Judell
New York Theatre Wire
This is one nutty, but enjoyable movie.
February 6, 2005 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
Bon Voyage has much to commend it – but by the time it is over, you will be more likely to bid it a relieved ‘adieu’ than a dewy-eyed ‘au revoir’.
January 15, 2005
Anton Bitel
Movie Gazette
A nonstop, peripatetic, neo Hitchcockian farce…captures the chaos of a government in ruin.
September 26, 2004 | Rating: 9/10
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com…
Plot
1938. Julia Lambert (Annette Bening) and Michael Gosselyn (Jeremy Irons) are the royal couple of the London theater scene, Julia, an actress, and Michael, a former actor, who took over running the theater and its troupe after the death of their mentor, Jimmy Langton (Sir Michael Gambon). Jimmy is still constantly with Julia in spirit as she navigates through life. Besides their work, Julia and Michael lead largely separate lives, they, long ago having stopped a sexual relationship. Julia of late has been feeling disenchanted with her life, she not wanting to admit it’s because she is approaching middle age. Her disenchantments manifests itself in wanting Michael to close their current production early so that she can recharge her juices, something he is reluctant to do if only for not wanting to let the theater sit empty. What Julia ends up doing instead is embarking on an affair with Tom Fennel (Shaun Evans), an adoring young American who is young enough to be her son. As Julia and Tom’s relationship progresses, the more she falls in love with him and becomes dependent upon him for her happiness. But as she finds out that Tom is not as innocent and shy as he first made himself to seem, she may learn that Tom cannot be that direct conduit to happiness and fulfillment at this stage in her life. However, she may find an avenue through Tom that may truly re-energize her for herself.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Jean-Paul-Rappeneau.jpg
80%
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
80%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: 29 wins & 17 nominations
Extremely one-sided in its indictment of the Bush administration, but worth watching for the humor and the debates it’ll stir
Fahrenheit 9/11 is like a rollercoaster ride, but instead of loops and drops, you get a wild ride through the political landscape of America. Michael Moore’s documentary is not for the faint of heart, but it’s definitely worth the ride. It’s a bit like a superhero movie, with Moore as the hero fighting against the forces of evil. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good superhero movie? So grab your popcorn and get ready for a wild ride through the world of politics.
Production Company(ies)
Film4 Ingenious Film Partners Special Treats Production Company,
Distributor
Lionsgate Films, Fellowship Adventure Group, IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Baghdad, Iraq
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violent and disturbing images, and for language
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 1m
-
Language(s):English, Arabic
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 23, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 3, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore, documentary, politics, Bush administration, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, 9/11 attacks, media, Saudi Arabia, corporations, special interests, R rating, Lionsgate Films, Fellowship Adventure Group, IFC Films, $119.1M box office, directed by Michael Moore, written by Michael Moore, produced by Michael Moore, reviewed by Joe Morgenstern, Namrata Joshi, Kent Jones, Nell Minow, Nick Schager, Mark Cousins, David Walsh, Mattie Lucas, Mark Steyn, Geoffrey O’Brien, Thomas Peyser, starring Michael Moore, Ben Affleck, Stevie Wonder, George W Bush, James Baker, Tom Daschle
Worldwide gross: $222,446,882
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $350,906,934
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 435
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 38,266,841
US/Canada gross: $119,194,771
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $188,028,132
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 392
US/Canada opening weekend: $23,920,637
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $37,734,480
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 340
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $6,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $9,464,918
Production budget ranking: 1,701
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,096,859
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $336,345,157
ROI to date (est.): 2,310%
ROI ranking: 41
Ben Affleck – Self
Stevie Wonder – Self
George W. Bush – Self
James Baker – Self
Tom Daschle – Self
Director(s)
Michael Moore
Writer(s)
Michael Moore
Producer(s)
Michael Moore
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
29 wins & 17 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (237) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (195) | Rotten (42)
The good stuff — and there’s some extremely good stuff — keeps getting tainted by Mr. Moore’s poison-camera penchant for drawing dark inferences from dubious evidence.
January 7, 2019
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
In all, Fahrenheit 9/11 is a great counterpoint to the Fox News brand of propaganda. It’s also a crusade in its own way.
