Colette (2018)
81%RT Audience Score: 69%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 11 nominations
Formally familiar but a brilliant match for its lead, Colette is a thoroughly entertaining biopic and an overdue testament to Keira Knightley’s underrated gifts
Colette is a must-see movie for anyone who loves a good period drama with a feminist twist. Keira Knightley shines as the titular character, bringing to life the story of a woman who defied societal norms and revolutionized the world of literature. The film’s lush settings and stunning costumes transport you to turn-of-the-century France, while the strong performances from the entire cast keep you engaged from start to finish. Plus, who doesn’t love a good same-sex affair tastefully portrayed on screen? Overall, Colette is a triumph and a reminder that women have been breaking barriers and changing the world for centuries.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios,
Distributor
30West, Bleecker Street Media
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Budapest, Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexuality/nudity
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 51m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2018 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 4, 2018
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Denise Gough, Fiona Shaw, Eleanor Tomlinson, Robert Pugh, directed by Wash Westmoreland, written by Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, biography, English, Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters, box office, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, Andrea Gronvall, Cathy Brennan, Ryan Gilbey, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Kevin Maher, MPAA rating R, Paris, France, early 20th century, feminist, writer, author, ghostwrite, semi-autobiographical novel, societal constraints, creative ownership, bisexual, transgender, gender norms, sexual liberation, female empowerment, period drama, costumes, production design, historical detail, vivid interiors, long takes, star vehicle, historical facts, obstacles, brilliant woman writer
Worldwide gross: $14,273,033
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,491,841
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,785
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,798,456
US/Canada gross: $5,137,622
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,936,289
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,757
US/Canada opening weekend: $161,179
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $186,235
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,689
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
Dominic West – Willy
Denise Gough – Missy
Fiona Shaw – Sido
Eleanor Tomlinson – Georgie Raoul-Duval
Robert Pugh – Jules
Director – Wash Westmoreland
Producers – Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters
Writers – Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Director(s)
Wash Westmoreland
Writer(s)
Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Producer(s)
Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters
Film Festivals
Sundance, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (229) | Top Critics (65) | Fresh (200) | Rotten (29)
The beautifully lush late 19th century settings show off the remarkable modernity of the writer, actress, dancer, and iconoclast Collette.
October 12, 2021
Nell Minow
AWFJ Women on Film
TOP CRITIC
The movie’s treatment of her same-sex affairs may be as tasteful as the set design, but the film is an absorbing introduction to a trailblazing artist.
March 3, 2020
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Keira Knightley is magnetic in a Paris-set period drama with a dollop of queer feminist energy.
September 20, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Cathy Brennan
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
[Keira Knightley] gets far more to do and is infinitely better at it than usual in the brisk new period piece Colette
January 26, 2019
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
In the wrong films Knightley is a pretty girl with a small bag of tricks. In the right ones she’s formidable. Crucially here, she also cuts it as a wordsmith.
January 13, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Knightley’s Colette is fine too. But nothing more. The role required a maelstrom of tortured angst and rousing defiance to support the weight of the film. It never arrived.
January 11, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
All in all, it’s a satisfying cinematic experience. Is a little less Willy and a bit more Missy too much to ask?
May 20, 2022
Merryn Johns
Curve
Keira Knightley may not be French, but she is wonderful as the legendary French author Colette.
October 12, 2021
Sandie Angulo Chen
AWFJ Women on Film
Colette is a splendid biopic about the sublimely controversial feminist writer…costumes, sets and cinematography are gorgeous.
October 12, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film
What an absolutely terrific movie about an amazing woman who defied gender norms, revolutionized fashion, gave young women a voice unlike any they’d ever had before.
October 12, 2021
MaryAnn Johanson
AWFJ Women on Film
Keira Knightley gives a phenomenal, career-best performance as the eponymous protagonist of Wash Westmoreland’s lavish biopic.
October 12, 2021
Nikki Baughan
AWFJ Women on Film
The film’s rich, turn-of-the-20th century French sets, design, and costumes bolster the strong lead performances…
October 12, 2021
Betsy Bozdech
AWFJ Women on Film…
Plot
After marrying successful Parisian writer Henry Gauthier-Villars, known commonly as “Willy” (Dominic West), Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley) is transplanted from her childhood home in rural France to the intellectual and artistic splendor of Paris. Soon after, Willy convinces Colette to ghostwrite for him. Colette, in turn, pens a semi-autobiographical novel about a witty and brazen country girl named Claudine, sparking a bestseller and a cultural sensation. After its success, Colette and Willy become the talk of Paris and their adventures inspire additional Claudine novels. Colette’s fight over creative ownership and gender roles drives her to overcome societal constraints, revolutionizing literature, fashion and sexual expression.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The review praises Keira Knightley’s performance as “magnetic” and a “brilliant match for its lead.”
Wash-Westmoreland.jpg
81%
Mandy (2018)
81%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: 13 wins & 43 nominations
Mandy’s gonzo violence is fueled by a gripping performance by Nicolas Cage — and anchored with palpable emotion conveyed between his volcanic outbursts
Mandy is a wild ride that’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a heavy metal fever dream that’s equal parts beautiful and brutal. The film’s second half is where it really shines, but you’ll have to sit through a slow burn first. Nicolas Cage gives a performance that’s both hilarious and terrifying, and the long take rage scene in his underwear is something you won’t soon forget. Overall, Mandy is a bloody, nasty, and entertaining experience that’s perfect for gorehounds and fans of genre cinema. Just don’t expect a straightforward plot or deeply felt emotions.
