Gunda (2020)
83%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Gunda takes an absorbingly meditative look at farm life from the animals’ perspective, tacitly posing questions about our relationship to food along the way
Gunda is a film that will make you think twice about your bacon and ham consumption. But let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good BLT? This documentary is a beautiful and mesmerizing look into the lives of farm animals, and it’s impossible not to be moved by the personalities and emotions of these creatures. Plus, who knew pigs could be so darn cute? Gunda is a must-watch for animal lovers and anyone who wants to see a different side of the food industry. Just maybe don’t watch it while eating a ham sandwich.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NEON
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Grøstad farm, Undrumsdal in Tønsberg municipality, Norway
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 33m
-
Language(s):None
-
Country of origin:United States, Norway
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 16, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
GUNDA, documentary, animals, farm life, food, black and white cinematography, animal consciousness, humanity, Victor Kossakovsky, directed by, Anita Rehoff Larsen, Joslyn Barnes, Susan Rockefeller, produced by, Tone Grøttjord, Joaquin Phoenix, executive producer, written by, Ainara Vera, genre, box office, gross USA, budget, NEON, MPAA rating, experiential cinema, mother pig, flock of chickens, herd of cows, masterful intimacy, ambient soundtrack, magical patience, otherworldly perspective, reviewed by, Bilge Ebiri, Donald Clarke, David Parkinson, Kevin Maher, Simran Hans, Clarisse Loughrey, Dennis Schwartz, Dorothy Woodend, Witney Seibold, Alison Gillmor, Kim Hughes, Anne Brodie
Worldwide gross: $383,128
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $416,693
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,783
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 45,441
US/Canada gross: $115,691
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $125,826
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,629
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,023
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,463
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,792
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
Ainara Vera – Writer
Anita Rehoff Larsen – Producer
Tone Grøttjord – Executive Producer
Joaquin Phoenix – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Victor Kossakovsky
Writer(s)
Victor Kossakovsky, Ainara Vera
Producer(s)
Anita Rehoff Larsen, Joslyn Barnes, Susan Rockefeller
Film Festivals
Berlin, Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (91) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (89) | Rotten (2)
Kossakovsky’s mesmerizing, gorgeous documentary about the life of a mother pig and her babies on an unnamed farm somewhere in the world serves as a bracing corrective to the way animals are usually portrayed on film.
August 11, 2021
Bilge Ebiri
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
There is plenty of time to ponder the morality of our dominion over the beasts.A highly original, singularly beautiful film.
June 15, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Full of fascinating behavioural insights and moments that are both hilarious and adorable, this studied treatise on the personality and emotionality of domestic animals should provide plentiful food for thought.
June 7, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It’s a must-watch but you’ll probably never eat bacon again.
June 7, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
To call the film meditative would be to undersell Kosakovskiy’s instinct for drama and tension.
June 6, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
What’s so remarkable about Gunda is not only how beautifully Kossakovsky renders these humble surroundings, but how much drama he manages to excavate from the daily toing and froing of farmyard life.
June 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It takes its cues from George Orwell’s Animal Farm and the American film Babe.
November 23, 2021 | Rating: B+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
It is too beautiful and too wondrous to be hemmed in by any single agenda. Rather, it’s a portrait of life itself, in all of its pain and joy, suffering and pleasure.
November 9, 2021
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
While ‘Gunda’s’ ambitions are to steer people away from consuming meat, it also possesses a very simple hypnotic quality: It’s fascinating to watch animals be animals.
September 13, 2021
Witney Seibold
Critically Acclaimed Podcast
This is a film that demands not just concentrated looking but a kind of cinematic surrender. You don’t just watch Gunda; you give yourself over to it.
August 13, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Alison Gillmor
Winnipeg Free Press
Brilliantly shot and impossibly moving, this one-of-a-kind documentary handily elevates both farm animals and filmmaking. You don’t say that every day.
July 16, 2021
Kim Hughes
Original Cin
It’s stunning work, as quiet and powerful as a film gets.
July 9, 2021
Anne Brodie
What She Said…
Plot
GUNDA is a documentary that offers a unique perspective on farm life, chronicling the lives of a mother pig, a flock of chickens, and a herd of cows with masterful intimacy, inviting the audience to slow down and experience life as his subjects do.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t have any goofy or funny comments about the film GUNDA.
Victor-Kossakovsky.jpg
83%
The Boy Behind the Door (2020)
83%RT Audience Score: 68%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
A tense, terrifying, and all-around outstanding feature debut for its co-directing duo, The Boy Behind the Door should thrill discerning horror fans.
The Boy Behind the Door is a horror movie that will make you want to lock all your doors and windows. The film follows two young boys who are kidnapped and must find a way to escape their captors. While the premise may seem simple, the execution is anything but. The tension is palpable throughout the entire movie, and the performances from the young actors are outstanding. If you’re a fan of horror movies that rely on suspense and atmosphere rather than jump scares and gore, then The Boy Behind the Door is definitely worth checking out. Just make sure you have a nightlight handy!
