Starter for 10 (2006)
85%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 3 nominations
Starter For 10 is a spirited coming-of-age tale that remains charming and witty even as it veers into darker teritory. The unique setting of a quiz show makes the film wittier than your average romantic comedy
Starter for 10 is like a warm hug from your high school sweetheart – it’s familiar, comforting, and a little bit cheesy. While it may not break any new ground in the romantic comedy genre, it’s still a fun ride with a great soundtrack and a charming performance from James McAvoy. Plus, who doesn’t love a good quiz show subplot? So grab some popcorn, settle in, and let Starter for 10 take you back to the good old days of big hair and shoulder pads.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Pascal Pictures, Marvel Studios,
Distributor
Picturehouse
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and a scene of drug use
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTSS DDS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 36m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 31, 2007
Genre(s)
Romance
Keyword(s)
Starter For 10, James McAvoy, Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall, Tom Vaughan, David Nicholls, Romance, PG-13, Picturehouse, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Pippa Harris, $210.1K, SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, reviewed by Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chris Tilly, David Fear, Peter Bradshaw, Nathan Rabin, Stella Papamichael, David Lamble, Troy Patterson, Kaleem Aftab, David Nusair, Michael Szymanski, Heather Huntington, coming-of-age, quiz show, University Challenge, Bristol University, Essex, romantic comedy, witty, charming, darker territory, conventional, slight, sincere, cliché, expertly crafted, traditional, post-new wave soundtrack, nebbish, daddy issues, American accent, multi-dimensional characters, snappy editing, good pace, heartwarming, genuinely entertaining
Worldwide gross: $1,736,394
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,487,502
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,359
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 271,265
US/Canada gross: $216,839
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $310,637
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,453
US/Canada opening weekend: $37,141
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $53,207
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,188
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
Alice Eve – Alice Harbinson
Rebecca Hall – Rebecca Epstein
Simon Woods – Josh
Catherine Tate – Julie Jackson
Dominic Cooper – Spencer
Director(s)
Tom Vaughan
Writer(s)
David Nicholls
Producer(s)
Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Pippa Harris
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (81) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (8)
Conventional, slight, but charming.
December 4, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This is expertly crafted entertainment that follows all the beats of a traditional romantic comedy, but it’s done with such sincerity that it’s difficult to begrudge the odd descent into clich.
September 22, 2007
Chris Tilly
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
There’s nothing here we haven’t seen done better before.
September 22, 2007 | Rating: 2/6
David Fear
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
McAvoy carries the picture confidently enough as a leading man, and there is a nice performance from Benedict Cumberbatch.
September 22, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
[The film] bears many of the hallmarks of teen comedies, but also boasts virtues not generally associated with the genre, such as wit, class consciousness, multidimensional characters, and a penetrating intelligence.
September 22, 2007 | Rating: B+
Nathan Rabin
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Starter For Ten comfortably makes the grade for rib-tickling entertainment.
September 22, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
McAvoy is piling up an impressive resume of leading-guy roles for an actor who doesn’t at first glance possess leading-guy looks.
May 21, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Adhering to every convention of the coming-of-age film in a sneakily alluring way and flirting with cliche without slobbering all over it, this sweet little date-night flick is built to charm everyone’s inner 18-year-old.
October 25, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Troy Patterson
Spin
While the love story is predictable, the amusing quiz show storyline and excellent post-new wave soundtrack almost make up for it.
November 3, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Kaleem Aftab
The List
…a perfectly watchable (yet far-from-memorable) romantic comedy/coming-of-age story.
April 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Pure feel-good romantic nostalgia, whether you lived in 1980’s London or not.
November 20, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Michael Szymanski
Hollywood.com
A sweet, funny nostalgia trip back to the ’80s for the anglophile in all of us.
August 26, 2008 | Rating: 9/10
Heather Huntington
ReelzChannel.com…
Plot
Brian Jackson, a working-class youth from Essex, navigates his way through his first year at Bristol University, finding romance with two pretty students and trying out for a popular TV program called “University Challenge” in the charming and witty coming-of-age tale, Starter For 10.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels review.
Tom-Vaughan.jpg
85%
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)
85%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 4 nominations
A searing indictment of big business and greed, Who Killed The Electric Car? is a well-tuned doc that simultaneously entertains and enrages
Who knew a documentary about electric cars could be so intriguing? “Who Killed the Electric Car?” tells the story of how the promising EV1 automobile was developed and then abruptly taken off the market. Critics have called it fascinating, entertaining, and even disingenuous at times. But one thing is for sure, this film will get you hopping mad about the politics and greed that led to the demise of a potentially game-changing product. It’s a must-watch for anyone who cares about the environment and wants to know the truth behind the electric car’s untimely death. Plus, there’s even a tongue-in-cheek funeral for the electric car to kick things off. Who knew a funeral could be so fun?