Production Company(ies)
Participant Willi Hill Killer Content
Distributor
RLJE Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Chaudfontaine, Belgium
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2018
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 1m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 14, 2018
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy, Olwen Fouéré, Richard Brake, directed by Panos Cosmatos, written by Panos Cosmatos, Aaron Stewart-Ahn, horror, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ben Sachs, Chris Stuckmann, Anton Bitel, Jo Livingstone, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Simran Hans, Brian Eggert, Cate Young, Taylor Baker, Nicolás Delgadillo, Richard Crouse, MPAA rating R, cult, revenge, chainsaw, gore, violence, phantasmagoric, surreal, ethereal, grindhouse, 80s, VHS, color saturation, Kubrick, Lynch, Refn, Christian gnostic mystery cult, apocalypse, Satan, dark god, bloody vengeance, demonic bikers, hippie death cult, Charles Manson, fantasy novel imagery, Richard Stanley, RLJE Films, Daniel Noah, Josh C Waller, Elijah Wood, Nate Bolotin, Adrian Politowski
Worldwide gross: $1,552,727
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,827,208
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,440
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 199,259
US/Canada gross: $1,233,694
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,451,779
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,105
US/Canada opening weekend: $225,723
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $265,625
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,571
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $6,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $7,060,643
Production budget ranking: 1,805
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,802,156
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$9,035,590
ROI to date (est.): -83%
ROI ranking: 1,912
Andrea Riseborough – Mandy Bloom
Linus Roache – Sand Jeremiah
Ned Dennehy – Brother Swan
Olwen Fouéré – Mother Marlene
Richard Brake – The Chemist
Director(s)
Panos Cosmatos
Writer(s)
Panos Cosmatos, Aaron Stewart-Ahn
Producer(s)
Daniel Noah, Josh C. Waller, Elijah Wood, Nate Bolotin, Adrian Politowski
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
13 wins & 43 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (250) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (226) | Rotten (24)
I didn’t much care for the film, but I can see how it might appeal to gorehounds and fans of genre cinema.
March 4, 2020
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Beautifully-shot film, although sometimes the use of processed grain and lens flares were distracting. The second half was exactly what I wanted, but the first half is a bit slow.
November 20, 2018 | Rating: B
Chris Stuckmann
ChrisStuckmann.com
TOP CRITIC
Hyperstylised and ultraviolent, Mandy is an amped-up theological trip into pulp’s purest quintessence
October 17, 2018
Anton Bitel
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
It’s bloody, it’s nasty, and it burns.
October 15, 2018
Jo Livingstone
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Naughty but niche.
October 15, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
As an audiovisual experience, it’s certainly entertaining, and perhaps even destined for cult success, but I’m not sure its metalhead aesthetic services much more than mood.
October 13, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Don’t expect a straightforward plot, deeply felt emotions, or even a sense of reason behind the formal choices throughout.
March 8, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Mandy’s heavy metal influences come through loud and clear, not just in the booming soundtrack but in the film’s mechanics itself.
November 5, 2021
Cate Young
Thirty, Flirty + Film
Episode 9: Phantasmagoria
August 28, 2021 | Rating: 86/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
A violent, beautiful, deranged, and haunting work of art.
June 25, 2021 | Rating: 4.5 / 5
Nicolás Delgadillo
Discussing Film
A deeply weird movie, tailored for a very specific grindhouse type of audience, and brought to life by Cage’s cock-a-doodle performance.
March 1, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
Mandy’s death propels the movie descending rapidly into total mayhem and provides perhaps Nic Cage’s Cagest performance in years. That long take rage scene in his underwear in the bathroom is a sight to behold.
February 13, 2021
Dustin Chang
Floating World…
Plot
In 1983, a peaceful couple’s idyllic life is shattered when a sadistic cult destroys their home, leading the husband on a bloody quest for revenge in the hyper-stylized and ultraviolent horror film Mandy.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The critic reviews mention Nicolas Cage’s “Cagest performance in years” and his ability to make screaming in his underwear on a toilet compelling.
Panos-Cosmatos.jpg
81%
Hereditary (2018)
81%RT Audience Score: 68%
Awards & Nominations: 47 wins & 112 nominations
Hereditary uses its classic setup as the framework for a harrowing, uncommonly unsettling horror film whose cold touch lingers long beyond the closing credits
Hereditary is the kind of movie that will make you want to sleep with the lights on for a week. Toni Collette’s performance is so good, it’s scary. And speaking of scary, the cinematography and score are so ominous, you’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting for the ultimate evil reveal. This movie is a complete assault on your mind, body, and soul, but in the best way possible. Just make sure you have a nightlight handy.