Production Company(ies)
T A T Communications, Company,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 29, 2021
Genre(s)
Horror/Mystery & Thriller
Keyword(s)
The Boy Behind the Door, horror, mystery, thriller, Lonnie Chavis, Ezra Dewey, David Charbonier, Justin Powell, Ryan Lewis, John Hermann, Jim Hart, Ryan Scaringe, Rick Rosenthal, written by David Charbonier, Justin Powell, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Amy Nicholson, John Anderson, Elisabeth Vincentelli, Christy Lemire, Dennis Harvey, Phil Hoad, Andy Lea, Abbie Bernstein, Joel Fisher, Trace Thurman, Carey-Ann Pawsey, Kevin Carr, MPAA rating, abducted, escape, rescue mission, terror, thriller fans, feature debut, co-directing duo, dark halls, kidnapper, stranger, best friends, cat-and-mouse game, tense, nerve-wracking, well-acted, expertly crafted, stalking, all-around outstanding
Worldwide gross: $144,255
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $156,893
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,972
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 17,109
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
Ezra Dewey – Kevin
Kristin Bauer – Ms. Burton
Scott Michael Foster – Officer Steward
Micah A. Hauptman – The Creep
David Charbonier – Director
Ryan Lewis – Producer
John Hermann – Producer
Jim Hart – Producer
Ryan Scaringe – Producer
Rick Rosenthal – Producer
Justin Powell – Director
David Charbonier – Writer
Justin Powell – Writer
Director(s)
David Charbonier, Justin Powell
Writer(s)
David Charbonier, Justin Powell
Producer(s)
Ryan Lewis, John Hermann, Jim Hart, Ryan Scaringe, Rick Rosenthal
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (64) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (2)
This is the most nerve-wracking small horror film that I have seen in a very, very long time.
July 31, 2021
Amy Nicholson
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
It’s remarkable how much dreadful mileage Messrs. Powell and Charbonier get out of Kevin and Bobby’s plight, far more than if the tween boys were simply threatened with death.
July 30, 2021
John Anderson
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
The movie does not transcend its virtuosic, almost abstractly taut storytelling.
July 29, 2021
Elisabeth Vincentelli
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
The debut feature from the writing/directing duo of David Charbonier and Justin Powell is so skillful, precise and well-acted that you’ll want to give the film a chance and stick with it, even through some deeply uncomfortable moments.
July 29, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Christy Lemire
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
[An] effective use of a simple premise and modest means to create a nicely nerve-jangling thriller.
July 28, 2021
Dennis Harvey
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Its best-friends-for-ever message is barely enough to keep the film on the right side of palatable.
July 26, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Phil Hoad
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The premise is queasy but, if you can stomach the opening half hour, this expertly crafted chiller should pin you to your sofa.
May 2, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Andy Lea
Daily Express (UK)
Chavis and Dewey both give powerful, well-nuanced performances.
March 15, 2022 | Rating: B+
Abbie Bernstein
Assignment X
The Boy Behind the Door is still a well-made horror, just don’t expect much innovation.
August 11, 2021
Joel Fisher
Battle Royale With Cheese
Remarkably, and sometimes unbearably, tense.
August 9, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
What you have here is a solid horror film. Horror and not gore. High on tension.
August 8, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Carey-Ann Pawsey
Orca Sound
It’s an intense, stalking cat-and-mouse game.
August 6, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Kevin Carr
Fat Guys at the Movies…
Plot
In The Boy Behind the Door, two best friends are abducted on their way home from school and must navigate a night of terror and escape their captor, with one friend’s life on the line.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for The Boy Behind the Door.
David-Charbonier.jpg
83%
The Reason I Jump (2021)
83%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 14 nominations
The Reason I Jump’s moving personal perspective succeeds in providing an authentic understanding of its subjects’ journeys
The Reason I Jump is a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and see the world in a whole new way. With its stunning cinematography and powerful storytelling, this film is a must-see for anyone who wants to understand the neurodiverse experience. Whether you have personal experience with autism or not, The Reason I Jump will leave you feeling inspired and enlightened. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready for a journey you won’t soon forget!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Arlington, Virginia, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 22m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 8, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 9, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, neuro-diversity, autism, Naoki Higashida, Jerry Rothwell, Jeremy Dear, Stevie Lee, Al Morrow, Jody Allen, Kino Lorber, English, 1h 22m, immersive, sensory universe, personal perspective, authentic understanding, nonspeaking autistic people, best-selling book, intimate portraits, remarkable young people, revelatory insights, joyful, director, writer, producer, executive producer, critic reviews, Tomatometer, audience score, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, Kevin Maher, Wendy Ide, Ian Freer, Philip De Semlyen, Matthew Mulcahy, Danny Leigh, Calum Baker, James Luxford, Carson Timar, Edward Porter, Joseph Walsh, MaryAnn Johanson, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV shows, streaming movies, theaters, subscription, rent/buy, verified purchase, Fresh Kernels
Worldwide gross: $104,639
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $113,806
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,016
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 12,411
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
Naoki Higashida – Writer
Jeremy Dear – Producer
Stevie Lee – Producer
Al Morrow – Producer
Jody Allen – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Jerry Rothwell
Writer(s)
Naoki Higashida
Producer(s)
Jeremy Dear, Stevie Lee, Al Morrow
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest, Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (61) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (2)
Informative, illuminating and quietly moving.
June 21, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Rothwell uses the language of cinema – macro lens closeups, distortion, off-kilter framing and an evocative blend of sound design and score – to convey the autistic experience of the world.
June 20, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Sensitively made, thought-provoking and ultimately moving, The Reason I Jump provides telling insights into the neurodiverse worldview. The result is a powerful documentary that presents life through fresh eyes.
June 19, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Ian Freer
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The Reason I Jump captures that idea in an unpatronising, optimistic way, while giving neurotypical people a preconception-busting wake-up call.
June 18, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Philip De Semlyen
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Effective at conveying the sensory experience of neurodiversity while educating non-autistic viewers.
June 17, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Mulcahy
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
The film is a fascinating story – a story all the same.
June 16, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A moving and accomplished film that both inspires and educates, and ably demonstrates how individuals and families could benefit from more considered support and political policy.
