Uncovered: The War on Iraq (2004)
80%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: NA
A political doc that methodically and effectively argues its case
Uncovered: The War on Iraq is like a history lesson, but with more drama and less nap time. It’s a movie that will make you think, whether you agree with its point of view or not. The talking heads may not be the most exciting thing to watch, but the information they provide is worth it. Plus, who doesn’t love a good conspiracy theory? It’s like watching a thriller, but with real-life consequences. So, grab some popcorn and get ready to have your mind blown.
Production Company(ies)
Razor Film Produktion GmbH, Highlook Communications, Group Rotana Film Production
Distributor
Metropolitan Filmexport [fr]
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 26m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 20, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 8, 2017
Genre(s)
Documentary/War
Keyword(s)
documentary, war, Robert Greenwald, directed by Robert Greenwald, produced by Robert Greenwald, produced by Devin Smith, reviewed by Marjorie Baumgarten, reviewed by Charles Ealy, reviewed by Eleanor Ringel Cater, reviewed by Bill Muller, reviewed by Tom Keogh, reviewed by Tom Long, reviewed by David Lamble, reviewed by MaryAnn Johanson, reviewed by Frank Swietek, reviewed by Cherryl Dawson, reviewed by Leigh Ann Palone, reviewed by Aaron Sagers, starring Bob Baer, starring Milton Bearden, starring Jeff Bornstein, starring John Dean, MPAA rating, box office performance, budget, CIA analysts, former CIA director, previous ambassadors, weapons inspector, media treatment, data mining, foreign policy, national security advisors, Iraq war, George W Bush, 9/11, political documentary
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
Milton Bearden – self
Jeff Bornstein – self
John Dean – self
Robert Greenwald – director, producer
Director(s)
Robert Greenwald
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Robert Greenwald, Devin Smith
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (11)
October 19, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Packs a powerful punch if you’re ready for a lesson in foreign policy.
October 7, 2004 | Rating: C+
Charles Ealy
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Made up of almost nothing but talking heads, and no matter how cogent their statements, it makes for a pretty static movie that’s unlikely to engage anyone opposed to its point of view.
October 7, 2004 | Rating: C+
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Despite its slant, the movie offers some illuminating details, and director Robert Greenwald constructs a solid argument that the Iraq war was driven more by expedient politics than facts.
September 23, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Uncovered: The War on Iraq is like a trial lawyer’s summation during a lengthy case in which allegations are familiar but their full context is not.
September 10, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4
Tom Keogh
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Any person voting in this year’s presidential election owes it to America’s future to see this film.
September 10, 2004 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Uncovered: The Iraq War performs a vital service by compiling the most compelling arguments from twenty-five foreign policy and national security advisors. It filled a gap left by much of the mainstream media.
May 7, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
This is chilling stuff, worthy of the most cunning of fictional thrillers but all too horrifyingly real…
January 12, 2005
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
Basically preaching to the choir, of course. But that doesn’t mean that the sermon isn’t one that needs to be heard.
October 25, 2004 | Rating: B
Frank Swietek
One Guy’s Opinion
You have to question any movie that feels compelled to spend the last 5 minutes justifying itself as each expert explains why it was their patriotic duty to make this movie.
October 8, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/5
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com
Needs to be seen.
October 7, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Aaron Sagers
Orlando Weekly
Condoleeza Rice says: “Saddam Hussein cavorts with terrorists.”
October 1, 2004
John Wirt
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)…
Plot
In this documentary feature, filmmaker Robert Greenwald chronicles the Bush Administration’s case to invade Iraq following the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The film examines the administration’s argument for war through interviews with U.S intelligence and defense officials, foreign service experts and U.N. weapons inspectors
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about Uncovered: The War on Iraq, but it does mention the panel of experts who lend their voices to the examination, including CIA analysts, a former CIA director, previous ambassadors, and a weapons inspector.
Robert-Greenwald.jpg
80%
School of Rock (2003)
80%RT Audience Score: 64%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 23 nominations
Black’s exuberant, gleeful performance turns School of Rock into a hilarious, rocking good time
School of Rock is like a musical version of The Mighty Ducks, but instead of hockey, it’s all about rock and roll. Jack Black is the perfect frontman for this band of misfit kids, and his energy is infectious. The plot may be a bit predictable, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? It’s a feel-good movie that will have you tapping your feet and air-guitaring along. So turn up the volume and let’s rock!
