The Impossible (2012)
83%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
28 wins & 70 nominations total
The screenplay isn’t quite as powerful as the direction or the acting, but with such an astonishing real-life story at its center, The Impossible is never less than compelling
The Impossible” is a movie that will make you feel all the emotions. From devastation to love and compassion, this film has it all. And let’s not forget the amazing tsunami sequence that rivals even Clint Eastwood’s in “Hereafter.” Naomi Watts delivers a mesmerizing and emotionally devastating performance that would have been an Oscar shoo-in in any other year. Sure, some critics may say it’s sentimental, but who doesn’t love a good tear-jerker? Overall, “The Impossible” is a dramatic and unwavering film that will make you believe that anything is possible.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Films, Anouchka Films, Orsay Films,
Distributor
Summit Entertainment
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Khao Lak Orchid Beach Resort, Phang Nga, Thailand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for intense realistic disaster sequences, including disturbing injury images and brief nudity
Year of Release
2013
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 54m
-
Language(s):English, Thai, German, Swedish, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 23, 2013
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast, Marta Etura, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, written by Sergio G Sánchez, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Shubhra Gupta, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, David Denby, Peter Rainer, Richard Roeper, Leonard Maltin, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Yasser Medina, Debbie Lynn Elias, David Harris, Karl Delossantos, PG-13, Summit Entertainment, Belén Atienza, Álvaro Augustin, Ghislain Barrois, Enrique López Lavigne, tsunami, survival, family, Thailand, true story, Maria, Henry, Lucas, Thomas, Simon, kindness, courage, compassion, devastating, real-life story, winter vacation, incomprehensible nightmare, terrifying roar, wall of black water, unexpected displays, darkest hour, ameliorate terror
Worldwide gross: $198,087,212
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $251,639,700
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 580
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 27,441,625
US/Canada gross: $19,019,882
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $24,161,870
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,348
US/Canada opening weekend: $143,818
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $182,699
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,699
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $45,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $57,165,661
Production budget ranking: 709
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $30,783,709
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $163,690,330
ROI to date (est.): 186%
ROI ranking: 665
Ewan McGregor – Henry
Tom Holland – Lucas
Samuel Joslin – Thomas
Oaklee Pendergast – Simon
Marta Etura – Simone
Director – Juan Antonio Bayona
Producer – Belén Atienza, Álvaro Augustin, Ghislain Barrois, Enrique López Lavigne
Writer – Sergio G. Sánchez
Director(s)
Juan Antonio Bayona
Writer(s)
Sergio G. Sánchez
Producer(s)
Belén Atienza, Álvaro Augustin, Ghislain Barrois, Enrique López Lavigne
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
28 wins & 70 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (202) | Top Critics (62) | Fresh (164) | Rotten (38)
[The Impossible] shows us devastation, yes, unbelievable havoc, yes, horrific human loss, yes. But also, exemplary courage and love and compassion, all done with freshness and feeling.
March 21, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
A heart-wrenchingly tense survival drama based on ‘an incredible true story’ of a far more ‘homely’ looking Spanish family, this is a cut above 1990s eco-disaster movies such as Dante’s Peak.
September 1, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
Alas, the movie tells a rather commonplace story.
January 28, 2013
David Denby
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
The tsunami sequence is amazing, right up there with the one Clint Eastwood staged in Hereafter.
January 18, 2013 | Rating: B-
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
TOP CRITIC
This is an unforgettable tribute to the determination of a very special family.
January 17, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper.com
TOP CRITIC
Unlike some films that have become critics’ darlings, ‘The Impossible’ has no pretensions. It isn’t edgy and I don’t think it has a hidden subtext.
January 4, 2013
Leonard Maltin
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
It starts not with clever attempts at drawing emotions from the audience, but rather with blunt, staggering visuals to demand pity and sympathy.
December 1, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
In most years, Naomi Watts would be a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination with a performance that is absolutely mesmerizing and emotionally devastating.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
The Impossible is a magnificent survival drama. [Full review in Spanish]
June 25, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
Dramatic and unwavering, The Impossible will make you believe that anything is possible.
November 27, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
The purpose of Bayona’s film is “dubious.”
November 19, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Sometimes it’s sentimental to a fault, but the thrilling and innovative filmmaking that’s being done makes it all worth it.
August 7, 2019 | Rating: 7/10
Karl Delossantos
Smash Cut Reviews…
Plot
A regular family – Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three kids – travel to Thailand to spend Christmas. They get an upgrade to a villa on the coastline. After settling in and exchanging gifts, they go to the pool, like so many other tourists. A perfect paradise vacation until a distant noise becomes a roar. There is no time to escape from the tsunami; Maria and her eldest are swept one way, Henry and the youngest another. Who will survive, and what will become of them?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Naomi Watts delivers a “mesmerizing and emotionally devastating” performance in The Impossible, according to one critic.