March 24, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Calum Baker
Radio Times
The Reason I Jump serves as a graceful primer for those unaware of the subject, but may feel too instructional for those with personal experience.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
James Luxford
City AM
The Reason I Jump will clearly connect the most with individuals who have direct ties to the nonverbal autistic community. The film remains impactful and worthwhile for universal audiences.
February 12, 2022
Carson Timar
Filmotomy
Its use of impressionistic shots to give an idea of how an autistic person might see the world is a bit flowery at times, but the film doesn’t pretend the images aren’t conjectural, and this in itself is thought-provoking.
June 22, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Edward Porter
Sunday Times (UK)
For some it will be a leap too far, but there’s no doubting the sincerity of this beautifully constructed documentary.
June 22, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Joseph Walsh
The Arts Desk
An extraordinary cinematic experience that immerses us into the personal landscapes of profoundly autistic, nonverbal young people. The empathy it engenders is deeply felt and enormously eye-opening.
June 19, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher…
Plot
The Reason I Jump is a documentary that explores the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world, based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida. The film provides an intimate portrait of five remarkable young people and offers insights into the intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe of autism.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film, but it does mention that the writer of the original book, Naoki Higashida, also wrote it when he was just 13 years old.
Jerry-Rothwell.jpg
83%
MLK/FBI (2021)
83%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 17 nominations
MLK/FBI presents a sobering overview of the American intelligence community’s efforts to discredit and destroy a leader of the civil rights movement
MLK/FBI is a documentary that will make you question everything you thought you knew about Martin Luther King Jr. and the FBI’s surveillance of him. It’s like a history lesson, but with more drama and intrigue. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you watch the story unfold, and you’ll be left with a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices that were made in the fight for civil rights. Plus, you’ll never look at the FBI the same way again.
Production Company(ies)
HBO Documentary Films, Jigsaw Productions, Sky Atlantic
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-PG
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
MLK/FBI, documentary, civil rights movement, FBI surveillance, Martin Luther King Jr., J Edgar Hoover, American intelligence, law enforcement agencies, racism, red-baiting paranoia, archival footage, Sam Pollard, Benjamin Hedin, Laura Tomaselli, directed by Samuel D Pollard, produced by Benjamin Hedin, written by Benjamin Hedin and Laura Tomaselli, David Garrow, Donna Murch, Marc Perrusquia, Andrew Young, Beverly Gage, Clarence Jones, critic reviews, MLK/FBI reviews, MLK/FBI rating, MLK/FBI box office, MLK/FBI budget, IFC Films, MPAA rating, MLK/FBI cast and crew, MLK/FBI documentary, MLK/FBI streaming, MLK/FBI rent/buy, MLK/FBI subscription, MLK/FBI movie
Worldwide gross: $91,833
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $99,878
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,027
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,892
US/Canada gross: $45,200
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $49,160
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,755
US/Canada opening weekend: $21,603
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $23,496
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,456
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
Donna Murch – Self
Marc Perrusquia – Self
Andrew Young – Self
Beverly Gage – Self
Clarence Jones – Self
Director(s)
Samuel D. Pollard
Writer(s)
Benjamin Hedin, Laura Tomaselli
Producer(s)
Benjamin Hedin
Film Festivals
Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 17 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (125) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (123) | Rotten (2)
While MLK/FBI is expansive and humane, it leaves room for a deeper and more concentrated look at Coretta Scott King as an individual who faced her own enormous challenges as a public figure.
March 9, 2021
Soraya Nadia McDonald
Andscape
TOP CRITIC
It gives the public a full opportunity to understand who King was as a person, a man, a human being…we see his failings, but we also see how great and powerful his movement was…
March 2, 2021
tt stern-enzi
WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH)
TOP CRITIC
An eye-opening documentary that poses hard questions and gives no easy answers, MLK/FBI is a worthy addition to the ever-timely media concerning Martin Luther King Jr.
January 22, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Amon Warmann
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
I don’t know that MLK/FBI reveals anything new about its subject, but it clarifies & amplifies facets of his story in a timely way. It couldn’t be more relevant, as a document of history or as a cautionary tale about balancing a public & private existence
January 22, 2021
Leonard Maltin
leonardmaltin.com
TOP CRITIC
What are we going to do with the material itself? It’s a question whose answers remain to be seen. The accomplishment of Pollard’s documentary is that it so capably and persuasively prepares us to ask it.
January 19, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
K. Austin Collins
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Cleverly uses the FBI’s pursuit of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr to tell the entwined history of leftwing protest and state-sanctioned surveillance.
January 16, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This film offers another example of how past administrations and agencies have worked against voices of equality, and how these conversations remain necessary even to this day.
February 17, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
MLK/FBI leads us to question whether the governmental overreach it depicts is as safely in the past as some would have us believe.
September 26, 2021
Christopher Bourne
In Review Online
There’s little new information about the FBI’s open racism vs. the civil rights movement, but it’s useful to have it documented in one place.
September 13, 2021
Witney Seibold
Critically Acclaimed Podcast
It is a thorough examination of over a decade of conflict and strife, packaged into a feature film, which is no small feat. But its failure to focus on the FBI investigation and muddying its portrayal of King hurts the overall production.
May 25, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Noah Schwartz
Film Threat
Downright essential.
May 16, 2021
John Serba
Decider
Sam Pollard’s Martin Luther King deep-dive unearths amazing contemporary footage and previously unseen government files.
April 23, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Paul M. Bradshaw
NME…
Plot
MLK/FBI is a documentary that explores the FBI’s surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, shedding light on the government’s efforts to discredit and destroy a leader of the movement.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film MLK/FBI on Fresh Kernels.