January 7, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
Much more than a scathing indictment of Dubya-era complicity, Michael Moore’s exposé lays bare the devastating heartbreak now central to America’s wartime reality.
November 19, 2013
Kent Jones
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Controversial documentary best for older teens.
December 24, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Fair and balanced, as Fox News might say, this is not.
May 3, 2005
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
Ranks, as a work of cinema, with the best of Santiago Alvarez and Esfir Shub.
October 6, 2004
Mark Cousins
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Fahrenheit 9/11 is an admirable film, remarkable in certain parts, done with considerable and heart-felt sincerity.
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
A documentary tour de force that transcends mere finger-pointing and name-calling for a much higher purpose.
June 5, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)
When a director who’s not exactly known for admirable forbearance suddenly starts exercising it, you can’t help wondering why. Later on in the movie, the old forbearance goes out the window.
January 27, 2018
Mark Steyn
The Spectator
The movie works by the primal curiosity that lured people into nickelodeons, the desire to see what comes next in the string of attractions; and unlike some of those nickelodeon operators, Moore makes good on the promise.
August 21, 2017
Geoffrey O’Brien
The New York Review of Books
Michael Moore’s fierce and funny Fahrenheit 9/11 is not so much a documentary as a mythology, reducing geopolitical complexities to a neat, tawdry narrative.
June 3, 2009
Thomas Peyser
Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)
People say Moore is Un-American for creating a documentary against the president, well, it’s Un-American not to explore other’s views.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed…
Plot
Following up on ‘Bowling for Columbine’, film-maker Michael Moore provides deep and though-provoking insights on the American security system, the level of paranoia, fear, uncertainty, false values and patriotism, which all combined together to set a stage for George W. Bush to launch a war on Iraq instead of focusing on getting the real culprit(s) behind the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This documentary also focuses on how some Saudis were safely and secretly flown out of America while planes were ostensibly grounded after the attacks. Archived film footage, candid interviews with politicians, and an overall waste of public funds for a war that was initiated on false pretension to wit: a weapon of mass distraction – to take the focus away from the real enemy and get Americans glued to their TV sets to watch innocent Iraqis and Afghans getting killed. And a war that would eventually alienate the U.S.A. and its citizens from almost every country on Earth.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features appearances from Ben Affleck, Stevie Wonder, and George W. Bush himself.
Michael-Moore.jpg
80%
House of Sand and Fog (2003)
80%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
13 wins & 42 nominations total
Powerful and thought provoking film
House of Sand and Fog is a movie that will make you feel all the emotions, from tragedy to melodrama to pitch-perfect performances. Ben Kingsley and Shohreh Aghdashloo are the real stars of the show, but the film’s over-calculated heaviness can make you feel like you’re being throttled. However, if you’re in the mood for a demanding, provoking, and painfully slow drama, this one’s for you. Just make sure you have some tissues handy, because the denouement is calculated to wring out every last tear.
Production Company(ies)
Decia Films, Amazonas Images Solares Fondazione delle arti
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG, Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Pacifica, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violence/disturbing images, language and a scene of sexuality
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 6m
-
Language(s):English, Persian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 26, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 30, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $16,763,804
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,444,673
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,596
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,883,825
US/Canada gross: $13,040,288
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,570,877
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,404
US/Canada opening weekend: $45,572
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $71,889
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,064
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $16,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26,028,526
Production budget ranking: 1,230
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,016,361
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$13,600,214
ROI to date (est.): -34%
ROI ranking: 1,591
Ben Kingsley – Massoud Amir
Director(s)
Vadim Perelman
Writer(s)
Vadim Perelman, Shawn Otto, Andre Dubus
Producer(s)
Michael London
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
13 wins & 42 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (183) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (136) | Rotten (47)
While the book reads as tragedy, the film feels like melodrama, and really hasn’t the guts for Connolly’s natural spirit and warmth, or Kingsley’s beautiful canniness. They both feel completely throttled, done in by the film’s over-calculated heaviness.
December 20, 2017
Antonia Quirke
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
… it recaptured my attention with the pitch-perfect performances of both Ben Kingsley and Shohreh Aghdashloo.