Juan-Antonio-Bayona.jpg
83%
Sunshine on Leith (2013)
83%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 10 nominations
Sunshine on Leith is a delightful and charming musical that will leave you beaming like a gibbering, love-struck fool. While some may find the sentimental elements and pop songs to be a bit unoriginal, the film’s unpretentious niceness and upbeat British charm make it impossible not to enjoy. The flash mob finale is a particular highlight, providing one of the most fun cinema experiences of the year. It’s like The X Factor, but with kilts, and even if you’re not a mad fan of the musical genre, you’ll find yourself tapping your toes and humming along. So take your grandma, grab some tea and biscuits, and enjoy this Celtic Umbrellas of Cherbourg with a headbutt and a lot more fun.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you smile and tap your toes, Sunshine on Leith is the perfect pick. Sure, it’s a bit cheesy and sentimental at times, but who doesn’t love a good sing-along? Plus, the flash mob finale is worth the price of admission alone. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and let the Scottish charm wash over you. Just don’t forget your kilt!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some suggestive and thematic material, language and brief violence
Year of Release
2013
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:NA
Genre(s)
Musical/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Paul Brannigan, Jason Flemyng, Peter Mullan, Antonia Thomas, George MacKay, Jane Horrocks, directed by Dexter Fletcher, written by Stephen Greenhorn, musical, romance, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, David Stratton, Paul Byrnes, Mark Kermode, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Tara Brady, Jamie Neish, Camilla Long, Francesca Rudkin, Cameron Williams, Matthew Toomey, Jim Schembri, produced by Andrew Macdonald, Arabella Page Croft, Kieran Parker, Allon Reich, PG, Edinburgh, Afghanistan, The Proclaimers, songs, flash mob, love, friendship, family, homecoming, adaptation, Scottish, feel-good, heartwarming, uplifting, charming, good-natured, tea and biscuits, sentimental, upbeat, unpretentious, crowd-pleaser, kilts, pop songs, musical sweetness, dramatic salt, twee
Worldwide gross: $8,804,555
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,184,849
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,936
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,219,722
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
Jason Flemyng – Harry
Peter Mullan – Rab
Antonia Thomas – Yvonne
George MacKay – Davy
Jane Horrocks – Jean
Director(s)
Dexter Fletcher
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Andrew Macdonald, Arabella Page Croft, Kieran Parker, Allon Reich
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 10 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (4)
To say you don’t like an upbeat British film this unpretentiously nice is like saying you don’t like tea and biscuits.
September 6, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
There are sentimental elements, and not all the songs are top-drawer, but despite that the unlikely idea of having characters burst into song as they walk down the street or drink in a pub worked for me.
May 23, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
The flash mob finale, with what looks like 500 dancing Edinburghers, is about the most fun I’ve had in a cinema this year.
May 21, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
I shed a tear within the first 10 minutes, and spent the rest of the movie beaming like a gibbering, love-struck fool.
October 6, 2013
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Fletcher’s faux-rootsy, unoriginal crowd-pleaser keeps insisting that we see it as a ray of sunshine. It didn’t work for me, but Mullan provides one hell of a silver lining.
October 4, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
We’d say it was a Celtic Umbrellas of Cherbourg. But they didn’t have headbutts or anything like as much fun in that film.
October 4, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
A convivial and well-shot musical that forms a narrative and articulates the variable emotions of its characters through upbeat, crowd-pleasing pop songs to varying degrees of success.
August 13, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Jamie Neish
CineVue
By the time you get to the saccharine finale, it’s turned into The X Factor, but with kilts.
March 6, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Camilla Long
Sunday Times (UK)
This is bright, breezy and charming entertainment at its best, even if you’re not a mad fan of the musical genre.
September 8, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/5
Francesca Rudkin
New Zealand Herald
It’s pleasant. It will provoke a smile. Take your grandma
June 6, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/5
Cameron Williams
The Popcorn Junkie
Lovers of musicals and/or The Proclaimers may find themselves overlooking the flaws and enjoying this film a lot more than me.
June 5, 2014 | Rating: B-
Matthew Toomey
ABC Radio (Australia)
Fans of The Proclaimers will obviously eat this up while non-fans will appreciate the dramatic salt sprinkled over the musical sweetness that keeps this from becoming twee.
May 24, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Jim Schembri
3AW…
Plot
Sunshine on Leith is based on the sensational stage hit of the same name, featuring music by pop-folk band The Proclaimers. The film follows the stories of Davy and Ally, who have to re-learn how to live life in Edinburgh after coming home from serving in Afghanistan. Both struggle to learn to live a life outside the army and to deal with the everyday struggles of family, jobs and relationships.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Peter Mullan, who plays Rab in Sunshine on Leith, is also a writer and director known for his work on films like The Magdalene Sisters and Neds.
Dexter-Fletcher.jpg
83%
Holy Motors (2012)
83%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 29 wins & 71 nominations
Mesmerizingly strange and willfully perverse, Holy Motors offers an unforgettable visual feast alongside a spellbinding — albeit unapologetically challenging — narrative
Holy Motors is a wild ride that will either leave you feeling like you’re in a dream or make you scratch your head in confusion. But one thing’s for sure, you’ve never seen anything quite like it. With its unpredictable sequences and brilliant stand-in, Denis Lavant, this film is a stylistic snake that wriggles from one cinematic mode to the next. It’s a self-reflexive, funny, goofy, and touching ode to cinema that wants to stamp a metaphor about human nature. So buckle up and get ready for a cinematic experience that’s full of dazzling moments, surreal and often disturbing scenes, and a grand definition of the cinema that’s one of the best and most mesmerizing that a movie has ever offered.
Production Company(ies)
Decia Films, Amazonas Images Solares Fondazione delle arti
Distributor
Indomina
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Grand Magasin de la Samaritaine, 17-19 rue de la Monnaie, Paris 1, Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 56m
-
Language(s):French, English, Chinese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 19, 2013
Genre(s)
Fantasy
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $1,954,125
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,519,306
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,357
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 274,733
US/Canada gross: $641,100
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $826,522
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,232
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,866
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $24,323
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,443
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
Édith Scob – Céline
Eva Mendes – Kay M
Kylie Minogue – Eva Grace
Elise Lhomeau – Léa
Michel Piccoli – L’Homme à la tache de vin
Director(s)
Leos Carax
Writer(s)
Leos Carax, Leos Carax
Producer(s)
Martine Marignac, Albert Prévost, Maurice Tinchant
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
29 wins & 71 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (196) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (181) | Rotten (15)
You’ll either run with it or you won’t, but you can be sure you’ve never seen anything quite like it.