Samuel-D.-Pollard.jpg
83%
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
83%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 17 wins & 83 nominations
With a fresh perspective, some new friends, and loads of fast-paced action, Birds of Prey captures the colorfully anarchic spirit of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is like a wild rollercoaster ride that you never want to end. The movie is a perfect blend of action, humor, and girl power, with Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn stealing the show with her quirky and unpredictable character. The fight scenes are outstanding, and the visuals are a treat for the eyes. It’s a fruity cocktail of a movie that will leave you giddy and wanting more. So grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
Toho Company,
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence and language throughout, and some sexual and drug material
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 49m
-
Language(s):English, Chinese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 7, 2020 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2020
Genre(s)
Action/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ewan McGregor, Ella Jay Basco, directed by Cathy Yan, written by Christina Hodson, action, comedy, R-rated, DC Extended Universe, box office, budget, reviewed by Max Weiss, Christina Newland, Esther Zuckerman, Tim Grierson, Valerie Complex, Rebecca Long, Brian Eggert, David Gonzalez, Zofia Wijaszka, Jason Adams, Susan Kamyab, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Helena Bertinelli/The Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Dinah Lance/Black Canary, Ewan McGregor as Roman Sionis/Black Mask, produced by Margot Robbie, Bryan Unkeless, Sue Kroll, Dolby Atmos, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $205,358,461
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $230,370,248
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 618
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 25,122,164
US/Canada gross: $84,172,791
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $96,055,078
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 771
US/Canada opening weekend: $33,010,017
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $37,669,890
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 341
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $84,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $96,428,478
Production budget ranking: 428
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $51,926,735
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $82,015,035
ROI to date (est.): 55%
ROI ranking: 1,121
Rosie Perez – Renee Montoya
Mary Elizabeth Winstead – Helena Bertinelli, The Huntress
Jurnee Smollett-Bell – Dinah Lance, Black Canary
Ewan McGregor – Roman Sionis
Ella Jay Basco – Cassandra Cain
Director(s)
Cathy Yan
Writer(s)
Christina Hodson
Producer(s)
Margot Robbie, Bryan Unkeless, Sue Kroll
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
17 wins & 83 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (432) | Top Critics (78) | Fresh (340) | Rotten (92)
Kinetic, silly, candy-colored, and hyperviolent, Birds of Prey is a serious treat for fans of comic book films. But it wouldn’t work without the equal parts goofy, hilarious, and unhinged performance of its lead.
February 11, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Max Weiss
Baltimore Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Ultimately, the plot is as messy as its central character, trotting around with one shoe and a bacon sandwich in hand, but it’s also a whole bunch of glittery, satisfying fun — especially the unkempt, cheerful, chaotic energy of Harley Quinn.
February 11, 2021
Christina Newland
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Birds of Prey is a fruity cocktail of a movie. It goes down smooth, makes you giddy, and there’s the possibility of a slight hangover.
February 11, 2021
Esther Zuckerman
Thrillist
TOP CRITIC
The movie is delightfully odd but not consistently inspired, often straining to rewrite the rules of superhero cinema, a mixture of good and bad ideas all mashed together.
February 11, 2021
Tim Grierson
Screen International
TOP CRITIC
If Robbie explores more films like this, she could have a legit future as an action superstar. (pub. date Feb 2020)
January 29, 2021 | Rating: B
Valerie Complex
The Nerds of Color
TOP CRITIC
Birds of Prey sets the bar for nuanced depictions of female comic-book characters on the big screen…
July 21, 2020
Rebecca Long
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
Birds of Prey employs many of the same visual tricks as Suicide Squad, such as cartoony onscreen titles to introduce its characters, but Yan has more control over her film than Ayer did over his.
February 21, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Joker showed that DC is not afraid to take risks. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn) continues that trend and pushes more boundaries.
February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
David Gonzalez
Reel Talk Inc.
Outstanding fight scenes, well-crafted characters, and a team of powerful women are at the center of a movie that’s both written and directed even better than I hoped it might be. This twisted story, told by one Harley Quinn, is a must-watch.
February 11, 2022 | Rating: A
Zofia Wijaszka
FirstShowing.net
A riot of good time entertainment, full of pop and fizz and punches to the nuts
July 2, 2021
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
With this film, “Bombshell”, and “I, Tonya”, Robbie is proving to be one of the most versatile actresses of our time.
June 23, 2021 | Rating: B+
Susan Kamyab
Irving Television
[This] is pretty refreshing for a film that could have just as easily settled for extending a comic-book brand with a bit of toothless corporate feminism.
June 4, 2021
Matt Lynch
In Review Online…
Plot
A twisted tale told by Harley Quinn herself, when Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Margot Robbie’s “goofy, hilarious, and unhinged performance” as Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey.
Cathy-Yan.jpg
83%
The Lighthouse (2019)
83%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
34 wins & 139 nominations total
A gripping story brilliantly filmed and led by a pair of powerhouse performances, The Lighthouse further establishes Robert Eggers as a filmmaker of exceptional talent
The Lighthouse is like being stuck in a haunted house with two drunk sailors who won’t stop arguing. It’s weird, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s definitely not for everyone. But if you’re into that kind of thing, it’s a wild ride. The black and white cinematography is stunning, and Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson give performances that are both hilarious and terrifying. Just don’t expect to leave the theater feeling good about humanity.