Production Company(ies)
Diamond Docs Fish Films, Oceanic Preservation Society
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Willow Springs International Motorsports Park, Rosamond, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for brief mild language
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.75 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 2006 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 14, 2006
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, electric car, General Motors, California, environment, politics, conspiracy, big business, greed, Chris Paine, Jessie Deeter, Martin Sheen, Ed Begley Jr., Phyllis Diller, Mel Gibson, PG, box office, budget, reviewed by Owen Gleiberman, Rob Nelson, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Debbie Lynn Elias, Cole Smithey, directed by Chris Paine, written by Chris Paine, produced by Jessie Deeter, MPAA rating, searing indictment, well-tuned, revolutionary vehicle, air emissions, EV-1, perfect car, recalls, destroys, fleet, birth, death, runtime, original language, English, narrator, Reverend Gadget, Colette Divine, brief mild language, genre, box office performance, audience score, Tomatometer, streaming, rent/buy, subscription, where to watch, photos, cast & crew, critic reviews, audience reviews, top critics, fresh, rotten, entertainment weekly, village voice, Chicago reader, Sydney morning herald, salon.com, Orlando sentinel, behind the lens, ColeSmithey.com, Sacramento news & review, cinematical, upstage magazine, Laramie movie scope
Worldwide gross: $1,764,304
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,601,743
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,345
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 283,723
US/Canada gross: $1,678,874
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,475,763
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,983
US/Canada opening weekend: $45,138
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $66,563
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,101
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,474,657
Production budget ranking: 2,057
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $794,103
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $332,983
ROI to date (est.): 15%
ROI ranking: 1,322
Reverend Gadget – Self
Ed Begley Jr. – Self
Phyllis Diller – Self
Colette Divine – Self
Mel Gibson – Self
Director(s)
Chris Paine
Writer(s)
Chris Paine
Producer(s)
Jessie Deeter
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (106) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (12)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Another few of these squandered opportunities for art-house muckraking and we’ll need someone to ask who killed the left-wing documentary.
August 27, 2009
Rob Nelson
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Chris Paine’s documentary about General Motors’ development and withdrawal of the innovative, environment-friendly EV1 automobile is bound to reverberate with anyone who’s fallen in love with a product only to see it irrevocably yanked from the market.
March 21, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This fascinating feature-length documentary tells the shameful story of how fast, economical electric cars became a hit in California in the 1990s, then vanished almost overnight.
May 24, 2007
Brad Newsome
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
It’s liable to get people hopping mad, whether or not they buy Paine’s overarching conspiracy theory.
October 7, 2006
Andrew O’Hehir
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
… an entertaining but sometimes disingenuous documentary …
August 13, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Opening with a tongue-in-cheek funeral for the electric car, [Chris] Paine gives us lessons in the environment, history, politics, finance, and let’s face it – stupidity, as we follow the demise of the EV-1.
November 6, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
The film shows how politicians on both sides of the isle conspired with oil companies and car manufacturers to rob our ecology of one of its most promising assets.
April 23, 2009 | Rating: A-
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review
Transcends its own awful construction by being a documentary, further supporting the idea that docs needn’t be well made to be worthwhile.
September 17, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/5
Christopher Campbell
Cinematical
Given the shortsighted shenanigans engaged in by these corporate-oriented politicians and greedy captains of industry, is it any wonder that we’d end up mired in the Middle East to ensure the flow of oil? Who killed the electric car? The usual suspects.
June 1, 2007 | Rating: 4/4
Kam Williams
Upstage Magazine
It goes far beyond electric cars to illustrate how big business controls government actions and policies at all levels with damaging results.
March 30, 2007 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope…
Plot
With gasoline prices approaching $4/gallon, fossil fuel shortages, unrest in oil producing regions around the globe and mainstream consumer adoption and adoption of the hybrid electric car (more than 140,000 Prius’ sold this year), this story couldn’t be more relevant or important. The foremost goal in making this movie is to educate and enlighten audiences with the story of this car, its place in history and in the larger story of our car culture and how it enables our continuing addiction to foreign oil. This is an important film with an important message that not only calls to task the officials who squelched the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, but all of the other accomplices, government, the car companies, Big Oil, even Eco-darling Hydrogen as well as consumers, who turned their backs on the car and embrace embracing instead the SUV. Our documentary investigates the death and resurrection of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in our country’s future; issues which affect everyone from progressive liberals to the neo-conservative right.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Mel Gibson appears in the cast as himself.