April 29, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Robert Levin
Newsday
TOP CRITIC
The film makes up for… lapses with dazzling moments.
April 29, 2020
Ginette Vincendeau
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Cinema is full, life is empty. Cinema is easy, life is mysterious. Perhaps that’s Carax’s message. Whatever it is, he has our attention.
April 28, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
As wild and wayward as Carax’s vision might appear… it touches recognisable human experience at enough points to sustain an emotional connection.
April 28, 2020
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
These images and sounds that reveal the mind in matter and the soul in bodies suggest Carax’s ultimate definition of the cinema, and it’s one of the best and grandest that a movie has ever offered.
April 28, 2020
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Surreal and often disturbing and sometimes poignant and always mesmerizing. Mission accomplished.
April 28, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Episode 34: Relaxer / A Scanner Darkly / The Beach Bum / Holy Motors
September 14, 2021 | Rating: 94/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
This is what dream-logic looks like. Holy Motors comes about as close to making me actually feel like I was inside of a dream in anything since Inland Empire.
July 6, 2021 | Rating: A
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
I’m pretty sure I won’t see anything more audacious this year than Leos Carax’s self reflexive, funny, goofy and touching ode to cinema.
February 28, 2021
Dustin Chang
Floating World
The film is a stylistic snake, wriggling from one cinematic mode to the next through a loose cannon series of utterly unpredictable sequences which all feature the auteur’s brilliant, amorphous stand-in, Denis Lavant.
November 16, 2020
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
Holy Motors wants to stamp, more than a message, a metaphor about human nature. [Full review in Spanish]
June 25, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
An ideal show. [Full review in Spanish]
April 29, 2020
Jordi Costa
El Pais (Spain)…
Plot
A mysterious man is driven around Paris by his loyal driver, dressing up in costumes and playing a number of strange, semi-scripted roles in the mesmerizingly strange and challenging narrative of Holy Motors.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Denis Lavant’s performance in Holy Motors is described as “spectacular, queer, awesome, and intriguing, all at once.”
Leos-Carax.jpg
83%
The Well-Digger’s Daughter (2012)
83%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins
The Well-Digger’s Daughter” is a cinematic experience that harkens back to a simpler time, where traditional values and simple emotions were at the forefront of storytelling. While some may find it too sentimental, the heartfelt performances and enchanting characters make it a thoroughly well-told tale of family honor lost and regained in wartime France. Auteuil’s direction may not be groundbreaking, but it provides enough old-fashioned entertainment to please on the most minor levels. Overall, this film is like a warm hug from an old friend, comforting and familiar, yet still capable of surprising you with its charm and wit.
The Well-Digger’s Daughter” is like a warm hug from your grandma – comforting, familiar, and a little bit sentimental. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s a lovely story about family, love, and tradition. The French countryside is practically a character in itself, and the performances are heartfelt and charming. Sure, it’s a bit old-fashioned, but sometimes that’s just what you need. Plus, any movie with a title like that is worth checking out, right?
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Chapelle Saint-Sixte, Eygalières, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2011
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 47m
-
Language(s):French
-
Country of origin:France
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 24, 2012
Genre(s)
Romance
Keyword(s)
The Well Digger’s Daughter, Romance, French (Canada), Daniel Auteuil
Worldwide gross: $13,194,167
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $17,370,093
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,763
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,894,230
US/Canada gross: $386,368
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $508,653
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,320
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,273
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $13,524
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,628
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
Kad Merad – Félipe Rambert
Sabine Azéma – Mme Mazel
Jean-Pierre Darroussin – M. Mazel
Nicolas Duvauchelle – Jacques Mazel
Astrid Bergès-Frisbey – Patricia Amoretti
Director(s)
Daniel Auteuil
Writer(s)
Daniel Auteuil
Producer(s)
Alain Sarde
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (5)
“The Well-Digger’s Daughter” isn’t a mind-blower; it’s not supposed to be. It’s a light lunch with an old friend whom it’s good to see again.
October 12, 2012 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Auteuil’s direction is a lot like his acting — well-mannered and likable, yet staid and ultimately inconsequential.
October 4, 2012
Drew Hunt
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
To call “The Well Digger’s Daughter” an old-fashioned film is to pay it a compliment. Here is a love story embedded in traditional values.
October 4, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
“The Well-Digger’s Daughter” is perhaps a bit too sentimental. But the performances are so heartfelt that its occasional excesses are easily forgiven.
August 17, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Calvin Wilson
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
What resonates is a sense of humanity that sometimes gets lost in films with less regard for traditional storytelling, or respect for simple emotion.
August 10, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
John Anderson
Newsday
TOP CRITIC
Astrid Bergs-Frisbey as Patricia and Jean-Pierre Darroussin are almost enchanting, but it is Auteuil, entering a new career as mature actor-director, whom we want to cheer.
August 8, 2012
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Overall, The Well-Digger’s Daughter doesn’t entrust any great future as a filmmaker for Auteuil, but it provides enough old-fashioned entertainment to please on the most minor levels.
March 10, 2021
Aaron Pinkston
Battleship Pretension
A thoroughly well-told, if ultimately fairly slight, tale of family honour lost and regained in a France around the time of the Second World War.
October 31, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
This humdrum Thomas Hardy narrative knock-off is as memorable as the holes its main character digs in the ground.