September 12, 2017 | Rating: B+
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
Serious and thoughtful; for mature teens+.
December 24, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
The vivid clarity of the images, the compressed fury of the tale, are impossible to get out of your head.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Perelman and his long-suffering stars make a spectacle of pain, but fail to register any lighter notes, while the denouement seems calculated to wring out every last tear.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Demanding, provoking and painfully slow. The single most compelling reason for seeing it is the magnificent performance from Kingsley, who deserves every prize on the books.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Angie Errigo
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The intuition that violent, terrible acts flow inexorably in part from Americans’ unawareness and incomprehension of the simplest facts of their own lives is undeniably true.
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
A lack of empathetic characters cripples this poorly paced but well acted drama about an Iranian family who purchase a city-auctioned bungalow in Northern California after its former tenant has been unjustly evicted.
May 9, 2009 | Rating: C
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
A fiercely powerful and melancholy tale about dreams, aspirations and belonging, House of Sand and Fog is a marvellous adaptation.
October 18, 2008
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
Vadim Perelman’s “House of Sand and Fog” is one of the low points of the current movie season. But then it’s meant to be.
November 18, 2005 | Rating: B+
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
The dramatic scheme is to show how two people … intersect “tragically,” but what we see is a group of characters who act as wrongheadedly and intransigently as imaginable.
July 19, 2005
Alan Dale
Blogcritics.org…
Plot
An emotionally broken woman, Kathy, suddenly finds herself homeless after her house is wrongly repossessed and auctioned. Seeking respite from his marriage, Lester, a sympathetic sheriff’s deputy comes to the aid of Kathy and becomes intimately involved in her situation. Soon, Behrani, a proud emigrant Iranian and his family move into the house only to find their new lives burdened by harassment from Lester and Kathy as they attempt to reclaim her former home. The once prosperous colonel denies Kathy’s pleas for he knows his recent purchase promises a profitable return and a better future for his adolescent son and his wife. But latent consequences lie beneath Behrani’s well intentioned plan as Kathy’s emotions spiral out of control and her actions spark a tragic chain of events that will leave no resident unscathed in the House of Sand and Fog.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ben Kingsley delivers a “strong performance” as Iranian immigrant Massoud Amir Behrani.
Vadim-Perelman.jpg
80%
House of Sand (2006)
80%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
13 wins & 42 nominations total
The House of Sand is a film that is both visually stunning and emotionally captivating. The cinematography by Ricardo della Rosa is nothing short of breathtaking, capturing the beauty and desolation of the Brazilian desert in a way that is both haunting and mesmerizing. While some critics have criticized the film for lacking in story and incident, I would argue that the simplicity of the plot allows the film to focus on the characters and their relationships, resulting in a deeply romantic and moving experience. The performances by Fernanda Montenegro and Fernanda Torres are powerful and passionate, and their gradual evolutions are a testament to their incredible acting abilities. Overall, The House of Sand is a must-see for anyone who appreciates artful filmmaking and a good love story.
The House of Sand is like a beautiful painting that you stare at for hours, but then realize you have no idea what it’s supposed to mean. The stunning visuals and passionate performances are enough to keep you engaged, but the lack of a clear story or purpose can leave you feeling a bit lost in the desert. It’s definitely worth a watch if you’re in the mood for something artsy and introspective, but don’t expect to come away with any profound insights.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Pacifica, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violence/disturbing images, language and a scene of sexuality
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Persian
-
Country of origin:Brazil
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Fernanda Montenegro, Fernanda Torres, Ruy Guerra, Seu Jorge, Luiz Melodia, Enrique Díaz, directed by Andrucha Waddington, written by Elena Soarez, Luiz Carlos Barreto, Andrucha Waddington, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Roger Moore, Robert Denerstein, Michael Booth, Ann Hornaday, Marta Barber, Terry Lawson, Fernando F Croce, Dennis Schwartz, Phil Villarreal, Philip Martin, Beth Accomando, produced by Leonardo Monteiro de Barros, Pedro Buarque de Hollanda, Andrucha Waddington, Pedro Guimaraes, R-rated, Brazilian tale, mother and daughter relationship, prolonged isolation, harsh desert, northern Brazil, pregnant woman, local man, establish a modest home, dreams of escape, accept her fate, Dolby Digital
Worldwide gross: $16,763,804
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,444,673
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,596
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,883,825
US/Canada gross: $13,040,288
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,570,877
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,404
US/Canada opening weekend: $45,572
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $71,889
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,064
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $16,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26,028,526
Production budget ranking: 1,230
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,016,361
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$13,600,214
ROI to date (est.): -34%
ROI ranking: 1,591
Fernanda Torres – Áurea, Maria
Ruy Guerra – Vasco de Sá
Seu Jorge – Massu (1910-1919)
Luiz Melodia – Massu (1942)
Enrique Díaz – Luiz (1919)
Director(s)
Andrucha Waddington
Writer(s)
Elena Soarez, Luiz Carlos Barreto, Andrucha Waddington
Producer(s)
Leonardo Monteiro de Barros, Pedro Buarque de Hollanda, Andrucha Waddington, Pedro Guimaraes
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
13 wins & 42 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (70) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (15)
Evocative as it can be, House of Sand doesn’t have enough story or incident to justify the investment in time.