Production Company(ies)
Jigsaw Productions, Wider Film Projects Below The Radar Entertainment,
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Sandy, Utah, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for horror violence, disturbing images, language, drug use and brief graphic nudity
Year of Release
2018
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.00 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 7m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 8, 2018 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2018
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
Hereditary, horror, Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd, Milly Shapiro, Mallory Bechtel, directed by Ari Aster, written by Ari Aster, produced by Kevin Scott Frakes, Lars Knudsen, Buddy Patrick, reviewed by Lena Wilson, Jo Livingstone, Roxana Hadadi, Robert Daniels, Andrew Whalen, Andrea Gronvall, Pawel Pogorzelski, Colin Stetson, R rating, disturbing images, brief graphic nudity, drug use, horror violence, language, box office gross, $44.1M, A24, Dolby Digital, ancestry, family secrets, grief, witchcraft, evil spirit, slow-burn, emotional torment, blood-curdling, black magic, unsettling, memorable, Oscar-worthy, facial expressions, twisted tale, WTF scene, multi-generational mommy issues, parental fears, rebellious, heavy-handed, open-ended stakes, visually well-crafted, aurally ominous, haunting, psyche, masterpiece, art and horror, under your skin, blackest magic, James Wan, A Quiet Place, poor pacing, cold and drab, trying, little to no payoff, divided audience review, horror classic, enduring, reassessed, long term cult classic
Worldwide gross: $80,239,658
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $94,423,924
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,045
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,297,047
US/Canada gross: $44,069,456
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $51,859,779
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,053
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,575,172
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,974,906
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 757
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $11,767,738
Production budget ranking: 1,604
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,336,927
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $76,319,260
ROI to date (est.): 422%
ROI ranking: 323
Gabriel Byrne – Steve
Alex Wolff – Peter
Ann Dowd – Joan
Milly Shapiro – Charlie
Mallory Bechtel – Bridget
Director – Ari Aster
Producers – Kevin Scott Frakes, Lars Knudsen, Buddy Patrick
Writer – Ari Aster
Director(s)
Ari Aster
Writer(s)
Ari Aster
Producer(s)
Kevin Scott Frakes, Lars Knudsen, Buddy Patrick
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
47 wins & 112 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (383) | Top Critics (84) | Fresh (342) | Rotten (41)
The film’s chilling lesson is timely.
March 5, 2021
Lena Wilson
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
The open-ended stakes of these genre experiments are rebellious at a time when horror movie messaging can feel so heavy-handed.
March 4, 2021
Jo Livingstone
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Toni Collette delivers a soul-shattering performance in Hereditary that reminds us how much sacrifice parenthood is and how deeply parents can scar their children, utterly beyond repair.
February 7, 2019
Roxana Hadadi
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
It’s an uneasy and visually well-crafted horror exploring our parental fears. It’s also a film that, surprise, surprise, has split opinions among audiences and critics.
August 27, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Robert Daniels
812filmreviews
TOP CRITIC
Hereditary feels like an endless drawing out of that queasy, shocking, falling dream sensation, as the ground beneath the Graham family, and the viewer, crumbles.
August 7, 2018
Andrew Whalen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Toni Collette is flawless.
June 22, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Audiences expecting run-of-the-mill horror will be shocked out of their moviegoing complacency early on.
March 11, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Ari Aster’s absurdly accomplished debut is the best horror movie of the year so far.
April 29, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Olly Richards
NME
Pawel Pogorzelski’s cinematography and Colin Stetson’s score craft a visually and aurally ominous atmosphere that always hints and builds towards the ultimate evil reveal.
April 16, 2021
Jim Rohner
Battleship Pretension
So dark and so disturbing.
April 14, 2021 | Rating: 7.5/10
Emma Wolfe
SpookyAstronauts
Without a doubt, Hereditary really dug its hooks into me.
February 19, 2021
Fletcher Powell
KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
A complete assault on your mind, body, and soul that will leave you feeling battered and broken.
February 5, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Patrick Cavanaugh
The Wolfman Cometh…
Plot
When her mentally ill mother passes away, Annie (Toni Collette), her husband (Gabriel Byrne), son (Alex Wolff), and daughter (Milly Shapiro) all mourn her loss. The family turn to different means to handle their grief, including Annie and her daughter both flirting with the supernatural. They each begin to have disturbing, otherworldly experiences linked to the sinister secrets and emotional trauma that have been passed through the generations of their family.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Toni Collette’s “soul-shattering performance” in Hereditary.
Ari-Aster.jpg
81%
Dark Money (2018)
81%RT Audience Score: 64%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Dark Money does an impressive job of tackling a complicated subject in easily understandable — and, for many viewers, utterly enraging — terms
Dark Money” is the kind of documentary that will make you want to throw your popcorn at the screen and scream, “What the heck?!” It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from anger to distress to regret. But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. Director Kimberly Reed manages to inject some fun into the film, making it an enjoyable watch despite the heavy subject matter. And the best part? It offers solutions to the problem, so you won’t leave feeling completely hopeless. So grab some popcorn (but maybe keep it in the bowl this time) and settle in for a powerful and informative documentary.
Production Company(ies)
Deblokada Produkcija Coop99 Filmproduktion, Digital Cube
Distributor
PBS Distribution
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2018
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 37m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 13, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 2, 2018
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, dark money, elections, Citizens United ruling, political spending, Kimberly Reed, Jay Arthur Sterrenberg, PBS Distribution, budget, box office, reviewed by Bill Goodykoontz, reviewed by Marjorie Baumgarten, reviewed by Peter Rainer, reviewed by Kenneth Turan, reviewed by Robert Abele, reviewed by Peter Keough, directed by Kimberly Reed, written by Kimberly Reed, written by Jay Arthur Sterrenberg, produced by Katy Chevigny, produced by David J Cornfield, produced by Linda A Cornfield, MPAA rating, unbridled spending, anonymous political spending, political action, traditional media, decline of democracy, solutions, feasible solutions, political cynics, activism, thriller, informative, expertly researched, important film, Sundance-heralded, complicated subject, easily understandable, utterly enraging, mind-altering, fascinating, absorbing, engrossing, lucid, unsettling
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
Kimberly Reed – Writer
Jay Arthur Sterrenberg – Writer
Katy Chevigny – Executive Producer
David J. Cornfield – Executive Producer
Linda A. Cornfield – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Kimberly Reed
Writer(s)
Kimberly Reed, Jay Arthur Sterrenberg
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (2)
“Dark Money” exposes the dangers of unbridled, anonymous political spending so expertly that it will make you fume with anger, practically quake with distress.