July 25, 2019
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
February 28, 2013 | Rating: B+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Remake lacks the power of context
October 20, 2012
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit
The countryside of high Provence is a major character all its own.
August 27, 2012
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express…
Plot
A French well digger struggles with his sense of honor and love for his daughter when she becomes involved with the wealthy son of a shopkeeper in this romantic drama.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Daniel Auteuil, who directed and starred in the film, is known for his roles in French cinema and has won numerous awards for his performances.
Daniel-Auteuil.jpg
83%
Robot & Frank (2012)
83%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 6 nominations
Led by a brilliant performance from star Frank Langella, Robot & Frank works as both a quirky indie drama and as a smart, thoughtful meditation on aging
Robot & Frank is the perfect movie for anyone who wants to see a heartwarming story about a man and his robot butler. Don’t let the idea of a buddy movie with a robot scare you away, because this film is far better than you might expect. With a brilliant performance by Frank Langella and a whimsical yet smart tone, it’s like a live-action Pixar movie. Plus, it presents a highly plausible version of our future with technology that’s both optimistic and refreshing. So grab some popcorn and get ready to fall in love with Robot & Frank!
Production Company(ies)
Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, Moving Pictures, Company,
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Rye, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some language
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2013
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Robot & Frank, Frank Langella, Peter Sarsgaard, Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler, James Marsden, Jeremy Strong, directed by Jake Schreier, written by Christopher D Ford, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, PG-13, Lance Acord, Galt Niederhoffer, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Sam Bisbee, box office gross $3.3M, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Ryan Gilbey, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Chase Whale, Derek Malcolm, Peter Bradshaw, Debbie Lynn Elias, Katie Smith-Wong, Brian D Johnson, Nicholas Bell, Tom Grater, Debbie Baldwin, aging, cantankerous, ex-cat burglar, robotic caretaker, heists, friendship, family, books, Alzheimer’s Disease, Don Quixote
Worldwide gross: $4,806,423
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $6,196,558
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,108
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 675,742
US/Canada gross: $3,325,038
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,286,720
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,847
US/Canada opening weekend: $35,539
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $45,818
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,239
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $3,223,061
Production budget ranking: 1,970
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,735,618
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,237,878
ROI to date (est.): 25%
ROI ranking: 1,266
Peter Sarsgaard – Robot (Voice)
Susan Sarandon – Jennifer
Liv Tyler – Madison
James Marsden – Hunter
Jeremy Strong – Jake
Director(s)
Jake Schreier
Writer(s)
Christopher D. Ford
Producer(s)
Lance Acord, Galt Niederhoffer, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Sam Bisbee
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (140) | Top Critics (52) | Fresh (121) | Rotten (19)
It’s OK, I guess, as far as it goes, but it doesn’t go far enough, and, in the end, settles for what I most feared it would settle for: sentimentality.
September 4, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Robot & Frank, on the other hand, is a tonic of a film: it’s all understatement. The whimsical but whip-smart tone suggests a liveaction version of a Pixar movie
October 3, 2017
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Ageing, isolation, broken families, memory and the impact of modern technology are all playfully woven through a smart, comforting narrative that’s at once immensely satisfying yet wonderfully unexpected.
September 5, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
FRANK & ROBOT is a poignant tale of man and machine
November 8, 2013
Chase Whale
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
The film tries to say something coherent about important issues such as the descending darkness of old age but misses the mark with most of them.
March 8, 2013 | Rating: 2/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Robot & Frank does not quite deliver a killer punch, but it’s an engaging, humane fantasy.
March 7, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Rooted in genuine charm and the brilliant performance by Frank Langella, Robot & Frank steals your heart.
November 27, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
Robot & Frank is a sensitive and heart-warming story thanks to the strong lead performance from [Frank] Langella.
November 25, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Katie Smith-Wong
Flick Feast
I know what you’re thinking: you couldn’t drag me to see a buddy movie about some batty old guy and his robot butler. But Robot & Frank is far better than it has any right to be.
July 31, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
A cute independent film, with a little something at its core to make it a cut above similar independent sugary narratives.
July 8, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
Presents us with a refreshingly understated, optimistic and highly plausible version of our future with technology.
February 9, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Tom Grater
CineVue
It’s a funny, quirky little story. It won’t blow you away, but I found it refreshing.
December 14, 2018 | Rating: 7/10
Debbie Baldwin
Ladue News…
Plot
In the near future, Frank is a retired catburglar living alone while his successful son, Hunter, tries to care for him from afar. Finally, Hunter gets him a robot caretaker, but Frank soon learns that it is as useful as a burglary aide. As Frank tries to restart his old profession, the uncomfortable realities of a changing world and his worsening dementia threaten to take beyond what any reboot can do for him.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Frank Langella delivers a brilliant performance as the aging ex-cat burglar in Robot & Frank.
Jake-Schreier.jpg
83%
ParaNorman (2012)
83%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
19 wins & 46 nominations total
Beautifully animated and solidly scripted, ParaNorman will entertain (and frighten) older children while providing surprisingly thoughtful fare for their parents
ParaNorman is the perfect movie for anyone who loves a good undead adventure. It’s got all the spooky fun of a classic horror flick, but with a playful twist that will keep you laughing from start to finish. The animation is absolutely gorgeous, and the story is surprisingly touching, exploring themes of death and acceptance in a way that’s both profound and accessible to kids. And let’s not forget about the score – Jon Brion’s music is the perfect accompaniment to this wild ride. So if you’re looking for a movie that’s equal parts scary and silly, ParaNorman is the one for you!