September 29, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Cinematographer Ricardo della Rosa … has created images of rare beauty in the midst of terrain so spectacularly strange that it sometimes seems to speak a language all its own.
September 22, 2006 | Rating: B
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
It is a wondrous place, almost of another planet, and more than compensation for the effort to get there.
September 22, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Booth
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
Visually dazzling, epic in its sweep and deeply romantic in its sensibility, The House of Sand is one of those films whose images and ideas linger long after the lights come on, having been burned into the viewer’s consciousness.
September 15, 2006
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A visual work of art and its simple story moves as effortlessly as the sands in a forsaken desert in northern Brazil.
September 15, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
It ends up like an impressionist painting without a subject, one we stare at longingly, waiting for its purpose to emerge.
September 15, 2006 | Rating: 2/4
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Disregards the political shifts of Brazil’s history by isolating the sprawling narrative from the rest of the nation, so that nothing can distract the director from his finicky composing
August 30, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
It all seems as bleak and empty as the desert.
December 21, 2006 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Both characters make gradual evolutions, but don’t blame audiences if they’re too dazed and dry-mouthed to notice.
November 9, 2006 | Rating: 2/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star
…a part of a classic art-house tradition, that of the starkly beautiful yet chilly movie that haunts the memory without compelling any particular attention.
November 3, 2006 | Rating: 88/100
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
House of Sand boasts the hypnotic power of its landscape and a pair of powerful and passionate performances by Montenegro and Torres.
October 28, 2006 | Rating: 7/10
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org
A devastating yet beautiful film from Brazil, House of Sand tells an epic story of love and desolation.
October 27, 2006
John Wirt
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)…
Plot
An emotionally broken woman, Kathy, suddenly finds herself homeless after her house is wrongly repossessed and auctioned. Seeking respite from his marriage, Lester, a sympathetic sheriff’s deputy comes to the aid of Kathy and becomes intimately involved in her situation. Soon, Behrani, a proud emigrant Iranian and his family move into the house only to find their new lives burdened by harassment from Lester and Kathy as they attempt to reclaim her former home. The once prosperous colonel denies Kathy’s pleas for he knows his recent purchase promises a profitable return and a better future for his adolescent son and his wife. But latent consequences lie beneath Behrani’s well intentioned plan as Kathy’s emotions spiral out of control and her actions spark a tragic chain of events that will leave no resident unscathed in the House of Sand and Fog.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fernanda Montenegro and Fernanda Torres deliver powerful and passionate performances in this Brazilian drama.
Andrucha-Waddington.jpg
80%
Peter Pan (2003)
80%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 13 nominations
Solid if far from definitive, this version of Peter Pan is visually impressive, psychologically complex and faithful to its original source
Peter Pan is a classic tale that has been adapted countless times, but PJ Hogan’s version manages to capture the magic and wonder of Never-Never Land. The performances are great, especially Rachel Hurd-Wood as Wendy, who brings a maturity beyond her years to the role. The action is exciting and the story is beautiful, making it a perfect movie for kids and adults alike. Sure, some critics may say it’s not the definitive treatment of the source material, but who cares? It’s Peter Pan, and it’s a fun and fantastical adventure that will make you feel like a kid again. Plus, it’s a great way to forget about all those King of Pop connections.