Production Company(ies)
Du Art Film and Video Nothing But a Man Company,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Buckley Country Day School – 2 I.U. Willets Road, Herricks, Long Island, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some rude humor and drug references
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 48m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2004
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $131,095,990
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $212,489,786
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 662
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 23,172,278
US/Canada gross: $81,261,177
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $131,713,946
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 578
US/Canada opening weekend: $19,622,714
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $31,805,903
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 419
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $35,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $56,730,511
Production budget ranking: 714
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $30,549,380
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $125,209,895
ROI to date (est.): 143%
ROI ranking: 783
Aoi Miyazaki – Kozue
Masaru Miyazaki – Noaki
Yoichiro Saito – Akihiko
Ken Mitsuishi – Shigeo
Gô Rijû – The Killer
Shinji Aoyama – Director, Writer
Takenori Sento – Producer
Director(s)
Richard Linklater
Writer(s)
Mike White
Producer(s)
Scott Rudin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 23 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (200) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (183) | Rotten (17)
School of Rock just doesn’t rock. It has no appetite for destruction. No raw power. It’s like late Whitesnake. Tidied-up, over-produced. Jack Black is not, sad to say, Jack White.
December 20, 2017
Antonia Quirke
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Standout Jack Black in nerd-becomes-cool comedy.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
School of Rock made me laugh harder than any movie I’ve seen this year.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
A cathartic class comedy for kids of all sizes, it’s Bugsy Malone in rock pomp, Slacker meets Spy Kids.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It would be a shame if only kids went to see this film. Adults who can still plug in to their inner rocker, if only to play air guitar, will love it, too.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
A raucous crowd pleaser with a pumping soundtrack, some awe inspiringly talented kids, and perfect comic performances.
May 14, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Chris Hewitt (UK)
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Powered almost entirely by Black’s infectious charisma and eccentricity, School of Rock is raucous and heartwarming comedy.
October 22, 2021
Toussaint Egan
Polygon
It feels futile to really tell you why you should watch this one. Either you’ve seen it already and this is a reminder of its brilliance and how you should go rewatch it immediately.
May 10, 2021
Charlotte Harrison
Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
The concept by Mike White is paper thin and takes a while to move beyond [Jack] Black’s manic mugging, but it all falls into rhythm for the big emotional guitar solo.
April 6, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
School of Rock works despite its flaws. It’s a film that proves when you get a lot of talented people together, you can overcome practically anything, including a familiar script.
November 15, 2019
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
Thanks to Mike White’s clever and witty script, Black is no longer relegated to being a goofy sidekick and successfully segues to center stage focusing in on his innate sense of musical mania.
November 15, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
Black turns it up to 11 in every scene, throwing shapes, striking poses and zealously preaching the healing power of rock, never once selling-out to the threat of cute, kiddie-friendly fare.
September 27, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)…
Plot
After being kicked out of his rock band, guitarist slacker Dewey Finn faces a mountain of debts and depression. He shares an apartment with his best friend, Ned Schneebly, an old band member who is now a substitute teacher. Dewey accepts a job as a substitute teacher at a snobbish private elementary school where his attitude and hijinks have a powerful result on his students. He learns they are talented young musicians, and he decides to form a rock band with them to win the $10,000 prize money in a local band contest. Once Dewey wins a competition called “Battle of the Bands”, the prize money would solve his financial problems and put him back in the rock music spotlight.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Richard-Linklater.jpg
80%
Nowhere in Africa (Nirgendwo in Afrika) (2001)
80%RT Audience Score: 68%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
19 wins & 6 nominations total
A visually lovely epic with compelling, three-dimensional characters
Nowhere in Africa is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between. It’s a story about cultural displacement, but it’s also a story about love, family, and the human spirit. The acting is superb, the cinematography is breathtaking, and the story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s the kind of movie that will stay with you long after the credits roll. So grab some popcorn, a box of tissues, and get ready for a cinematic journey you won’t forget!
Production Company(ies)
Scion Films, Canana Films, Creando Films,
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Lolldaiga, Kenya
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexual content
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 18m
-
Language(s):German, Swahili, English
-
Country of origin:Germany
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 7, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Juliane Köhler, Merab Ninidze, Matthias Habich, Sidede Onyulo, Lea Kurka, Karoline Eckertz, directed by Caroline Link, written by Caroline Link, Stefanie Zweig, drama, $6.2M box office, R MPAA rating, reviewed by David Ansen, Richard Nilsen, Marc Savlov, Eric Harrison, Vic Vogler, Robert Denerstein, Matt Brunson, John A Nesbit, Mark Halverson, Kam Williams, Betsy Bozdech, Jewish lawyer, Hitler, Kenya, cultural displacement, marriage, Allied army, Bernd Eichinger, Peter Herrmann, Michael Weber, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $24,322,180
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $39,423,134
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,444
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,299,142
US/Canada gross: $6,180,200
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,017,312
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,615
US/Canada opening weekend: $22,070
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $35,773
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,310
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 7000000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $11,346,102
Production budget ranking: 1,619
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,109,876
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $21,967,156
ROI to date (est.): 126%
ROI ranking: 839
Merab Ninidze – Walter Redlich
Matthias Habich – Suskind
Sidede Onyulo – Owuor
Lea Kurka – Regina (young)
Karoline Eckertz – Regina (old)
Director(s)
Caroline Link
Writer(s)
Caroline Link, Stefanie Zweig
Producer(s)
Bernd Eichinger, Peter Herrmann, Michael Weber
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
19 wins & 6 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (100) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (85) | Rotten (15)
Link’s movie is an absorbing tale of cultural displacement and adjustment. It’s also a remarkably complex examination of a marriage.