Production Company(ies)
RKO Radio Pictures, Mercury Productions,
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for scary action and images, thematic elements, some rude humor and language
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1 Auro 11.1 Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 36m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 17, 2012 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 27, 2012
Genre(s)
Comedy/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, directed by Chris Butler, Sam Fell, written by Chris Butler, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Tara Brady, Chris Blohm, Nigel Andrews, Peter Bradshaw, Robbie Collin, Cath Clarke, Matt Brunson, Douglas Davidson, Matthew Rozsa, Trace Thurman, Richard Propes, PG, Focus Features, produced by Arianne Sutner, Travis Knight, ParaNorman, Young Norman Babcock, Uncle Prenderghast, witch’s curse, zombies, paranormal abilities, death, ghosts, horror, stop motion animation, Salem Witch trials, historical accuracy, inspiring resolution, Halloween, Tim Burton, Monster House, Corpse Bride, Roald Dahl, intelligent, thoughtful, twists and turns, Shakespeare joke, gross out humor, kid-friendly, message, weird, horror films
Worldwide gross: $107,139,399
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $138,126,730
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 875
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 15,062,893
US/Canada gross: $56,003,051
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $72,200,501
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 905
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,087,050
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $18,161,369
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 702
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $60,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $77,353,466
Production budget ranking: 540
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $41,654,841
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $19,118,423
ROI to date (est.): 16%
ROI ranking: 1,316
Tucker Albrizzi – Neil (Voice)
Anna Kendrick – Courtney (Voice)
Casey Affleck – Mitch (Voice)
Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Alvin (Voice)
Leslie Mann – Sandra Babcock (Voice)
Director(s)
Chris Butler, Sam Fell
Writer(s)
Chris Butler
Producer(s)
Arianne Sutner, Travis Knight
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
19 wins & 46 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (186) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (165) | Rotten (21)
Anyone who’s robust enough to enjoy Roald Dahl will surely appreciate ParaNorman’s playfully PG undead action.
September 14, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
There’s no meat on the bone of this skeleton. Witty and fast-paced, sure, but the film lacks substance.
September 13, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Chris Blohm
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
The main plot – about combating a witch’s curse – is less fun than the gothic gags on the margins.
September 13, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s an engaging entertainment, with a solidly constructed storyline.
September 13, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Tweens, rather than children, will savour its snarky bite, although like the shambling on-screen cadavers, the story needed a bit more meat on its bones.
September 13, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Ghoulish? Yes. Funny? You bet.
September 11, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Cath Clarke
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Imaginatively designed and sharply scripted.
October 15, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
… holds up incredibly well nearly 10 years later, but Butler’s script as it uses the horror tropes we’ve come to know, flips them, chops them up, and gives us a frequently profound exploration of the destructive power of fear.
September 15, 2021
Douglas Davidson
Elements of Madness
Every child should see it.
January 24, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
Matthew Rozsa
matthewrozsa.com
Gorgeous animation enhances a touching story about death and learning to accept what you don’t understand.
December 30, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
Jon Brion’s original score is a perfect companion for the film with a sublime mixture of melancholy and madness along the way.
September 19, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Scares blend with a strange gallows humor to create a fantastic movie that will get you as pumped up as it gets your kids.
July 11, 2020 | Rating: A
Brent McKnight
The Last Thing I See…
Plot
In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman Babcock is a boy who can speak to the dead, but no one besides his eccentric new friend, Neil, believes his ability is real. One day, Norman’s estranged eccentric uncle tells him of an important annual ritual he must take up to protect the town from a curse cast by a witch it condemned centuries ago. Eventually, Norman decides to cooperate, but things don’t go according to plan. Now, a magic storm of the witch threatens Blithe Hollow as the accursed dead rise. Together with unexpected new companions, Norman struggles to save his town, only to discover the horrific truth of the curse. With that insight, Norman must resolve the crisis for good as only he can.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
Chris-Butler.jpg
83%
Footnote (2012)
83%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
14 wins & 9 nominations total
Footnote is a cinematic masterpiece that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the academic world with a deft hand. The film’s poignant exploration of ambition, success, and generational gaps is brought to life through exquisite cinematography and a soaring score that will leave non-Hebrew speaking audiences enraptured. While some may find the dry humor and bleak drama to be a mix that doesn’t quite hit the mark, the film’s almost wordless last 15 minutes are a triumph of choreography that will leave viewers breathless. It’s a shame that a film of this caliber is often overlooked in favor of more commercial fare, but for those who seek out Footnote, they will be rewarded with a witty, intelligent, and emotionally resonant experience.
Footnote is a film that will make you feel smarter just by watching it. It’s like a fancy dinner party where everyone is talking about philosophy and literature, and you’re just trying to keep up. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of dry humor to keep you entertained. And if you’re not a Hebrew speaker, the cinematography and score will make you feel like you’re in on the joke. Overall, Footnote is a well-crafted film that’s worth the mental workout.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Jerusalem, Israel
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic elements, brief nudity, language and smoking
Year of Release
2011
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 46m
-
Language(s):Hebrew
-
Country of origin:Israel
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2012
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
PG, Comedy/Drama, 1h 46m, directed by Joseph Cedar, written by Joseph Cedar, starring Shlomo Bar-Aba, Lior Ashkenazi, Aliza Rosen, Alma Zack, Daniel Markovich, Micah Lewesohn, Yehuda Grossman, produced by David Mandil, Moshe Edery, Leon Edery, reviewed by J Hoberman, Stanley Kauffmann, Donald Clarke, Marjorie Baumgarten, Tom Long, Joe Williams, David Bax, Debbie Lynn Elias, Austin Trunick, David Nusair, Glenn Dunks, starring Shlomo Bar-Aba as Eliezer Shkolnik, Lior Ashkenazi as Uriel, Aliza Rosen as Yehudit, Alma Zack as Dikla, Daniel Markovich as Josh, Micah Lewesohn as Yehuda Grossman, Yehuda Grossman as himself, comedy, drama, box office performance, budget, PG rating, Hebrew language, Talmud scholarship, Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, Israeli Prize, father-son relationship, academic rivalry, satire, human nature, guilt, jealousy, anger, love, intellectual handicaps, autism
Worldwide gross: $2,451,259
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,227,077
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,298
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 351,917
US/Canada gross: $2,007,758
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,643,209
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,969
US/Canada opening weekend: $47,528
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $62,571
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,126
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
Lior Ashkenazi – Uriel
Aliza Rosen – Yehudit
Alma Zack – Dikla
Daniel Markovich – Josh
Micah Lewesohn – Yehuda Grossman
Director(s)
Joseph Cedar
Writer(s)
Joseph Cedar
Producer(s)
David Mandil, Moshe Edery, Leon Edery
Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
14 wins & 9 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (90) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (80) | Rotten (10)
Everything now in place, Footnote’s almost wordless last 15 minutes are exquisitely choreographed.