Production Company(ies)
Hollywood Pictures,
Distributor
Columbia Tristar, Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for adventure action sequences and peril
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS DTS-ES Dolby Digital EX
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 53m
-
Language(s):English, North, American, Indian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 17, 2006
Genre(s)
Adventure/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Olivia Williams, Ludivine Sagnier, Richard Briers, Harry Newell, Freddie Popplewell, directed by P.J Hogan, written by P.J Hogan, Michael Goldenberg, J M Barrie, Adventure, Fantasy, PG, Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick, Patrick McCormick, Mohamed Al-Fayed, $48.4M box office, reviewed by David Ansen, Neil Norman, Nell Minow, Philip French, Sara Michelle Fetters, Marc Savlov, Sergio Benítez, Tim Brayton, Felix Vasquez Jr., Luis Martinez, Martin Scribbs, Austin O’Connor, visually impressive, psychologically complex, faithful to original source, Neverland, Lost Boys, Captain Hook, fairy Tink, Peter Pan never ages, Wendy Darling, John, Michael, Mrs Darling, Smee, Edwardian spirit, juvenile performers, kid-friendly, adaptation, Barrie’s text, rollicking action, excitement, beautiful story, psychologically complex
Worldwide gross: $121,975,011
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $197,705,849
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 697
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 21,560,071
US/Canada gross: $48,462,608
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $78,551,672
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 866
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,139,495
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $18,055,693
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 706
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $100,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $162,087,175
Production budget ranking: 194
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $87,283,944
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$51,665,269
ROI to date (est.): -21%
ROI ranking: 1,504
Jeremy Sumpter – Peter Pan
Rachel Hurd-Wood – Wendy Darling
Olivia Williams – Mrs. Darling
Ludivine Sagnier – Tinkerbell
Richard Briers – Smee
Director(s)
P.J. Hogan
Writer(s)
P.J. Hogan, Michael Goldenberg, J. M. Barrie
Producer(s)
Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick, Patrick McCormick, Mohamed Al-Fayed
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 13 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (145) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (111) | Rotten (34)
Hogan has managed to remain faithful to Barrie’s Edwardian spirit without making him feel musty.
March 12, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Clearly a star in the making, Hurd-Wood demonstrates a maturity far beyond her 13 years, especially in the easy way she adopts the role of surrogate mother to The Lost Boys once in Never-Never Land.
January 11, 2018
Neil Norman
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Live-action version keeps its thrill and charm.
December 27, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Most kids will be bored for much of the time, and are unlikely to be attracted by the juvenile performers.
January 15, 2004
Philip French
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
So what need is there, then, for director P.J. Hogan’s latest live-action incarnation of Barrie’s tale? Not much, really, but I’m sure glad that didn’t stop him from making it.
January 10, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
There’s really no way this film should have received a kid-friendly PG rating.
December 30, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It adapts Barrie’s text quite faithfully, adding certain reflections that no adaptation to the novel has made so far. [Full Review in Spanish]
April 14, 2020
Sergio Benítez
Espinof
On the whole it’s a pleasant thing, if hardly the definitive treatment of the source material.
July 19, 2011 | Rating: 7/10
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
Great performances, rollicking action and excitement, and a beautiful story kids will surely love…
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Siendo notorio el gusto de Hogan por las letras clásicas de Peter Pan y Wendy, el director sabe educir el alma del libro para llevarla al celuloide.
July 8, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Luis Martinez
Cinenganos
PJ Hogan’s lazy, logy Peter Pan states that not growing up is a tragedy, but presents neither evidence nor arguments.
May 14, 2004
Martin Scribbs
Low IQ Canadian
[I]t’s an unfortunate time for a new version of Peter Pan to hit theaters, but those who can push all those King of Pop connections aside will be rewarded.
February 28, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Austin O’Connor
Lowell Sun…
Plot
In stifling Edwardian London, Wendy Darling mesmerizes her brothers every night with bedtime tales of swordplay, swashbuckling, and the fearsome Captain Hook. But the children become the heroes of an even greater story, when Peter Pan flies into their nursery one night and leads them over moonlit rooftops through a galaxy of stars and to the lush jungles of Neverland. Wendy and her brothers join Peter and the Lost Boys in an exhilarating life
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Peter Pan.