August 8, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
The film’s basic problem is that it jumps around too much… Still, Reed and her team have boiled down their presentation to a manageable 99 minutes that’s fascinating, absorbing, and mind-altering.
August 2, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The undue influence of money on elections is not exactly news, but the ways in which that influence can now be secured, given the current state of the law, certainly is.
July 27, 2018 | Rating: B+
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
TOP CRITIC
“Dark Money” takes a detailed look at an unexpectedly complex situation that is at the heart of political action today.
July 26, 2018
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Activist in tone, and paced like a thriller, Reed’s movie painstakingly details how an election can be brusquely seized and swayed by unseen forces.
July 26, 2018
Robert Abele
TheWrap
TOP CRITIC
Engrossing, lucid, and unsettling…
July 26, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Keough
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
The documentary can crackle along with the best journalism capers, but also carries a pang of regret for the decline of traditional media.
February 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
615 Film
Dark Money should be required viewing.
July 24, 2020
Scott Phillips
The Movie Isle
The movie is expertly researched and informative and provides a clear timeline and path toward the destruction of our democracy if these practices remain unchecked. It may not be your idea of the perfect summer movie, but it’s a powerful documentary.
June 20, 2020
Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review
Director Kimberly Reed has made one of the most important films in years.
June 1, 2020
Erin Blackwell
Bay Area Reporter
This Sundance-heralded doc is at times a lot of fun, but it never lets us forget that the joke could be on us.
June 1, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
However, where Dark Money succeeds is where so many other political docs fail: it offers a buffet of solutions to the problem at heart, and all seem feasible enough to inspire action from even the most skeptical political cynics.
March 20, 2020
Dan Scully
Cinema76…
Plot
Dark Money is a documentary that exposes the dangers of unbridled, anonymous political spending and follows the struggle of Montanans to stop history from repeating itself in a fight that could change the way elections happen across the U.S.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Dark Money.
Kimberly-Reed.jpg
81%
Private Life (2018)
81%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Private Life uses one couple’s bumpy journey to take an affecting look at an easily identifiable – and too rarely dramatized – rite of adult passage
Private Life is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and question your own life choices all at once. Tamara Jenkins has created a masterpiece that explores the complexities of family, relationships, and the pursuit of parenthood. The performances by the cast are nothing short of brilliant, with Kayli Carter stealing the show as Sadie. The film is filled with hilarious moments that will have you rolling on the floor, but also has a poignant message about the sacrifices we make for the ones we love. Overall, Private Life is a must-watch for anyone who has ever struggled with the idea of starting a family.
Production Company(ies)
Mosfilm Tvorcheskoe Obedinienie Pisateley i Kinorabotnikov
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2018
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:2h 4m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 5, 2018
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Paul Giamatti, Kathryn Hahn, Kayli Carter, Molly Shannon, John Carroll Lynch, Emily Robinson, directed by Tamara Jenkins, written by Tamara Jenkins, comedy, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ben Sachs, Adam Kempenaar, Mara Reinstein, Dwight Brown, Kristen Lopez, James Berardinelli, Natasha Alvar, David Walsh, Scott Phillips, PJ Nabarro, produced by Stefanie Azpiazu, Anthony Bregman, MPAA rating R, infertility, adoption, assisted reproduction, marriage, adult passage, Netflix, flat aspect ratio, Richard, Rachel, Sadie, Cynthia, Charlie, Charlotte
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
Kathryn Hahn – Rachel
Kayli Carter – Sadie
Molly Shannon – Cynthia
John Carroll Lynch – Charlie
Emily Robinson – Charlotte
Director(s)
Tamara Jenkins
Writer(s)
Tamara Jenkins
Producer(s)
Stefanie Azpiazu, Anthony Bregman
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (106) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (7)
Private Life [is] such an affecting-and ultimately devastating-work.
October 26, 2018 | Rating: 4/4
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Kayli Carter bridges the ache and absurdity and becomes the movie’s salvation, just as her character, Sadie, tries to be.
October 26, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Adam Kempenaar
Filmspotting
TOP CRITIC
This lived-in and often-hilarious drama is a richly rewarding experience -and features a whopper of a closing shot.
October 22, 2018
Mara Reinstein
Us Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Everything works about this film except for a dubious ending that makes the couple look less sympathetic. A crowd-pleaser.
October 15, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
TOP CRITIC
Private Life is an intimate drama we’ve seen before, but it leads to so many provocative questions about the individual versus the family.
October 15, 2018
Kristen Lopez
Spectrum Culture
TOP CRITIC
Jenkins has produced a small gem – an unassuming and surprisingly profound motion picture that touches on primal motivations and instincts.
October 11, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
This movie gives us a taste of everything, though thankfully resisting the urge to be too tragic and lament the woe that is womanhood.
March 7, 2021 | Rating: A-
Natasha Alvar
MovieBabble
Jenkins … is obviously capable and sensitive. Is there nothing she finds more pressing, perhaps more tragic and profound than the stories she has recounted so far?
February 11, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
The film is filled with dark humor and rich emotion.
July 23, 2020
Scott Phillips
The Movie Isle
In her third feature film, Jenkins crafted a story filled with drama and warm humor. [Full review in Spanish]
July 17, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
Jenkins’ writing and directing feels more fruitful when it veers more toward the dramatic and avoids the contrived, screwball machinations.
May 18, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
With the masterful Private Life, Tamara Jenkins excavates without puncture, but small cuts can cause the most acute pain.
February 27, 2020
Elissa Suh
MUBI…
Plot
A couple struggling with infertility navigates the world of adoption and assisted reproduction, trying to keep their marriage intact in the process, in the comedy-drama film Private Life.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn in the lead roles.