March 9, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Everything in the film rings true, is deeply moving, richly photographed, and wonderfully acted.
June 26, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
It’s exactly the sort of import you’d expect to walk off with an Academy Award.
May 25, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The acting is excellent.
May 16, 2003 | Rating: B+
Eric Harrison
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film has the glorious sweep of an epic.
May 9, 2003
Vic Vogler
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
Link creates a complex and fascinating portrait of a marriage under the enormous stress of geographical dislocation and historical trauma.
May 9, 2003 | Rating: B+
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
This Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film expertly blends two popular types of movies to create one seamless motion picture experience.
August 31, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
plods through new terrain in Holocaust related subject matter with a shotgun mentality
April 5, 2012 | Rating: C
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Very moving, well-written, and better-acted, but bitterly realistic.
March 30, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Kam Williams
Global Rhythm Magazine
Those who missed Nowhere in Africa in theaters (no small number, most likely) will find it just as compelling on the small screen.
October 29, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com
Nowhere in Africa is long enough that each character is meticulously studied and developed while Link takes the time also to provide wonderfully patient, artistic moments
March 24, 2005 | Rating: 3.5
Jordan Hiller
Bangitout.com…
Plot
A Jewish family in Germany emigrate short before the Second World War. They move to Kenya to start running a farm, but not all members of the family come to an arrangement with their new life. Shortly after their departure, things are changing in Germany very quickly, and a turning back seems impossible. So everyone has to arrange himself with the new life in a new continent.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The performances in Nowhere in Africa are “wonderfully acted,” according to critic reviews on Fresh Kernels.
Caroline-Link.jpg
80%
Friday Night (2003)
80%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
Friday Night, directed by Claire Denis, is a film that delicately balances the line between intimacy and strangeness. The numerous ancillary characters are so closely observed that even those without speaking parts register as people, adding to the film’s moody and beautiful atmosphere. While some critics may find the film’s slightness to be a provocation, it is a rewarding cinematic journey for those who have the patience to appreciate the subtle and sensual romantic drama. However, for those action fans who crave big moments, they may find themselves pulling their hair out in frustration. Overall, Friday Night is fiercely intelligent and astoundingly chilly, but it quietly rewards those who are willing to take the time to appreciate its small moments.
Friday Night is a movie that will make you feel like you’re in a dream. It’s moody, beautiful, and a little bit surreal. Some people might find it slow, but if you have patience, you’ll be rewarded with a story that’s all about the small moments in life. And hey, if you get bored, you can always long for traffic like that one critic did.
Production Company(ies)
Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, Moving Pictures, Company,
Distributor
Wellspring Cinema
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 2003 Wide
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Valérie Lemercier, Vincent Lindon, Hélène de Saint-Père, Hélène Fillières, Florence Loiret-Caille, Grégoire Colin, directed by Claire Denis, written by Emmanuèle Bernheim, produced by Bruno Pèsery, drama, French (Canada), $156.9K box office, 1h 30m runtime, Wellspring Cinema distributor, surround sound mix, reviewed by J R Jones, Lisa Kennedy, Chris Vognar, Marjorie Baumgarten, Erik Lundegaard, Janice Page, Jas Keimig, David Walsh, Emanuel Levy, James Verniere, visually poetic, dreamy, moody, intelligent, chilly, surreal, intimate, subtle, sensual
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
Vincent Lindon – Jean
Hélène de Saint-Père – Marie
Hélène Fillières – La femme fatiguée
Florence Loiret-Caille – La jeune fille du flipper
Grégoire Colin – Le jeune homme en parka
Director(s)
Claire Denis
Writer(s)
Emmanuèle Bernheim, Emmanuèle Bernheim, Claire Denis
Producer(s)
Bruno Pèsery
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (58) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (12)
Its numerous ancillary characters are so closely observed that even those without speaking parts register as people, in a manner that blurs the line between strangeness and intimacy.
July 2, 2022
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Beautiful and moody, fiercely intelligent and astoundingly chilly.
October 3, 2003 | Rating: 2/4
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
Might make action fans pull their hair out.
October 2, 2003 | Rating: B+
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Friday Night never makes the leap from a little fantasy about sex with a stranger to a larger story about a woman settling down for life.
August 27, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Laure is uptight, slightly vacant, often confused. That the film becomes slightly surreal in the second half doesn’t help.
August 8, 2003 | Rating: 2/4
Erik Lundegaard
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
This one doesn’t have the crackle of Denis’s best efforts … but it quietly rewards those who have enormous patience.
August 1, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4
Janice Page
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
I’ve never longed for traffic as I did after this film.