May 3, 2016
J. Hoberman
Tablet
TOP CRITIC
At the last… Footnote is so intelligently and deftly made that we are glad it exists.
June 18, 2013
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
It remains painful to live in a world where Jack and Jill makes it into commercial cinemas and this superb Israeli film gets kicked into the underbrush.
October 1, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
This is a film that skims the surface layer of politesse from human interactions and reveals us as the blustering bundles of ego that we all are.
April 13, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
“Footnote” deals with ambition, isolation, the dangers of too much success and the inevitable gap between generations.
April 13, 2012 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Cedar mines dark humor from the humiliations of identity checks and pecking orders.
April 13, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
In many ways, this movie exasperated me. It’s almost as if, despite his obvious talents, the director was daring me to enjoy his film.
March 16, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension
Footnote is a poignant, witty, well crafted film that employs exemplary cinematography and visual metaphoric reference set to a score that soars with lyricism and emotion, setting the tone for the non-Hebrew speaking audience.
November 26, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
[A] mix of dry humor and bleak drama.
August 15, 2014 | Rating: 6/10
Austin Trunick
Under the Radar
a consistently inconsistent drama that could and should have been so much better.
August 10, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Who knew scholarly politics would be so boring?
September 8, 2013
Glenn Dunks
Trespass
Cedar remains in stylistic second gear for the rest of the film, and interest fizzles out long before the finish line.
April 21, 2013 | Rating: 2/5
Matt Kelemen
Las Vegas CityLife…
Plot
The story of a great rivalry between a father and son, both eccentric professors in the Talmud department of Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The son has an addictive dependency on the embrace and accolades that the establishment provides, while his father is a stubborn purist with a fear and profound revulsion for what the establishment stands for, yet beneath his contempt lies a desperate thirst for some kind of recognition. The Israel Prize, Israel’s most prestigious national award, is the jewel that brings these two to a final, bitter confrontation.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Shlomo Bar-Aba, who had not starred in a film for 20 years before this one.
Joseph-Cedar.jpg
83%
Hugo (2011)
83%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: Won 5 Oscars
61 wins & 192 nominations total
Hugo is an extravagant, elegant fantasy with an innocence lacking in many modern kids’ movies, and one that emanates an unabashed love for the magic of cinema
Hugo is like a fancy cake that looks amazing but tastes just okay. Sure, the visuals are stunning and the 3-D is used in a way that doesn’t make you want to rip off your glasses, but the story itself is a bit bland. It’s like a history lesson with a side of adventure, but not the kind of adventure that makes you want to jump out of your seat. Overall, it’s a good movie to watch if you’re in the mood for something visually impressive, but don’t expect to be blown away by the plot.
Production Company(ies)
Buffalo Film Works Paramount Pictures, Platinum Dunes
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Peterborough Train Station, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking
Year of Release
2011
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Surround 7.1 Datasat SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 6m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2011 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 28, 2012
Genre(s)
Adventure/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer, directed by Martin Scorsese, written by John Logan, adventure, fantasy, drama, PG rating, box office gross $73.8M, produced by Graham King, Tim Headington, Martin Scorsese, Johnny Depp, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Sara Michelle Fetters, Christy Lemire, Leonard Maltin, David Sexton, Michael Clark, Stephen Silver, Danielle Solzman, Ray Pride, James Croot, PG rating, train station, automaton, Paris, clocks, Georges Méliès, classic cinema, 1930s, orphan, goddaughter, toy merchant, mystery, film preservation, 3D, visual effects, cinematography, musical score
Worldwide gross: $185,770,310
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $244,566,218
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 592
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 26,670,253
US/Canada gross: $73,864,507
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $97,242,466
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 768
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,364,505
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,961,347
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 789
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $150,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $197,474,681
Production budget ranking: 121
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $106,340,116
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$59,248,579
ROI to date (est.): -20%
ROI ranking: 1,497
Sacha Baron Cohen – Station Inspector
Asa Butterfield – Hugo Cabret
Chloë Grace Moretz – Isabelle
Ray Winstone – Uncle Claude
Emily Mortimer – Lisette
Director(s)
Martin Scorsese
Writer(s)
John Logan
Producer(s)
Graham King, Tim Headington, Martin Scorsese, Johnny Depp
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 5 Oscars
61 wins & 192 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Art Direction Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Cinematography Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Sound Editing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Visual Effects Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (233) | Top Critics (62) | Fresh (216) | Rotten (17)
The first thing to say… is that it is a visual wonder… But the second thing to say is nothing else is as exciting as the look of it and if there is a third thing it is this: Hugo himself is rather boringly bland and I didn’t much care for him.