Production Company(ies)
Film Nation Entertainment, Nostromo Pictures, Temple Hill Entertainment,
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Cape Forchu, Nova Scotia, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexual content, nudity, violence, disturbing images, and some language
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.19 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2019 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 18, 2019
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, Valeriia Karaman, Logan Hawkes, Shaun R Clarke, Kyla Nicolle, directed by Robert Eggers, written by Robert Eggers, Max Eggers, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Wenlei Ma, David Stratton, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Sandra Hall, Simran Hans, Pablo O Scholz, Fernando E Juan Lima, Cole Smithey, Brian Eggert, Steve Crum, R rating, nudity, disturbing images, sexual content, some language, violence, produced by Jay Van Hoy, Lourenço Sant’ Anna, Youree Henley, Rodrigo Teixeira, lighthouse keepers, New England island, 1890s
Worldwide gross: $18,178,770
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $21,004,742
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,697
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,290,593
US/Canada gross: $10,867,104
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,556,445
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,550
US/Canada opening weekend: $427,797
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $494,300
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,409
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $12,710,000
Production budget ranking: 1,570
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,844,335
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,450,407
ROI to date (est.): 7%
ROI ranking: 1,362
Willem Dafoe – Thomas Wake
Valeriia Karaman – Mermaid
Logan Hawkes – Ephraim Winslow
Shaun R. Clarke – Departing Wickie
Kyla Nicolle – Woman on the Rocks
Director(s)
Robert Eggers
Writer(s)
Robert Eggers, Max Eggers
Producer(s)
Jay Van Hoy, Lourenço Sant’ Anna, Youree Henley, Rodrigo Teixeira
Film Festivals
Cannes, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
34 wins & 139 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (387) | Top Critics (69) | Fresh (348) | Rotten (39)
The Lighthouse may be challenging, it may even be off-putting, but it’s gutsy, accomplished and the kind of movie that sears into your memory.
February 28, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
The atmosphere is ugly, claustrophobic, hermetic, the images murky and relentless. There seems no doubt Eggers is an original and talented filmmaker, but he hasn’t made it easy on the audience with this grim, forbidding movie.
February 11, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
As with The Witch, it’s the atmosphere that seeps into you like sea brine. You don’t watch this film, you are submerged in it. Expect to be spat out, reeling, from the cinema, clutching on to your sanity.
February 5, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)
TOP CRITIC
American writer-director Robert Eggers excels at transporting you into the past and putting you under the skin of those you meet there. Persuading you to be glad that you came is another matter.
February 5, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The lewd, overwrought, Herman Melville-inspired dialogue is alternately mumbled and shouted, the intense, grand guignol performances more interesting as an experiment than conducive to eliciting meaning.
February 2, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The Lighthouse is a pressure-cooker.
January 31, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
David Sexton
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
The images are between beautiful and overwhelming, and the performances, the counterpoints between Dafoe and Pattinson, whether or not they are drunk, supreme. [Full review in Spanish]
May 24, 2022
Pablo O. Scholz
Clarín
Eggers has watched with interest the first films of Guy Maddin and surely also something by the Quay Brothers. [Full review in Spanish]
May 23, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Fernando E. Juan Lima
EscribiendoCine
A stone-cold masterpiece.
March 15, 2022 | Rating: A+
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Robert Eggers has established himself as cinema’s premier researcher, capable of evoking a historical period with centuries-old vernaculars, period-accurate tactile details, and a visual schema rooted in the past.
February 23, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
This psychological horror drama is jammed with nightmarish imagery and tour de force acting.
February 13, 2022 | Rating: A-
Steve Crum
Crum on Showbiz
Episode 52: Jojo Rabbit / The Lighthouse / Parasite
December 1, 2021 | Rating: 80/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies…
Plot
As the wavering cry of the foghorn fills the air, the taciturn former lumberjack, Ephraim Winslow, and the grizzled lighthouse keeper, Thomas Wake, set foot in a secluded and perpetually grey islet off the coast of late-19th-century New England. For the following four weeks of back-breaking work and unfavourable conditions, the tight-lipped men will have no one else for company except for each other, forced to endure irritating idiosyncrasies, bottled-up resentment, and burgeoning hatred. Then, amid bad omens, a furious and unending squall maroons the pale beacon’s keepers in the already inhospitable volcanic rock, paving the way for a prolonged period of feral hunger; excruciating agony; manic isolation, and horrible booze-addled visions. Now, the eerie stranglehold of insanity tightens. Is there an escape from the wall-less prison of the mind?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Lighthouse features “stellar performances” from Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe.
Robert-Eggers.jpg
83%
Farewell (L’affaire Farewell) (2010)
83%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
35 wins & 191 nominations total
Farewell is a film that is as morally complex as a John Le Carr novel, with a dynamic central pairing that tells the tale of a truly fascinating but little-known espionage operation with panache. The film is a satisfyingly sober thriller that covers an astonishing amount of geographical and narrative ground, juggling three languages – Russian, French, and English – but never loses its way. Carion’s film admirably resists overselling the material, making it an adult espionage film with no comic-book theatrics. The authentic tension and characters make for a refreshingly humanistic take on spies and espionage, and the story’s focus on the personal sacrifices of the two men involved is a smart strategy because it makes their secret correspondence even more fraught with danger. Overall, Farewell is a more original thriller than most, with the saving graces of irony and humor, and it’s full of great cinematic moments that will leave you wanting more.
Farewell is like a spy movie, but without all the cheesy gadgets and unrealistic stunts. It’s a refreshing take on espionage that focuses on the human side of things, with characters that feel real and relatable. The fact that it’s based on a true story just makes it all the more fascinating. Plus, it’s got a great cast and some truly tense moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a smart, well-made thriller, Farewell is definitely worth checking out.