December 8, 2021
Jas Keimig
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
The slightness of the piece is meant as something of a provocation: “This is life, it’s found in small moments, not big moments.” Fine, but then one ought not feel obliged to have a big response either.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
I find this romantic drama by director Claire Denis subtle and somewhat sensual. [Full review in Spanish]
July 17, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
October 13, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
July 16, 2005 | Rating: 2/4
James Verniere
Boston Herald
a most rewarding cinematic journey
September 30, 2004 | Rating: 4.5/5
Jay Antani
Los Angeles Alternative…
Plot
In the small town of Dillon, Texas, one night matters: Friday Night. Eric Taylor has recently been hired as the head football coach for the Dillon High School Panthers, the town’s pride and joy. Friday Night Lights displays the stress that the town gives the high school players to win, and the hope that the team gives to a small town, and how a team has its low points, its high points, and how they come together as a team on their way to victory.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Valérie Lemercier plays the lead role of Laure in Friday Night.
Claire-Denis.jpg
80%
The Chambermaid (La camarista) (2019)
80%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 8 nominations
The Chambermaid uses one woman’s experiences to take audiences inside a life — and a culture — that’s as bracingly unique as it is hauntingly relatable
The Chambermaid is a movie that will make you appreciate the hard work that goes into being a maid. It’s a quiet and patient film that will leave you feeling compassionate towards the protagonist. The director, Lila Avilés, does a brilliant job of showing us the world of a maid without spelling everything out for the audience. It’s a transcendent film that will teach you a new language, the language of maids. So, if you want to learn something new and be entertained at the same time, give The Chambermaid a watch!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel – 301 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some language/sexual references
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):English, French, Spanish
-
Country of origin:Mexico
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 26, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 18, 2019
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Gabriela Cartol, Teresa Sánchez, directed by Lila Avilés, written by Lila Avilés, Juan Carlos Marquéz, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Andrea Gronvall, Roxana Hadadi, Claudia Puig, Simran Hans, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Donald Clarke, Matthew St Clair, Paula Arantzazu Ruiz, Yasser Medina, Javier Ocaña, Laura Hiros, produced by Lila Avilés, Tatiana Graullera, MPAA rating, Mexico City, hotel, chambermaid, adult education program, unique culture, women’s work, observational drama, patient, compassionate, quiet, understated, bracingly unique, hauntingly relatable, solvent portrait, struggle, impersonality, human condition, social theme, vulgar didactism, transcendent film, top horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, best Netflix series
Worldwide gross: $154,906,693
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $256,922,445
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 568
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 28,017,715
US/Canada gross: $94,011,225
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $155,923,500
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 498
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,711,407
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $31,034,039
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 437
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $55,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $91,220,942
Production budget ranking: 452
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $49,122,477
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $116,579,025
ROI to date (est.): 83%
ROI ranking: 1,002
Teresa Sánchez – Minitoy
Lila Avilés – Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Juan Carlos Marquéz – Screenwriter
Director(s)
Lila Avilés
Writer(s)
Lila Avilés, Juan Carlos Marquéz
Producer(s)
Lila Avilés, Tatiana Graullera
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (70) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (69) | Rotten (1)
[An] engrossing narrative feature debut by actor-turned-director Lila Avilés.
March 17, 2020
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
How the film counters its protagonist’s ambitions makes for an alternately bleak and reverent experience, leaving us with an understanding of what “women’s work” really means.
February 25, 2020
Roxana Hadadi
AWFJ Women on Film
TOP CRITIC
This is a very quiet and understated observational drama. It’s not just quiet, but patient… It’s also very compassionate.
October 1, 2019
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
This is brilliantly confident film-making.
July 29, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This wry, delicately austere debut from Mexican theatre director Lila Avilés goes one step further. To quote a famous TV sitcom line: “I don’t speak maid.” With Avilés’s help, we’re taught a new language.
July 26, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
No trace of the literary or theatrical remains in Avilés’s long takes and snatched, blank dialogue. The picture wraps a whole world around us.
July 26, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Thanks to the efforts of writer/director Lila Aviles, it makes its fair share of points without spelling them out for the audience which makes it all the more admirable.