August 31, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
It is a miraculous achievement that, during this home stretch, engages on levels and in ways few other films can admit to, and as such makes a decided case to be considered as one of the year’s finest achievements.
January 27, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Being a hardcore cinephile (like Scorsese) might add a layer of enjoyment, but it certainly isn’t a prerequisite for walking in the door. A sense of wonder, however, is.
January 3, 2012
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
Hugo is an intensely personal statement from Scorsese, one not just about magic, but also the magic of cinema.
December 9, 2011 | Rating: B+
Matt Singer
IFC.com
TOP CRITIC
Leave it to Martin Scorsese to use 3-D not as a gimmick, but as a means of drawing us into a unique and magical environment…
December 2, 2011
Leonard Maltin
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
Hugo is cinema shining a light reverently up its own fundament.
December 2, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
David Sexton
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
This film is the work of a genius at the top of his game that exceeds all expectations and is literally a movie for anyone with a pulse. By anyone’s standards, this is quite simply one of the finest motion pictures ever made.
May 1, 2022 | Rating: 5.5
Michael Clark
Epoch Times
It might have seemed like an odd fit, but it made a certain amount of sense- even if Scorsese hadn’t found a way to weave in a subplot about his favorite cause, of classic film preservation. (10th anniversary)
December 1, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Stephen Silver
Tilt Magazine
The magical celebration of cinema that is the Oscar-winning Hugo marked a substantial departure for filmmaker Martin Scorsese.
November 23, 2021
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Scorsese’s picture is more than a clandestine bildungsroman: it’s a grandly ambitious tapestry intended to entertain, but also to dramatically underscore the always-pressing need for preservation of film history.
September 11, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Ray Pride
Newcity
Has the ability entrance both young and old.
August 2, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
A lengthy history lesson rather than a real adventure.
November 30, 2020 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins…
Plot
Hugo is an orphan boy living in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris. He learned to fix clocks and other gadgets from his father and uncle, which he puts to use keeping the train station clocks running. The only thing that he has left that connects him to his dead father is an automaton (mechanical man) that doesn’t work without a special key. Hugo needs to find the key to unlock the secret he believes it contains. On his adventures, he meets shopkeeper George Melies, who works in the train station, and his adventure-seeking goddaughter Isabelle. Hugo finds that they have a surprising connection to his father and the automaton, and he discovers that it unlocks memories that the old man has buried inside regarding his past.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ben Kingsley’s performance as Papa Georges/Méliès is noteworthy and brings out a superb performance.
Martin-Scorsese.jpg
83%
Lincoln (2012)
83%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Daniel Day-Lewis characteristically delivers in this witty, dignified portrait that immerses the audience in its world and entertains even as it informs
Lincoln is a movie that will make you feel like you’re back in history class, but with a lot more drama and a lot less boredom. Daniel Day-Lewis is a chameleon, transforming into the iconic president with ease. The film is a fascinating look at the political process and the fight for democracy, with just the right amount of sentimentality. Plus, who doesn’t love a good ole’ fashioned civics lesson?
Production Company(ies)
ARTE Ariel Films, Arsam International,
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
-
Runtime:2h 29m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 16, 2012 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 26, 2013
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
Lincoln, PG-13, Biography, 2h 29m, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Tony Kushner, produced by Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, J Hoberman, David Thomson, Donald Clarke, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Yasser Medina, David Lamble, Jim Ross, starring Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Secretary of State William Seward, Robert Todd Lincoln, W.N Bilbo, Francis Preston Blair, box office gross $182.2M, intense scene of war violence, brief strong language, some images of carnage, Civil War, 13th Amendment, slavery, democracy, politics, historical accuracy, Oscar-winning performance, political drama, American history, legislative detail, shape shifter, sophisticated dialogue, thrilling, entertaining, thought-provoking, talkie, schmaltz-free, engrossing, stirring, captivating, informative, educational, inspiring, emotional, powerful, epic, cinematic, accurate, minimal Hollywood glorification, top-notch accuracy, no sentimental BS, political, drama
Worldwide gross: $275,293,450
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $182,207,973
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
Sally Field – Mary Todd Lincoln
David Strathairn – Secretary of State William Seward
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Robert Todd Lincoln
James Spader – W.N. Bilbo
Hal Holbrook – Francis Preston Blair
Director(s)
Steven Spielberg
Writer(s)
Tony Kushner
Producer(s)
Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Art Direction Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (285) | Top Critics (69) | Fresh (253) | Rotten (32)
Its narrative swoop largely takes the legislative detail in its stride, plus the star is Daniel Day-Lewis, which is always a thing. He is not so much an actor, more a shape shifter.
September 4, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
It’s an intricate, thought- provoking and (be warned) very talkie study of democracy that is almost entirely schmaltz-free.
September 1, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
Lincoln is an engrossing and even stirring civics lesson that tries, with admirable responsibility if only mixed success, to give voice to black America.
August 16, 2017
J. Hoberman
Tablet
TOP CRITIC
It’s very good, but that’s not the point. It’s necessary.
June 14, 2013
David Thomson
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Against the odds, Spielberg makes something genuinely exciting of the backstage wheedling.
January 25, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
[Spielberg is] a man on a mission. And his not so secret weapon is Day-Lewis, an actor so charismatic it’s hard to think clearly while he’s on screen.
January 25, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A history lesson at its core, but it’s cleverly buried beneath one magnificent performance and several strong supporters.