Production Company(ies)
Selznick International Pictures,, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
Distributor
NeoClassics Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Changchun, China
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic material, brief language and some smoking.
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 53m
-
Language(s):Mandarin, English, Japanese, Italian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 12, 2011
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Emir Kusturica, Guillaume Canet, Alexandra Maria Lara, Ingeborga Dapkunayte, Willem Dafoe, Aleksey Gorbunov, directed by Christian Carion, written by Christian Carion, Eric Raynaud, Eric Raynaud, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Philip French, Cath Clarke, Alice Levick, Derek Malcolm, Leo Robson, Tom Huddleston, Laura Hiros, Anne Billson, Blake Griffin, Eric Melin, Peter Canavese, producer Philippe Boeffard, Bertrand Faivre, Christophe Rossignon, MPAA rating, espionage, Cold War, Russia, France, classified documents, KGB, CIA, President Reagan, François Mitterrand, Vallier, Sergei Gregoriev, Pierre Froment, Natasha, Feeney, Choukhov, NeoClassics Films
Worldwide gross: $23,076,657
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,664,028
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,591
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,907,746
US/Canada gross: $17,695,781
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,446,670
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,408
US/Canada opening weekend: $355,662
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $410,951
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,445
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
Guillaume Canet – Pierre Froment
Alexandra Maria Lara – Jessica Froment
Ingeborga Dapkunayte – Natasha
Willem Dafoe – Feeney
Aleksey Gorbunov – Choukhov
Director(s)
Christian Carion
Writer(s)
Christian Carion, Eric Raynaud, Eric Raynaud
Producer(s)
Philippe Boeffard, Bertrand Faivre, Christophe Rossignon
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
35 wins & 191 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (77) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (11)
It is a richly intriguing tale about high intrigue, though at times a trifle uncertain…
May 1, 2011
Philip French
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
This is a satisfyingly sober thriller, almost melancholy in tone – and as morally complex as a John Le Carr novel.
April 28, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Cath Clarke
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The tale of a truly fascinating but little-known espionage operation is told with panache and a dynamic central pairing.
April 28, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Alice Levick
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Makes for a more original thriller than most, with the saving graces of irony and humour.
April 28, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A French thriller based on fact…
April 27, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Leo Robson
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Well-acted but plodding…
April 27, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Tom Huddleston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
… like the good action and suspense films from the 70s. [Full review in Spanish]
March 20, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Laura Hiros
Rincón de cine
Carion’s film covers an astonishing amount of geographical and narrative ground and juggles three languages — Russian, French and English — but never loses its way.
November 27, 2017
Anne Billson
The Arts Desk
Authentic tension and characters make for a refreshingly humanistic take on spies and espionage.
November 11, 2013 | Rating: 8/10
Blake Griffin
We Got This Covered
Keeping the story focused on the personal sacrifices of the two men involved [is] a smart strategy because it makes their secret correspondence even more fraught with danger.
June 5, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Eric Melin
Scene-Stealers.com
Carion’s film admirably resists overselling the material: it’s an adult espionage film, with no comic-book theatrics. [Blu-ray]
May 27, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
Directed by Christian Caron, Farewell is full of great cinematic moments…
May 27, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Graham Young
Birmingham Mail…
Plot
A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Billi struggles with her family’s decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Emir Kusturica, who plays the Russian intelligence operative, is actually a renowned filmmaker in real life, having won the Palme d’Or at Cannes twice.
Christian-Carion.jpg
83%
The Heiresses (Las Herederas) (2019)
83%RT Audience Score: 68%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Led by a standout performance from Ana Brun, The Heiresses takes a thoroughly compelling look at lives little explored by mainstream cinema
The Heiresses is like a delicate dance that hits all the right notes of joy and regret without being too dramatic. It’s a small story that packs a punch with its commentary on class distinctions and prejudices. The natural performances and unshowy camerawork make it feel realistic, and Brun’s masterful performance as a mask that is starting to crack is truly remarkable. Even though the film has too much filmmaking restraint, it’s a promising debut from writer/director Marcelo Martinessi. Overall, The Heiresses is a quietly powerful fable that’s both political and personal, full of humor and deep tenderness.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Distrib Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 38m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Paraguay, Uruguay
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 13, 2019
Genre(s)
Keyword(s)
The Heiresses, Drama, LGBTQ+, Ana Brun, Margarita Irun, Ana Ivanova, Nilda Gonzalez, María Martins, Alicia Guerra, Marcelo Martinessi, Sebastián Peña Escobar, written by Marcelo Martinessi, box office gross $75.7K, reviewed by Ben Sachs, Claudia Puig, Monica Castillo, David Stratton, Sandra Hall, Kerry Lengel, Gisela Savdie, Matthew St Clair, Katie Hogan, Zhuo-Ning Su, Shikhar Verma, Jason Di Rosso, directed by Marcelo Martinessi, produced by Marcelo Martinessi, Sebastián Peña Escobar, Distrib Films, MPAA rating not specified, friendship, loss of fortune, hidden desires, gender roles, class distinctions, natural performances, small story, corrosion, prejudices, conservative society, delicate moments, theater actors, non-actors, political tale, humor, deep tenderness
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
Margarita Irun – Chiquita
Ana Ivanova – Angy
Nilda Gonzalez – Pati
María Martins – Pituca
Alicia Guerra – Carmela
Marcelo Martinessi – Director/Producer/Writer
Sebastián Peña Escobar – Producer
Director(s)
Marcelo Martinessi
Writer(s)
Marcelo Martinessi
Producer(s)
Marcelo Martinessi, Sebastián Peña Escobar
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (81) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (79) | Rotten (2)
[A] crafty debut feature.