Tamara-Jenkins.jpg
81%
Battle of the Sexes (2017)
81%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 23 nominations
Battle of the Sexes turns real-life events into a crowd-pleasing, well-acted dramedy that ably entertains while smartly serving up a volley of present-day parallels
Battle of the Sexes is like a sports movie, a biopic, and a lesbian film all rolled into one. It’s got action, drama, and a bit of humor to keep you entertained. And let’s not forget the Hairy Legged Feminist-Male Chauvinist Pig showdown that we all needed. With great performances and direction, this movie is a grand slam success. Plus, it’s a fitting tribute to one of the biggest female sports stars of the twentieth century. So grab some popcorn and get ready to cheer on Billie Jean King in this fun and inspiring film.
Production Company(ies)
Tri Star Pictures, Freddie Fields Productions,
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites – 404 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and partial nudity
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTSS DDS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 1m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 29, 2017 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2017
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Battle of the Sexes, starring Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Natalie Morales, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, written by Simon Beaufoy, comedy, drama, PG-13, box office gross $12.6M, reviewed by Heather Hogan, Tara Brady, Deborah Ross, Liz Beardsworth, Mark Kermode, Matthew Norman, Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs, tennis match, gender politics, women’s equality, gay rights, 1973, media glare, personal battles, equal pay, sexuality, legacy, reputation, Fox Searchlight, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS, Scope (2.35:1), Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, Robert Graf, produced by
Worldwide gross: $18,598,607
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $22,434,311
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,675
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,446,490
US/Canada gross: $12,638,526
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $15,245,046
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,490
US/Canada opening weekend: $518,332
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $625,231
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,351
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $30,155,902
Production budget ranking: 1,156
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $16,238,953
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$23,960,544
ROI to date (est.): -52%
ROI ranking: 1,701
Steve Carell – Bobby Riggs
Andrea Riseborough – Marilyn Barnett
Natalie Morales – Rosie Casals
Sarah Silverman – Gladys Heldman
Bill Pullman – Jack Kramer
Director – Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
Producer – Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, Robert Graf
Writer – Simon Beaufoy
Director(s)
Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
Writer(s)
Simon Beaufoy
Producer(s)
Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, Robert Graf
Film Festivals
Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 23 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (318) | Top Critics (84) | Fresh (268) | Rotten (50)
It’s a sports movie, complete with breathless action sequences, overwrought crowd reactions, and a soaring score. It’s a biopic about a legend. And it’s one of the best lesbian films I’ve ever seen.
July 2, 2018
Heather Hogan
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
At 121 minutes, Battle of the Sexes occasionally drags, but it’s the Hairy Legged Feminist-Male Chauvinist Pig showdown that we needed right now.
December 1, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
The film is not unsuccessful, as it’s mostly entertaining enough, and if the gender politics seem oversimplified, there are reminders of some real-life commentaries.
November 29, 2017
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
A light, funny, blissfully entertaining flick about heavy, sadly still relevant themes.
November 27, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Liz Beardsworth
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This dramatisation revisits those carnivalesque events in splendidly springy fashion, achieving the quadruple grand slam feat of being emotionally engaging, politically intriguing, dramatically gripping and frequently very funny.
November 26, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Stone gives her best performance since she first exploded as a fully formed generational talent in 2010’s Easy A.
November 24, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Norman
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Fortunately, the film never becomes a hype machine or gets caught up in the bizarre media circus around the central match. The concentration remains on the players and the emotional stakes, as well as what King’s victory represents.
March 17, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
A fitting tribute to one of the biggest female sports stars of the twentieth century.
September 2, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Turner
The Pink Lens
The entire time I couldn’t help but wish I were watching a Billie Jean King biopic instead.
July 21, 2021
Fletcher Powell
KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
With pleasing the crowds you’ve sometimes got to sand the edges for mass consumption…
July 2, 2021
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
With a pair of stellar performances and strong direction from Johnathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, Battle of the Sexes is an absolute crowd pleasing success.
June 8, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Leo Brady
AMovieGuy.com
Though ‘Battle’ wishes to engage a past story with a present struggle, it ultimately comes off like a strung-together series of on the nose moments in a movie full of on the nose dialogue and knowingly looks.
April 22, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema…
Plot
In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s world champion Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the BATTLE OF THE SEXES and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court, sparking discussions in bedrooms and boardrooms that continue to reverberate today.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
“Stone gives her best performance since she first exploded as a fully formed generational talent in 2010’s Easy A.” – Mark Kermode, Observer (UK)
Valerie-Faris.jpg
81%
Menashe (2017)
81%RT Audience Score: 64%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 18 nominations
Menashe offers an intriguing look at a culture whose unfamiliarity to many viewers will be rendered irrelevant by the story’s universally affecting themes and thoughtful approach
Menashe is a heartwarming and hilarious film that takes you on a journey through the rarely seen world of New York’s Hasidic community. The film’s protagonist, Menashe, is a lovable and relatable character who will have you rooting for him from start to finish. The film’s use of Yiddish adds an extra layer of authenticity and charm to the story. Overall, Menashe is a must-see film that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.