September 25, 2020
Matthew St. Clair
Cinema Sentries
A solvent portrait of the lengths we go to in producing capital. [Full Review in Spanish]
September 7, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Paula Arantzazu Ruiz
Sensacine
Subtle, intimate and very captivating. [Full review in Spanish]
July 28, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
There is something fascinating in the struggle of this woman faced with the impersonality of the human condition. [Full Review in Spanish]
March 14, 2020
Javier Ocaña
El Pais (Spain)
A transcendent film. [Full review in Spanish]
March 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Laura Hiros
Diario La Estrella (Fort Worth, TX)
The lack of any social theme for the purposes of vulgar didactism maintains one’s interest in The Chambermaid. [Full review in Spanish]
March 10, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Miguel Martín Maestro
El antepenúltimo mohicano…
Plot
Marisa Ventura is a single mother born and bred in the boroughs of New York City, who works as a maid in a first-class Manhattan hotel. By a twist of fate and mistaken identity, Marisa meets Christopher Marshall, a handsome heir to a political dynasty, who believes that she is a guest at the hotel. Fate steps in and throws the unlikely pair together for one night. When Marisa’s true identity is revealed, the two find that they are worlds apart, even though the distance separating them is just a subway ride between Manhattan and the Bronx.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
Lila-Avilés.jpg
80%
Stone Reader (2003)
80%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 3 nominations
This fascinating documentary will be of most interest to those who read and write for a living
The Stone Reader is a documentary that will make you want to grab a book and never let go. It’s a heartwarming tribute to the love of reading that will leave you feeling inspired and enlightened. Sure, some critics may say it’s a weak copy of Michael Moore’s style, but who cares? This film is a literary mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat, and it’s a must-watch for anyone who loves books. So, grab some popcorn, cozy up with a good book, and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Georgetown Productions Inc., Sean S. Cunningham Films,
Distributor
Jet Films LLC
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:2h 25m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Stone Reader, Mark Moskowitz, directed by Mark Moskowitz, written by Mark Moskowitz, produced by Mark Moskowitz, PG-13, box office performance, $255.1K, critic reviews, David Ansen, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Ed Gonzalez, John Carlos Villani, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Roger Ebert, Brandon Judell, John A Nesbit, Philip Martin, Emanuel Levy, Stephen Schaefer, genre, reading, writers, readers, coming-of-age novel, The Stones of Summer, Dow Mossman, author, art, life, publishing, survival, creative types, documentary film, literary mystery, interviews, personal life, publishing industry, fiction writer, agent, artistic process, self-indulgence, audience reviews, Jason S, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV shows, news, Tomatometer, Fresh Kernels
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
Director(s)
Mark Moskowitz
Writer(s)
Mark Moskowitz
Producer(s)
Mark Moskowitz
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (11)
It’s rare enough when a documentary achieves cult status. Rarer still when it actually changes lives. The Stone Reader, a movie about the love of reading, manages to do both.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
You’re not likely to see a more impassioned and heartfelt tribute to the joy of reading.
February 21, 2004 | Rating: B
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Loved the discovery, but hated the man’s forcing of himself on the project.
February 11, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It’s an intimate look at the gears inside one person’s head and a study of how an obsession, when handled judiciously, can be enlightening.
September 18, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
John Carlos Villani
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Fascinating and compulsively watchable.
July 19, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Moskowitz has made a wonderful film about readers and reading, writers and writing.
July 11, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
This is a literary mystery story that will have you on the edge of your seat while it thrills you with an inside look at writing, publishing, and survival for creative types.
June 15, 2021
Brandon Judell
Huffington Post
weakly copies Michael Moore’s dogged pursuit and film style
June 3, 2013 | Rating: C
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
September 15, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
August 16, 2005 | Rating: 2/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
July 16, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Stephen Schaefer
Boston Herald
March 5, 2005 | Rating: 5/5
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic…
Plot
Stone Reader is a documentary about a man’s search for the elusive author of a novel he loved, exploring the relationship between art and life as it pertains to writers and readers.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about Stone Reader, but they do mention that the documentary will be of most interest to those who read and write for a living.
Mark-Moskowitz.jpg
80%
Drumline (2002)
80%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: 13 nominations
Essentially a sports movie with drums, the energetic Drumline somehow manages to make the familiar seem fresh
Drumline is a movie that will make you want to get up and dance, or at least tap your foot to the beat. The cast is outstanding and the message is great, but let’s be real, the real star of the show is the drumline. The precision and energy of the performances will leave you feeling roused and ready to join a marching band. Plus, who knew drumming could be so sexy? Director Charles Stone III takes familiar material and gives it a fresh spin, making Drumline a must-watch for anyone who loves music, comedy, and a good underdog story.
Production Company(ies)
La Parti Productions, Les Armateurs Maybe Movies
Distributor
20th Century Fox, Fox, 20th Century Fox de Argentina [ar], 20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Clark Atlanta University – 223 James P. Brawley Drive SW, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for innuendo and language
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTSS DDS Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 12.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 58m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 15, 2003
Genre(s)
Music
Keyword(s)
starring Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Orlando Jones, Leonard Roberts, GQ, Jason Weaver, directed by Charles Stone, written by Shawn Schepps, Tina Gordon Chism, produced by Wendy Finerman, Timothy M Bourne, Jody Gerson, music, show-style marching bands, fish-out-of-water comedy, Southern university, drumline, victory, talent, high-energy, high-stakes, street drummer, Harlem, critic reviews, PG-13 rating, box office performance, $56.4M gross USA, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, DTS, Dolby SR, Scope (2.35:1) aspect ratio, 20th Century Fox of Germany, Fox, 20th Century Fox de Argentina [ar], 20th Century Fox distributor, reviewed by Nell Minow, Sara Michelle Fetters, Kimberley Jones, Charles Taylor, Owen Gleiberman, James Berardinelli, Nick Rogers, Felix Vasquez Jr., Michael Dequina, Peter Canavese
Worldwide gross: $57,588,485
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $95,514,106
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,040
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,415,933
US/Canada gross: $56,399,184
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $93,541,576
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 781
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,604,705
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $20,905,692
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 634
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $33,171,252
Production budget ranking: 1,100
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $17,862,719
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $44,480,136
ROI to date (est.): 87%
ROI ranking: 989
Zoe Saldana – Laila
Orlando Jones – Dr. Lee
Leonard Roberts – Sean
GQ – Jayson
Jason Weaver – Ernest
Director(s)
Charles Stone
Writer(s)
Shawn Schepps, Shawn Schepps, Tina Gordon Chism
Producer(s)
Wendy Finerman, Timothy M. Bourne, Jody Gerson
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
13 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (85) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (70) | Rotten (15)
Outstanding cast, great message, strong language.