March 11, 2020
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A really well-acted character study.
September 20, 2019
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
This unshowy camerawork and natural performances make The Heiresses feel realistic.
June 18, 2019
Monica Castillo
Remezcla
TOP CRITIC
This subtle, beautifully acted and in many ways remarkable debut is an exciting discovery from an unexpected source.
May 24, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
It’s a small story, but the points it makes about the corrosion wrought by class distinctions and the prejudices attached to them give it a dimension that will resonate wherever you happen to live.
May 23, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Sorry, no backstory, no flashbacks. Just Brun’s masterful performance as a mask that is starting to crack.
March 29, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kerry Lengel
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
With the mystery implicit in those who depart from the traditional patterns imposed by a conservative society, the protagonists offer the best they can extract from themselves [full review in Spanish]
October 31, 2021
Gisela Savdie
El Heraldo
Even if The Heiresses succumbs to having too much filmmaking restraint, writer/director Marcelo Martinessi shows a fair amount of promise with his feature-film debut.
September 24, 2020
Matthew St. Clair
Cinema Sentries
With so many delicate moments, the women’s performances, from theater actors and many non actors too, all had time to craft their characters.
February 3, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Katie Hogan
VultureHound
Directed with subtlety and a genuine affection for its protagonist, the film unfolds like a gentle dance, hitting notes of joy and regret without heavy-handed dramatics.
October 17, 2019
Zhuo-Ning Su
Awards Daily
Marcelo Martinessi’s The Heiresses is a quietly powerful fable of hidden desires, long-lost escapades and a really deceptive look into how gender roles are devised in traditional films about older people.
October 1, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Shikhar Verma
High on Films
In telling a personal story The Heiresses, then, is also very much a political tale. It’s a terrifically accomplished debut full of humour and deep tenderness…
September 24, 2019
Jason Di Rosso
ABC News (Australia)…
Plot
The Heiresses follows the story of a woman who lost her fortune and befriends a younger woman, exploring the lives of those little explored by mainstream cinema.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Heiresses features a standout performance from Ana Brun.
Marcelo-Martinessi.jpg
83%
The Favourite (2018)
83%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
185 wins & 345 nominations total
The Favourite sees Yorgos Lanthimos balancing a period setting against rich, timely subtext – and getting roundly stellar performances from his well-chosen stars
The Favourite is like a royal game of chess, but with more backstabbing and less strategy. The film’s witty script and superb acting make it a must-watch for anyone who loves a good historical drama with a side of dark humor. Olivia Colman’s performance is nothing short of sublime, and Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz are brilliantly witty and nimble. Yorgos Lanthimos manages to keep the film’s tone perfectly on the right side of bizarre, making it a unique and entertaining experience. Plus, who doesn’t love a good arsenic-filled double chocolate and cream cherry cake?
Production Company(ies)
Alcon Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Sony
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.
Year of Release
2018
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 2018 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2019
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, James Smith, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, written by Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara, Comedy/Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Molly Haskell, Cate Young, Jourdain Searles, Ryan Gilbey, A.O Scott, MPAA rating R, produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Queen Anne, Lady Sarah, Abigail, Harley, Masham, Godolphin, period drama, historical feature, power struggle, aristocracy, monarchy, dark comedy, offbeat humor, eighteenth-century, indoor scenes, outdoor scenes, dim candlelight, ornate rooms, masterpiece, caricature, prostitutes, sexual, abstract ending, top horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $95,918,706
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $112,874,616
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 960
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 12,309,118
US/Canada gross: $34,366,783
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $40,441,928
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,162
US/Canada opening weekend: $422,410
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $497,081
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,407
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,651,606
Production budget ranking: 1,431
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,505,390
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $85,717,620
ROI to date (est.): 316%
ROI ranking: 441
Rachel Weisz – Lady Sarah
Emma Stone – Abigail
Nicholas Hoult – Harley
Joe Alwyn – Masham
James Smith – Godolphin
Director(s)
Yorgos Lanthimos
Writer(s)
Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara
Producer(s)
Yorgos Lanthimos, Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday
Film Festivals
Venice, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
185 wins & 345 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (424) | Top Critics (86) | Fresh (394) | Rotten (30)
It’s a dark view, but dark views, like sunny views, have to come from somewhere. Where is Lanthimos’s dark sun? I don’t know, but I’ll definitely keep watching.
February 27, 2020
Molly Haskell
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Yorgos Lanthimos’ dryly funny historical feature is all about power, and that means literally wearing the pants in a strange time.
March 10, 2019
Cate Young
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
In the end, The Favourite is a haunting reminder of the limits of control.
February 23, 2019
Jourdain Searles
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
Pushes the idea of the capricious monarch through the far reaches of comedy and almost into tragedy. Colman embodies sublimely the punch-drunk confusion of a woman unsure whether she’s child or adult, plaything or puppet-master.
January 26, 2019
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Weisz and Stone are both brilliantly witty and nimble, but Colman’s performance is nothing short of sublime.
January 24, 2019
A.O. Scott
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
This is The Crown like you’ve never seen it before.
January 3, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The Favourite is a showcase of great acting, a witty script, and thoughtfully considered direction.
March 4, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Yorgos at his zany peak, Amadeus via Kubrick, the royal court scenes from The Devils run blisteringly amok – blackbirds dancing on the tips of diabolical hat pins
January 14, 2022
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
Episode 21: Alps / Dogtooth / The Favourite – Yorgothon
September 3, 2021 | Rating: 88/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
There are moments when you feel like you’re watching a spoof, but Lanthimos manages to keep the film’s tone perfectly on the right side of bizarre, making it also pass legitimately as a historical drama.