Production Company(ies)
Universal International Pictures,,
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic elements
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.00 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 22m
-
Language(s):Yiddish, English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States, Canada, United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 28, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 10, 2017
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Menashe Lustig, Ruben Niborski, Yoel Weisshaus, Meir Ber Schwartz, Yoel Falkowitz, Mirka Hermoza Laznik, directed by Joshua Z Weinstein, written by Alex Lipschultz, Musa Syeed, Joshua Z Weinstein, Comedy, Drama, PG, A24, Yiddish, box office gross $1.7M, reviewed by David Stratton, Paul Byrnes, Donald Clarke, Mark Kermode, Geoffrey Macnab, Deborah Ross, Leigh Monson, Richard Propes, Elissa Suh, Charlotte Harrison, Nicholas Bell, produced by Yoni Brook, Traci Carlson, Daniel Finkelman, Alex Lipschultz, Joshua Z Weinstein
Worldwide gross: $1,962,265
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,366,955
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,365
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 258,119
US/Canada gross: $1,703,036
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,054,263
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,027
US/Canada opening weekend: $62,078
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $74,881
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,052
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
Ruben Niborski – Rieven
Yoel Weisshaus – Eizik
Meir Ber Schwartz – Rabbi
Yoel Falkowitz – Fischel
Mirka Hermoza Laznik – Bayla
Director – Joshua Z Weinstein
Producers – Yoni Brook, Traci Carlson, Daniel Finkelman, Alex Lipschultz, Joshua Z Weinstein
Writers – Alex Lipschultz, Musa Syeed, Joshua Z Weinstein
Director(s)
Joshua Z Weinstein
Writer(s)
Alex Lipschultz, Musa Syeed, Joshua Z Weinstein
Producer(s)
Yoni Brook, Traci Carlson, Daniel Finkelman, Alex Lipschultz, Joshua Z Weinstein
Film Festivals
Sundance, Berlin
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 18 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (118) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (113) | Rotten (5)
Joshua Z. Weinstein’s film is very modest but never less than interesting in the insights it offers into this rarefied world on the edge of Manhattan.
April 4, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
It’s a film that just keeps getting stronger as it goes, unfolding almost imperceptibly and becoming deeper with each scene.
February 2, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
It goes within one of the world’s most filmed cities to discover an environment rarely revealed to outsiders. But it also wins kudos for the emotional honesty of its uncomplicated narrative.
December 11, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
This terrifically authentic look at life inside New York’s Yiddish-speaking Hasidic community is a bittersweet treat – a vibrantly engaging portrait of down-to-earth lives that is affectionate, amusing and ultimately very moving.
December 10, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Whatever pickle he gets himself in, we can’t help but root for Menashe.
December 7, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It is small and specific, admittedly, but it also tells a universal story about a father’s struggle to hold on to the son he loves, and it tells this story tenderly, thoughtfully, beautifully.
December 7, 2017
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Seeing single fatherhood examined in the context of another culture that exists alongside other more commonly conveyed American cultures is a unique experience film-goers are not often afforded.
September 25, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Leigh Monson
Substream Magazine
Menashe is an easygoing, heartfelt comedy held together by a thread of tenderness.
September 16, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Spoken entirely in Yiddish, Menashe is a sort of Kramer vs. Kramer of the Hasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Played by Menashe Lustig, the titular character proves immediately lovable, if not a mensch.
February 27, 2020
Elissa Suh
MUBI
Moving and occasionally rather heartbreaking.
January 28, 2020
Charlotte Harrison
VultureHound
This sensibly directed, melancholic little film prizes sincerity instead of overblown melodrama.
October 10, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
It is a sometimes emotional, eye-opening treatise showing the tough, gray area decisions religious people like Menashe have to deal with in today’s world.
September 19, 2019
Linda and Al Lerner
Movies and Shakers…
Plot
Menashe, a widower, lives and works within the Hasidic community of Borough Park, Brooklyn. Since his wife passed away a year before, he has been trying hard to regain custody of his nine-year-old son, Rieven. But the rabbi (and all the community behind him) will not hear of it unless he re-marries, which Menashe does not want, his first marriage having been very unhappy. Father and son get on well together, but can Menashe take care of Rieven properly? Not really for all his goodwill as he holds down a low-paid job as a grocery clerk that consumes too much of his efforts and energy. Always late, always in a hurry, he endeavors to improve himself though. But will his efforts be enough to convince the rabbi that he can be a good father without a wife at home?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Menashe.
Joshua-Z-Weinstein.jpg
81%
L’Enfant (2006)
81%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
15 wins & 51 nominations total
The Dardennes continue to excel at presenting works of rigorous naturalism, with detached observations of authentic characters that nevertheless resonate with complex moral issues
L’Enfant is a movie that will make you feel like you’re in the gritty streets of Belgium, but don’t worry, you won’t need a passport. This film is a simple moral fable that packs a punch with its nerve and compassion. You’ll find yourself rooting for the pathetic loser of a protagonist, Bruno, despite his questionable actions. The Dardennes brothers have done it again with another ultra-realistic family drama that’s a masterpiece in its own right. So grab some popcorn and get ready for a thrilling ride that will leave you questioning what you would do in Bruno’s shoes.
Production Company(ies)
The Mirisch Corporation,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Deception Pass State Park, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and brief graphic nudity
Year of Release
2016
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Esperanto, German, Chinese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Déborah François, Jérémie Renier, Jérémie Segard, Fabrizio Rongione, Olivier Gourmet, Stéphane Bissot, directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, written by Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Adam Nayman, Victoria Segal, David Ansen, Geoff Andrew, Roger Moore, Richard Nilsen, David Walsh, Richard Propes, Alberto Abuín, Olivia Glazebrook, Emanuel Levy, Fernando F Croce, producer Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd, R rating, crime, punishment, emotional acuity, spiritual purity, teenage pregnancy, sublet apartment, selling a child, redemption, real-time, working-class, industrial Belgium, naturalism, complex moral issues, authentic characters, detached observations
Worldwide gross: $23,123,592
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $28,499,794
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,562
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,107,938
US/Canada gross: $5,879,835
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,246,888
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,701
US/Canada opening weekend: $93,824
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $115,638
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,878
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $6,162,493
Production budget ranking: 1,838
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,318,502
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $19,018,799
ROI to date (est.): 201%
ROI ranking: 626
Déborah François – Sonia
Jérémie Segard – Steve
Fabrizio Rongione – Young Thug
Olivier Gourmet – Plainclothes Officer
Stéphane Bissot – Receiver
Director(s)
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Writer(s)
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Producer(s)
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
15 wins & 51 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (114) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (96) | Rotten (18)
L’Enfant deals in matters of (organized) crime and punishment without compromising its emotional acuity or spiritual purity.