December 22, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
The joy of the movie is in the getting there, and Drumline gets so much of the little stuff right that the denouement ends up being nothing less than rousing.
June 19, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Charles Stone III is a craftsman with brains and taste, an instinctive sense of where to put the camera and the discipline not to belabor scenes.
January 10, 2003
Charles Taylor
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
A superlative B movie — funny, sexy, and rousing.
December 23, 2002 | Rating: A-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Offers little that’s surprising or groundbreaking, but, because the script is smart enough not to insult us and to develop a group of interesting characters, the act of watching the film is an entertaining experience rather than a tedious exercise.
December 17, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
True bandos can see themselves in this exuberant, charismatic and lovingly accurate college marching-band movie that faked no flavor while staying in step with themes of instruction, character and respect.
September 25, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
It’s a shame films of this ilk don’t make it into theaters often.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Director Charles Stone III, once again takes on overly familiar material and gives it an enthusiastic spin.
February 6, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
A most unusual musical…Learning something from his subject, Stone gives the picture a snappy rhythm. [Blu-ray]
February 1, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
An engaging dramedy about self-discovery and percussion instruments.
November 6, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com…
Plot
A fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band’s drumline to victory. He initially flounders in his new world, before realizing that it takes more than talent to reach the top.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels does not have any goofy, funny, or odd comments about the film PartyCity or any of its cast members as it is not a film listed on their website.
Charles-Stone.jpg
80%
Satin Rouge (2002)
80%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins
Satin Rouge is a film that delicately balances the exploration of a foreign culture with the universal themes of self-discovery and empowerment. While the plot may be predictable, the film’s charm lies in its avoidance of the obvious, opting instead for humor and lightness. The belly dancing scenes are a pure pleasure to watch, and Hiam Abbass delivers a terrific performance as the middle-aged woman on a journey of joyous, turbulent self-discovery. Satin Rouge is a celebration of life and the rediscovery of one’s animalistic urges, all wrapped up in a weepy, nail-biting story that ultimately leaves the viewer feeling uplifted and inspired.
Satin Rouge is a movie that will make you want to get up and dance, even if you have two left feet. The belly dancing scenes are mesmerizing and will have you wishing you could move your hips like that. While the plot may be predictable, the strong performance by Abbass and the charming humor throughout the film make it a refreshing view of a foreign culture. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie about a middle-aged woman discovering her joyous, turbulent self-discovery? It’s like Eat Pray Love, but with more belly dancing and less pasta.
Production Company(ies)
K&SFilms, El Deseo Televisión Federal
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Tunis, Tunisia
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 29m
-
Language(s):Arabic, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 23, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Hiam Abbass, Hend El Fahem, Monia Hichri, Nadra Lamloum, Maher Kamoun, Faouzia Badr, directed by Raja Amari, written by Raja Amari, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Marta Barber, Mitchell Vantrease, Sid Adilman, Liam Lacey, Patrick Z McGavin, Marjorie Baumgarten, Kam Williams, Emanuel Levy, Donald J Levit, Urban Cinefile Critics, Joe Baltake, Phil Villarreal, producer Alain Rozanès, Pascal Verroust, Dora Bouchoucha, MPAA rating, belly dancer, cabaret, Tunisian culture, Tunisian cinema, female empowerment, self-discovery, double life, sensuous, vibrant, predictable, foreign culture, Arabic, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, Flat (1.85:1)
Worldwide gross: $3,493,730
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,794,570
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,129
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 631,905
US/Canada gross: $231,879
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $384,586
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,393
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,880
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $31,314
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,360
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
Hend El Fahem – Salma
Monia Hichri – Folla
Nadra Lamloum – Hela
Maher Kamoun – Chokri
Faouzia Badr – Lilia’s Neighbor
Director(s)
Raja Amari
Writer(s)
Raja Amari
Producer(s)
Alain Rozanès, Pascal Verroust, Dora Bouchoucha
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (8)
Though far from perfect — the film is predictable — Satin Rouge is a refreshing view of a foreign culture.