September 1, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Ben Turner
The Pink Lens
[A] double chocolate and cream cherry cake of a film, served on the finest cinematic lace, chock full of arsenic.
July 30, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Milana Vujkov
Lola On Film
While some viewers may argue with The Favourite’s often cruel tone, no one finds any room to downgrade its acting and superb production values.
July 22, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)…
Plot
In early 18th century England, a frail Queen Anne’s close friend Lady Sarah governs the country while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper, but when a new servant named Abigail arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah and Abigail sees a chance to return to her aristocratic roots in The Favourite.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Olivia Colman’s performance as Queen Anne is “nothing short of sublime,” according to A.O. Scott of the New York Times.
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83%
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
83%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: 19 wins & 57 nominations
Fearlessly ambitious, scathingly funny, and thoroughly original, Sorry to Bother You loudly heralds the arrival of a fresh filmmaking talent in writer-director Boots Riley
Sorry to Bother You is a wild ride that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about capitalism and the American dream. With its absurdist humor and biting social commentary, this film is a must-see for anyone who wants to laugh, think, and maybe even start a revolution. Just be prepared for the unexpected, because this movie goes places you never thought possible.
Production Company(ies)
Apple Corps Aimimage Productions, Diamond Docs
Distributor
Annapurna Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited), Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Oakland, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for pervasive language, some strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and drug use
Year of Release
2018
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 45m
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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): Jul 13, 2018 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 23, 2018
Genre(s)
Comedy/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Kate Berlant, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun, Michael X Sommers, Patton Oswalt, directed by Boots Riley, written by Boots Riley, produced by Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Charles D King, George Rush, Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams, comedy, fantasy, R-rated, box office gross of $17.5M, reviewed by Hannah Giorgis, Jourdain Searles, Simon Childs, Stephen Romei, Mark Kermode, Tim Robey, Brian Eggert, Taylor Baker, Kip Mooney, Robin Holabird, Nicolás Delgadillo, Michael M, Gimly M, Carlos M, Philip P, gentrification, corporate oppression, capitalism, surrealism, social commentary, activism, telemarketing, magical key, material glory, cocaine-snorting CEO, protest, alternate reality, Oakland, California, fresh filmmaking talent, original, scathingly funny, fearlessly ambitious
Worldwide gross: $18,170,707
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $21,382,811
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,690
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,331,822
US/Canada gross: $17,493,096
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,585,416
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,402
US/Canada opening weekend: $727,266
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $855,828
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,294
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $3,200,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $3,765,676
Production budget ranking: 1,953
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,027,817
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,589,319
ROI to date (est.): 269%
ROI ranking: 504
Tessa Thompson – Detroit
Jermaine Fowler – Salvador
Omari Hardwick – Mr. Blank
Terry Crews – Sergio
Kate Berlant – Diana DeBauchery
Director – Boots Riley
Producers – Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Charles D. King, George Rush, Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams
Writer – Boots Riley
Director(s)
Boots Riley
Writer(s)
Boots Riley
Producer(s)
Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Charles D. King, George Rush, Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
19 wins & 57 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (311) | Top Critics (82) | Fresh (290) | Rotten (21)
Sorry to Bother You is as much a character-driven story about the gentrification of Oakland — and the Bay Area writ large — as it is an absurdist anti-capitalist fable.
September 10, 2019
Hannah Giorgis
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
A hilarious, intelligent, and socially relevant satire of American business and capitalism, and hands-down one of the best films of 2018.
February 5, 2019
Jourdain Searles
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
While Sorry to Bother You is off-the-wall and hilariously bizarre, its message is firmly grounded in the recognisable injustice of a system whose decadence is seeing it teetering on the edge of collapse.
December 20, 2018
Simon Childs
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
This movie, the directorial debut of rapper and activist Boots Riley, explores the racial, class and financial gulfs of human society. It does so in a way that is bizarrely funny and awkwardly confronting.
December 14, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5
Stephen Romei
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Pinballing frenetically between amusement, absurdity and anger, this is an unruly piece which takes pointed pot-shots at coercive capitalism before galloping toward an impressively unhinged third act.
December 9, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
While it’s inevitably disappointing to watch this hot mess fly off the handle the way it does, the movie’s ideas have an odd way of sticking even when the delivery method stalls.
December 7, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
If the ultimate goal of Sorry to Bother You is to expose the big-money puppeteers controlling our culture and turning everyday people into corporate, even literal slaves, then Riley was mostly successful.
March 11, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
…Boots Riley goes for broke, and you’ll either go for that or you won’t.
August 22, 2021 | Rating: 55/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
So blazingly original, it demands to be seen, preferably with an audience that also doesn’t know what it’s in for.
August 21, 2021 | Rating: B+
Kip Mooney
College Movie Review
[Sorry to Bother You] offers a comically insightful look at racism and slavery.
July 22, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)
Boots Riley has a fresh and unique style that’s all his own, and it’s more than welcome in today’s blockbuster-packed summers.
June 24, 2021 | Rating: 3.5 / 5
Nicolás Delgadillo
Discussing Film
It will inspire a cult following and plenty of fans – but it is not everyone’s cup of tea.
March 25, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Tori Brazier
Flickering Myth…
Plot
In an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key that leads to material glory, but as his career takes off, his friends and co-workers organize a protest against corporate oppression, and Cassius falls under the spell of a cocaine-snorting CEO who offers him a salary beyond his wildest dreams.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Terry Crews and Omari Hardwick are both strong in smaller, supporting roles.
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