April 6, 2020
Adam Nayman
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
L’Enfant shows a world that remains under the radar for most people, yet proves that growing up – however long it takes – is anything but child’s play.
September 26, 2017
Victoria Segal
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Unfolding in real time on the scruffy working-class streets of industrial Belgium, this harrowingly intense odyssey charts Bruno’s desperate search for redemption.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Absolutely terrific.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A simple moral fable told with compassion and nerve.
June 2, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
What is astonishing, and most admirable, is the way the filmmakers manage to create sympathy for this pathetic loser.
May 25, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Their depiction of the bleak conditions provides them a certain credibility, but then the filmmakers largely turn their backs on the implications of those conditions.
February 14, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Further cements the reputation of the Dardennes as innovative and essential filmmakers.
September 13, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
A very weak film, without any interest. [Full Review in Spanish]
June 28, 2019
Alberto Abuín
Espinof
The ghastly straightforwardness of the proposition itself makes a thrilling start, but the complications that follow result in a film which rivals Deliverance in terms of mounting tension.
February 3, 2018
Olivia Glazebrook
The Spectator
Another terrific, ultra-realistic family drama fom the talented Dardenne brothers, winner of Cannes Film Fest top prize.
June 9, 2011 | Rating: A-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A masterpiece
August 30, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion…
Plot
Ben and Leslie Cash live largely off the grid with their offspring
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for L’Enfant.
Jean-Pierre-Dardenne.jpg
81%
Shin Godzilla (2016)
81%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Shin Godzilla, the latest addition to the iconic franchise, is a visually impressive and well-directed film that takes aim at the bureaucratic inefficiencies of the Japanese government. While some critics found the dialogue-heavy scenes to be a bit slow, others praised the shrewd and amusing portrayal of Japan’s bickering bureaucracy. The film’s final shot is haunting and will surely leave a lasting impression on viewers. With its unique twist on the classic formula and its Dunkirk-like intensity, Shin Godzilla is a must-see for fans of the genre.
Shin Godzilla is like a wild ride on a rollercoaster, but instead of loops and drops, you get bureaucratic red tape and government meetings. But don’t let that scare you off, because once Godzilla shows up, it’s a monster mash of epic proportions. The special effects may not be top-notch, but the final shot will leave you with goosebumps. Plus, it’s always fun to see Godzilla wreak havoc in his true home of Japan. Overall, Shin Godzilla is a must-watch for any kaiju fan looking for a good time.
Production Company(ies)
Foreign Language, Toho Co., Ltd.
Distributor
Funimation
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Tokyo, Japan
MPAA / Certificate
NR
Year of Release
2016
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):Japanese
-
Country of origin:Japan
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2017
Genre(s)
Sci-fi/Action
Keyword(s)
Sci-fi, Action, Godzilla, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi, Yoshihiro Satô, Masaya Shibusawa, Taichi Ueda, Kazutoshi Wadakura, Hideaki Anno, Shin’ya Tsukamoto, Satomi Ishihara, Jun Kunimura, Hiroki Hasegawa, Takahiro Miura, Kengo Kôra, Funimation, Cine Bazar, Toho Company, box office, budget, reviewed by Clarisse Loughrey, Tara Brady, Wendy Ide, Peter Bradshaw, Kevin Maher, CJ Sheu, Panos Kotzathanasis, Emmanuel Báez, Richard Trenholm, Phil W Bayles, Kellie Haulotte, MPAA rating, limited release, streaming release, Japanese language, Tokyo Bay, monster, destruction, biologist, journalist, Japan Self-Defense Force, Kayoko Ann Patterson, Rando Yaguchi, Yusuke Shimura, Godzilla Resurgence, classic creature-feature roots, refreshingly low-fi, entertaining, bureaucratic minutia, social conscience platform, political critiques, inconsistent, impressive creature effects, sequel
Worldwide gross: $77,947,607
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $1,918,403
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.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $19,631,844
Production budget ranking: 1,379
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $10,571,748
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Satomi Ishihara – Kayoko Ann Patterson
Jun Kunimura – Official of Japan Self-Defense Force
Hiroki Hasegawa – Rando Yaguchi
Takahiro Miura – Journalist
Kengo Kôra – Yusuke Shimura
Director – Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi
Producer – Yoshihiro Satô, Masaya Shibusawa, Taichi Ueda, Kazutoshi Wadakura
Writer – Hideaki Anno
Director(s)
Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi
Writer(s)
Hideaki Anno
Producer(s)
Yoshihiro Satô, Masaya Shibusawa, Taichi Ueda, Kazutoshi Wadakura
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (73) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (10)
What Shin Godzilla does offer is one major counter: Godzilla’s real home is Japan, and anything else feels like a glitzy vacation.
August 16, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Thirty-one films and 63 years later, the monster has seldom looked better. The final shot will haunt your dreams.