November 22, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
It’s a weepy, nail-biting story line that’s all too familiar, although Abbass portrays her character with strong conviction and carries the film gracefully.
November 15, 2002 | Rating: 3/5
Mitchell Vantrease
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
There are many scenes of belly dancing, pure pleasure to watch.
November 1, 2002 | Rating: 3/5
Sid Adilman
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Part of the charm of Satin Rouge is that it avoids the obvious with humour and lightness.
November 1, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating examination of the joyous, turbulent self-discovery made by a proper, middle-aged woman.
October 31, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Patrick Z. McGavin
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Anchored by a terrific performance by Abbass, Satin Rouge shows that the idea of women’s self-actualization knows few continental divides.
October 27, 2002 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A daring drama that addresses how a wanton woman copes with a strict social structure that would deny her any outlet for her animalistic urges.
January 12, 2007 | Rating: 4/4
Kam Williams
Global Rhythm Magazine
August 26, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A celebration of unintellectualized joy and the discovery of life.
January 19, 2003
Donald J. Levit
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Bellydancing, with its ancient roots and links to fertility rituals, is a colourful and physical expression of life forces that Lilia has to rediscover.
December 27, 2002
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Leading a double life in an American film only comes to no good, but not here. Matters play out realistically if not always fairly.
November 29, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee
Though the path to self-assurance may seem a little dubious, you can’t knock it too hard. After all, it worked for Lilia. And it worked for Amari.
November 29, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star…
Plot
A lonely widow gets involved with her daughter’s lover and befriends a belly dancer in a cabaret in this sensuous and vibrant drama.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Hiam Abbass, who delivers a strong and graceful performance as the lonely widow at the center of the story.
Raja-Amari.jpg
80%
Gangster No. 1 (2000)
80%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 9 nominations
Gangster No. 1 is a film that is both a feast for the eyes and a punch to the gut. Director Paul McGuigan and the cast bring a level of psychotic energy to the screen that is both terrifying and exhilarating. The film’s brutal set pieces and stylized violence raise the bar for the genre, while also managing to capture the soulfulness of its characters. Despite some criticisms of its glibness and soullessness, Gangster No. 1 is a solid and satisfying film for adults who can handle its hard, cold effect. It’s a handsomely ugly affair that is sure to make just as many friends as it does enemies.
Gangster No. 1″ is a movie that’s like a fancy cake with a dark, gritty filling. It’s got style, it’s got violence, and it’s got some great performances, but it’s not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for a movie that’s all sunshine and rainbows, this ain’t it. But if you’re in the mood for something that’s a little bit twisted and a little bit cool, then give it a shot. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Production Company(ies)
Ear Goggles
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Barbican, London, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, and brief drug use and nudity
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2002
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany, Saffron Burrows, Kenneth Cranham, Jamie Foreman, directed by Paul McGuigan, written by Johnny Ferguson, crime, drama, $30.9K box office, reviewed by Mark Kermode, Chris Vognar, Edward Guthmann, Ella Taylor, Roger Ebert, Kevin Thomas, Malcolm McDowell as Gangster 55, David Thewlis as Freddie Mays, Paul Bettany as Young Gangster, Saffron Burrows as Karen, Kenneth Cranham as Tommy, Jamie Foreman as Lennie Taylor, produced by Jonathan Cavendish, Norma Heyman, R MPAA rating, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR sound mix, Flat (1.85:1) aspect ratio
Worldwide gross: $30,915
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $53,619
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,081
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,847
US/Canada gross: $30,915
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $53,619
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,747
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,514
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $9,564
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,712
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
David Thewlis – Freddie Mays
Paul Bettany – Young Gangster
Saffron Burrows – Karen
Kenneth Cranham – Tommy
Jamie Foreman – Lennie Taylor
Director(s)
Paul McGuigan
Writer(s)
Johnny Ferguson
Producer(s)
Jonathan Cavendish, Norma Heyman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (52) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (15)
It’s a handsomely ugly affair, well dressed enough to make a few friends, but tough enough to make just as many enemies.
December 2, 2002
Mark Kermode
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Director Paul McGuigan and cast infuse the proceedings with a strong dose of psychotic gusto and visual flare.
September 12, 2002 | Rating: B
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Doesn’t offer much besides glib soullessness, raunchy language and a series of brutal set pieces … that raise the bar on stylized screen violence.
July 26, 2002 | Rating: 2/4
Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Clever, brutal and strangely soulful movie.
July 19, 2002
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The film has a kind of hard, cold effect.
July 19, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
Gangster No. 1 is solid, satisfying fare for adults.
July 11, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Despite some really good performances especially from Bettany, this is a pretty terrible movie…
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
June 4, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Sarah Chauncey
Reel.com
February 10, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Spence D.
IGN Movies
A stylish, confused and insanely violent gangster drama from a first-time Brit director.