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80%
The Mother (2004)
80%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Mother is a film that explores the complexities of aging and the human need for connection and intimacy. Anne Reid delivers a bold and challenging performance that captures the dilemmas of her age with extraordinary subtlety. The film dispels the myth that seniors don’t have sex drives and challenges the audience to examine their own emotional, intellectual, and moral responses to the characters on screen. Kureishi’s intelligent and empathetic script avoids the pitfalls of titillation and instead delivers a thought-provoking and engaging story. While some may find the film counterintuitive to the general thrust of the narrative, the unexpected and powerful ending draws the story to a close with simplicity and grace. Overall, The Mother is a film that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll.
The Mother is a film that will make you question your feelings about the characters on screen, but don’t worry, it’s not bad porn. Anne Reid’s performance is bold and challenging, especially in the sex scenes that showcase her unclad courage. The film tackles the myth that seniors don’t have sex drives and dispels the larger one that the years bring wisdom. It’s a troubling film about the need to be wanted, but it never fails to engage. Plus, the unexpected ending is so powerful in its simplicity that it will leave you speechless.
Production Company(ies)
Dreamworks Pictures, Pacific Data Images Dream Works Animation,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2004
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Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 51m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 16, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2019
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Anne Reid, Daniel Craig, Steven Mackintosh, Cathryn Bradshaw, Oliver Ford Davies, Peter Vaughan, directed by Roger Michell, written by Hanif Kureishi, Comedy, Drama, R, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Neil Norman, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Peter Rainer, Jay Boyar, Marta Barber, Terry Lawson, Felix Vasquez Jr., Jim Lane, David Noh, Victoria Alexander, Nathaniel Rogers, Tony Medley, Anne Reid’s performance, May’s sexual blossoming, older woman, younger man, depression, isolation, sexual relationship, family drama, graphic images of sexuality, brief drug use, Kevin Loader produced, Sony Pictures Classics distributed, English language, Surround sound mix
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
Daniel Craig – Darren
Steven Mackintosh – Bobby
Cathryn Bradshaw – Paula
Oliver Ford Davies – Bruce
Peter Vaughan – Toots
Director(s)
Roger Michell
Writer(s)
Hanif Kureishi
Producer(s)
Kevin Loader
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (91) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (20)
Quite apart from her unclad courage in the sex scenes, 62-year-old Anne Reid conveys the dilemmas of her age and her hesitant path to liberation with extraordinary and moving subtlety.
January 11, 2018
Neil Norman
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A troubling film about the need to be wanted.
August 26, 2004 | Rating: B
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
There is in The Mother a rich understanding of where old age takes you. Along with the myth that seniors don’t have sex drives, the film dispels a larger one: that the years bring wisdom.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
It challenges you to figure out how you feel about the people on the screen — emotionally, intellectually, morally.
July 23, 2004 | Rating: 5/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The Mother never fails to engage.
July 9, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
It sounds like the stuff of soap operas or bad porn, but Kureishi’s script is too intelligent and empathetic to titillate.
July 9, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
All of it is ingeniously drawn to a close with an unexpected ending that is so powerful in its simplicity.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 1/5
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
Isn’t very exciting or involving.
March 1, 2007
David Noh
Film Journal International
A bold, challenging performance by Anne Reid.
November 28, 2004
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com
…extremely well-played in individual scenes. But much of the film feels counterintuitive to the general thrust of the narrative.
October 15, 2004 | Rating: B-
Nathaniel Rogers
The Film Experience
October 7, 2004 | Rating: 7/10
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com…
Plot
After her husband dies, middle-aged grandmother May falls into a deep depression and seeks comfort in the arms of Darren, a burly handyman who is half her age, married, and also sleeping with her daughter. As May navigates her newfound sexual liberation, she must confront the consequences of her actions and the disapproval of those around her.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels notes that Anne Reid gives a “fearless, realistic performance in depicting an older woman’s sexual blossoming” in The Mother.
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