December 2, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
A good film blessed with an extraordinary and surefire Oscar caliber performance from Daniel Day-Lewis.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Lincoln is not only an avid biopic, it is a pleasant historical lesson that captures the thinking of an era where social ideas were diffused by a political party duality. [Full review in Spanish]
June 25, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
In a truly epic first act, the equal of anything in the David Lean canon, Steven Spielberg and his screenwriting collaborator, playwright Tony Kushner, frame the awful dilemma Lincoln faced in what would prove to be the last four months of his life.
June 19, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Spielberg has put together a film that is reverent but not fawning; familiar but not clichéd; measured but not ponderous.
February 13, 2020
Jim Ross
TAKE ONE Magazine
There is a reason the eternal flame of Lincoln burns so brightly to this day. Thanks to Steven Spielberg, you can see the legacy, meet the man and “feel” the fabric of history…
November 27, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens…
Plot
Mickey Haller, an iconoclastic idealist, runs his law practice out of the back seat of his Lincoln, as he takes on cases big and small across the expansive city of Los Angeles. Sidelined after an accident for almost a year, Haller is back in the courtroom, recovering from a drug habit. When Hollywood lawyer Jerry Vincent is murdered, Haller inherits his practice, including the defense of Trevor Elliott, a tech billionaire accused of murdering his wife and her lover. But as Haller prepares for the case that could launch him into the big time, he learns that Vincent’s killer may be coming for him next.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features an outstanding performance by Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln.
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83%
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
83%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 29 nominations
This Disney dreamscape contains moments of grandeur, with its lush colors, magical air, one of the most menacing villains in the Disney canon
Sleeping Beauty is a timeless classic that will charm and delight audiences of all ages. With its stunning animation, memorable characters, and unforgettable score, this film is a true masterpiece of the Disney canon. Whether you’re a fan of romance, pageantry, humor, or pathos, Sleeping Beauty has something for everyone. And let’s not forget Maleficent, one of the greatest Disney villains of all time! So if you’re looking for a fun and magical movie experience, look no further than Sleeping Beauty.
Production Company(ies)
Toho Company,
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2011
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 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): Jan 29, 1959 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2019
Genre(s)
Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy, Barbara Jo Allen, directed by Clyde Geronimi, produced by Walt Disney, written by Charles Perrault, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, Milt Banta, G rated, fantasy, box office gross $11.6M, critic reviews, Maleficent, Princess Aurora, fairies, Prince Phillip, Tchaikovsky, animation, Disney, villain, iconic, colorful, magical, dark, storytelling, character design, direction, art direction, pacing, voice overs, archetypes, comedy, romance, pageantry, suspense, action, happy humor, menacing villain, jealousy, curse, deep sleep, kiss, betrothed, guardian, hope, free, awaken
Worldwide gross: $408,680
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $538,026
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,720
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 58,672
US/Canada gross: $36,578
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $48,155
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,757
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,207
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,121
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,667
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): A$3,000,000
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
Bill Shirley – Prince Phillip (Voice)
Eleanor Audley – Maleficent (Voice)
Verna Felton – Flora (Voice)
Barbara Luddy – Merryweather (Voice)
Barbara Jo Allen – Fauna (Voice)
Director(s)
Clyde Geronimi
Writer(s)
Charles Perrault, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, Milt Banta
Producer(s)
Walt Disney
Film Festivals
Sundance, Cannes
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 29 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (5)
Sleeping Beauty Is a magnificent achievement, offering suspense, action and happy humor, in a truly giant-size package.
June 23, 2020
George Bourke
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
It is a picture that will charm the young and tickle adults, since the old fairy tale has been transferred to the screen by a Disney who kept his tongue in his cheek throughout the film’s animation.
January 28, 2016 | Rating: 4/4
Kate Cameron
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
At once modernist and classical, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty takes characters who look like paper cutouts from magazine cartoons and sets them against backdrops that look like expensive wallpaper patterns.
October 6, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Noel Murray
The Dissolve
TOP CRITIC
The masterpiece of the Disney Studios’ postwar style.
September 3, 2008
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Mary Costa’s rich and expressive voice for the title character gives substance and strength to it.
July 2, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Although this rarely achieves the heights of classics like Snow White and Dumbo, it still has its moments.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Maleficent is a ferocious creation…
July 23, 2021
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
Sleeping Beauty is romance and pageantry, humor and pathos. It’s excitement and conflict, magic and counter-magic. It’s fun.
May 12, 2021
Bob Halliday
Salt Lake Tribune
Perhaps most impressive of all is the dark witch’s design and scripting – she’s unlike any Disney antagonist before her.
August 23, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Walt Disney’s latest, costliest feature-length cartoon. It probably will make millions in dollars, pounds, marks and other currencies but there is a dismaying monster-horror bigness in this inflated version of the fairy-tale.
October 18, 2019
Clyde Gilmour
Maclean’s Magazine
Consistently has the aura of an old fairy tale, lovingly told, and the ingenious use of Tchaikovsky’s ballet as the film’s score reinforces its timelessness.
August 7, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
One of Disney’s most beautiful films with one of its best villains
May 8, 2019 | Rating: 9/10
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)…
Plot
In Sleeping Beauty, an evil witch curses Princess Aurora to die on her 16th birthday, but with the help of her guardian fairies and her betrothed Prince Phillip, she only falls into a deep sleep that can be ended with a kiss. Maleficent kidnaps and imprisons Phillip, leaving the good fairies as the last hope to free him and awaken Aurora.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about Sleeping Beauty, but it does mention the voice actors who brought the characters to life, including Mary Costa as Princess Aurora and Eleanor Audley as the menacing Maleficent.
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