September 16, 2003 | Rating: 6/10
Dan Fazio
Citysearch
…cool shots do not a riveting film make.
August 1, 2003 | Rating: 1.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
. . .captures the kinetic quality of the 60s with jump-action pacing, groovy camera angles and the occasional split screen treatment that never crosses the line into camp.
April 5, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews…
Plot
A middle-aged crime boss smugly reflects back from 1999, narrating the brutality which made him triumphant – and feared. As an unnamed young hood in Swinging 60’s London, he aped his mod boss Freddie Mays, and seemed to do anything for him. But his narration exposes all-consuming envy: of Freddie’s supremacy, and especially his tall bird. The baby shark develops his viciousness and backstabbing, scheming to be Gangster No. 1.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Malcolm McDowell gives a sinister performance as Gangster No. 55.
Paul-McGuigan.jpg
80%
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001)
80%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 7 nominations
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing is an intelligent and poignant look at lives intersecting
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. But in this case, each chocolate is a different story about seemingly unconnected lives that eventually cross paths. It’s like a puzzle that you have to put together, but instead of frustration, you get a sense of satisfaction when you finally see the bigger picture. Plus, Clea DuVall is a total gem in this movie and deserves more recognition for her talent.
Production Company(ies)
Les Films, Impéria Les Productions, Georges de Beauregard Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and brief drug use
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):English, German, Italian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2002
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing, drama, 1h 43m, Matthew McConaughey, John Turturro, Alan Arkin, Clea Duvall, Amy Irving, Barbara Sukowa, directed by Jill Sprecher, written by Jill Sprecher and Karen Sprecher, produced by Beni Tadd Atoori and Gina Resnick, reviewed by David Stratton, Dave Calhoun, Stella Papamichael, Marjorie Baumgarten, Jay Boyar, Peter Howell, Miles Fielder, John A Nesbit, Felix Vasquez Jr., Christopher Smith, Emanuel Levy, Matthew Turner, R rating, box office gross of $3.3M, New York life, intersecting lives, rising young attorney, businessman seeking revenge, infidelity, chaos, isolated, diffuse, daily life, drama, Sony Pictures Classics, surround sound, stereo, flat aspect ratio
Worldwide gross: $3,706,652
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $6,147,714
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,113
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 670,416
US/Canada gross: $3,288,164
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,453,626
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,777
US/Canada opening weekend: $89,499
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $148,440
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,783
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $4,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $7,463,532
Production budget ranking: 1,793
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,019,112
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$5,334,929
ROI to date (est.): -46%
ROI ranking: 1,665
John Turturro – Walker
Alan Arkin – Gene
Clea Duvall – Beatrice
Amy Irving – Patricia
Barbara Sukowa – Helen
Director(s)
Jill Sprecher
Writer(s)
Jill Sprecher, Karen Sprecher
Producer(s)
Beni Tadd Atoori, Gina Resnick
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (114) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (95) | Rotten (19)
This intelligent, engaging indie introduces very human characters, with seemingly unconnected lives, whose paths cross.
March 27, 2009
David Stratton
Variety
TOP CRITIC
It’s entertaining, well-written, slice-of-life stuff, but I’d rather spend 90 minutes with one of these stories than flit between several in a manner that does little to illuminate any of them.
February 9, 2006
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Initially writer/director Jill Sprecher seems to revel in fashionable cynicism, but her ability to look at the lighter side and her discreet faith in human nature eventually win out.
June 14, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
October 1, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Without getting grand or preachy, the Sprechers use an unconventional approach to coax us into asking ourselves fundamental questions.
July 11, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Often messy and frustrating, but very pleasing at its best moments, it’s very much like life itself.
July 10, 2002 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Sombre and stark, but shot through with witty observations and articulate dialogue, these conversations also benefit from a set of nicely modulated performances that breath life in to the occasionally forced dialogue.
April 25, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Miles Fielder
The List
lends higher philosophical and spiritual tone … without preaching
July 8, 2011 | Rating: B+
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
An interesting and profound drama…
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
A terrific film that follows several interrelated New York stories and the people barely existing within them.
December 1, 2005 | Rating: A
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Poignant, touching, and in moments deeply philosophical, Sprecher’s second feature is most interesting.
November 30, 2005 | Rating: B+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Clea DuVall again shows why she’s one of Hollywood’s most under-rated actresses
June 18, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon…
Plot
A physics professor approaching middle age decides to change his life with unexpected results. A rising young prosecuting attorney’s plans are thrown into disarray as the result of a single careless act while distracted. A woman reluctantly faces her husband’s infidelity. An envious insurance claims manager with family problems seeks revenge on a cheerful coworker, but has second thoughts. And an optimistic young cleaning woman awaits a miracle, only to have her faith shaken by a traumatic event. These ordinary people all find themselves asking the fundamental question philosophers have pondered throughout history: What is happiness, and how does one achieve it?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Clea DuVall’s performance is praised as one of the highlights of the film.
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