August 15, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Coming off like a peculiar mash-up of The Host and Dr Strangelove, Shin Godzilla is weirdly paced but does add a new twist to the old formula.
August 13, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Owen Williams
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This enjoyable but dialogue-heavy addition to the Godzilla family takes aim at the inert, top-heavy bureaucracy of Japanese government.
August 13, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
There are lots of very shrewd and amusing scenes showing Japan’s bickering and sclerotic bureaucracy.
August 11, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Bonkers in all the wrong ways.
August 10, 2017 | Rating: 1/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s Godzilla versus the paper pushers-and Godzilla doesn’t stand a chance.
July 1, 2020
CJ Sheu
Review Film Review
“Godzilla Resurgence” is a great mainstream film, and probably the most meaningful, visually impressive, and well directed entry in the series.
October 20, 2019
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse
A special experience. [Full review in Spanish]
June 20, 2019 | Rating: 4.5/5
Emmanuel Báez
Cinéfiloz
Shin Godzilla is the Dunkirk of Godzilla movies.
April 16, 2019
Richard Trenholm
CNET
The human characters fall flat, and the undeniably dodgy special effects will put many off, but it’s an entertaining slice of B-movie nonsense that recalls the earliest days of the iconic franchise.
February 28, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Phil W. Bayles
One Room With A View
Movie Review: Shin Godzilla
January 9, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Kellie Haulotte
The Abstract…
Plot
A mysterious monster emerges from Tokyo Bay and wreaks havoc upon Japan in Shin Godzilla.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t have any goofy or funny comments about the film Signed in.
Hideaki-Anno.jpg
81%
Heart of a Dog (2015)
81%RT Audience Score: 64%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 14 nominations
Of a piece with much of director Laurie Anderson’s idiosyncratic output, Heart of a Dog delves into weighty themes with lyrical, haunting grace
Heart of a Dog is a movie that’s as unique as it is charming. It’s not every day that you get to watch a film that cites philosophers, painters, and Jewish grandmothers while also featuring a terrier as the main character. But somehow, director Laurie Anderson pulls it off. The film is a mix of reminiscence and fantasy that’s both honest and calming. It’s a daring and moving experience that’s worth watching, even if you’re not an experimental cinema fan. Plus, who doesn’t love a good dog movie?
Production Company(ies)
Element Pictures, A24, Film4
Distributor
Abramorama
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2016
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
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Runtime:1h 15m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 2015 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 6, 2016
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Laurie Anderson, Dan Janvey, Lou Reed, dog, death, grief, experimental, art, music, performance, veterinarian, farmer, chef, nurse, Rat Terrier, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, Goya, Jewish grandmothers, honesty, reminiscence, fantasy, experimental cinema, calming, sound design, disjointed structure, emotional reticence, album, movie, daring, moving, capable director, critic reviews, audience reviews, Tomatometer, box office, gross USA, limited release, streaming, rent/buy, MPAA rating, producer, writer, director, reviewed by, Heart of a Dog
Worldwide gross: $476,384
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $587,143
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,702
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 64,029
US/Canada gross: $420,813
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $518,651
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,314
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,893
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $17,123
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,567
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
Paul Davidson – Farmer
Laurie Anderson – Narrator
Sasha Grossman – Nurse, Narrator
Kurt Gutenbrunner – Chef, Narrator
Gatto – Rat Terrier, Narrator
Director(s)
Laurie Anderson
Writer(s)
Laurie Anderson
Producer(s)
Dan Janvey, Laurie Anderson
Film Festivals
Venice, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (90) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (86) | Rotten (4)
Like much of Anderson’s work, Heart of a Dog takes the form of casually constructed, almost meandering reminiscences, while at the same time never losing its tightly structured focus and drive.
August 25, 2018
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
The Blue Lenses
TOP CRITIC
… it restores a sense of calm to its subject without evading the most haunting questions.
September 21, 2017
Judy Berman
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
The film is often notable for Anderson’s honesty.
January 10, 2017
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
An unclassifiable but strangely charming combination of reminiscence and fantasy, this is worth seeking out not only for Anderson fans but also for anyone interested in experimental cinema.
October 21, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein and 9/11 are all thrown into the mix with a lightness of touch at once ephemeral and profound.
May 22, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Nothing if not original, this is almost certainly the only movie about a terrier that cites the writing of Wittgenstein and Kierkegaard, the painting of Goya and the wisdom of Jewish grandmothers.
May 19, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Heart of a Dog is a triumph and not simply in its love and candor, but in its calming ease that gently reminds viewers: no matter what, everything will be OK.
August 2, 2019
Michael J. Casey
Boulder Weekly
Anderson is auteur, narrator, and guide, grasping our hands and settling us into her vast and gorgeous mind-scape through seamlessly-mixed media and an astonishingly enveloping sound design…
April 9, 2019
Matthew Eng
Tribeca Film
This film’s disjointed structure and emotional reticence would make a better album than a movie. An album also doesn’t demand an engaging overall story to hold our attention, but many of the scenes in this fairly short film had me nodding off.
March 7, 2019
Ren Jender
Bitch Flicks
All around a daring and moving experience that deserves to be seen.
February 6, 2019
Morgan Rojas
Cinemacy
With this film, [director Laurie Anderson] proves herself to be a capable director.
February 15, 2018
Steve Erickson
Gay City News
In the case of Heart of a Dog, the only importance is attached to the name of artist who signed this film.
November 14, 2017
Boris Nelepo
Cinema Scope…
Plot
Multimedia artist Laurie Anderson reflects on her relationship with her beloved terrier Lolabelle.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Heart of a Dog on Fresh Kernels.
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