Chris-Paine.jpg
85%
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2006)
85%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 10 nominations
Doesn’t reach the heights of Zhang Yimou’s best, but this is still a heartwarming tale of love and forgiveness from the acclaimed Chinese director
Riding Alone For Thousands of Miles is a movie that takes you on a journey from Japan to China, but it’s not just any journey. It’s a journey of a father trying to mend his relationship with his dying son. The story may be simple, but the details and cultural clashes make it a profound example of unashamed feeling expanding across cultural barriers. Plus, the cast is the genuine article, from real-life opera singers to travel agents and youngsters. It’s a masterful little film that will leave you feeling sentimental but never manipulated.
Production Company(ies)
AOI Promotion Fuji Television, Network GAGA.
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Lijiang, Yunnan, China
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild thematic elements
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Mandarin, Japanese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Feb 6, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Ken Takakura, Shinobu Terajima, Kiichi Nakai, Qiu Lin, Yang Zhenbo, Ken Nakamoto, directed by Yimou Zhang, written by Zou Jingzhi, drama, PG, box office gross $251.6K, reviewed by Steven D Greydanus, Marjorie Baumgarten, Stanley Kauffmann, Richard Nilsen, Desson Thomson, John Monaghan, Fernando F Croce, Amber Wilkinson, Maria Garcia, Laura Clifford, Robin Clifford, heartwarming, forgiveness, Chinese opera star, cancer, estranged son, Japanese fisherman, Tokyo, grief-stricken, separation, illegitimate son, cultural barriers, communication, father-son relationship, family drama, emotional, heartwarming tale, foreign language film, Chinese director, Japanese actor, Chinese actor, family reconciliation, fatherhood, redemption, cultural clash, cross-cultural, emotional journey, human connection, love, forgiveness, family, drama film, Asian cinema, East Asian cinema, Dolby Digital sound mix, Xiu Jian producer, Weiping Zhang producer, William Kong producer
Worldwide gross: $3,752,325
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,718,481
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,134
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 623,607
US/Canada gross: $252,325
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $384,539
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,394
US/Canada opening weekend: $28,223
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $43,011
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,259
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $11,429,875
Production budget ranking: 1,618
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,154,988
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$11,866,382
ROI to date (est.): -67%
ROI ranking: 1,791
Shinobu Terajima – Rie Takata
Kiichi Nakai – Ken-ichi Takata
Qiu Lin – Lingo
Yang Zhenbo – Yang-Yang
Ken Nakamoto – Self
Xiu Jian – Producer
Weiping Zhang – Producer
William Kong – Producer
Yimou Zhang – Director
Zou Jingzhi – Writer
Dolby Digital – Sound Mix
Director(s)
Yimou Zhang
Writer(s)
Zou Jingzhi
Producer(s)
Xiu Jian, Weiping Zhang, William Kong
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 10 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (75) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (60) | Rotten (15)
October 29, 2008 | Rating: B+
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
It’s the kind of story that shows more than it tells, a story that’s forged in the spaces that exist in between characters and spaces.
October 30, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
What remains most vividly after Riding Alone For Thousands of Miles, however, is not its story but its world–the immersion in that world of a foreigner, not a polo-shirted Yank but a stiff-necked Japanese. And it is all overseen by a Chinese director.
October 26, 2006
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
It sounds like a slight plot, and it is, but it is rich in detail that makes up for the simplicity of the story.
October 19, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
It’s a masterful little film, and, thanks to Zhang’s seasoned hands, it’s subtly heartfelt but never manipulative.
October 19, 2006
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A father takes a spiritual journey from Japan to China to help mend a decades-long rift between himself and his dying son. The lessons learned en route are as profound as they are simple.
October 13, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
A profound example of unashamed feeling expanding across cultural barriers
August 30, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
This may be one man’s story but the themes are epic.
June 14, 2008 | Rating: 4.5/5
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
The director fails to overcome a script that ignores the backstory of the characters, and that agonizingly details minor subplots.
March 1, 2007
Maria Garcia
Film Journal International
The story may be sentimental, but Yimou layers it by adding cultural clash to the generational ones.
February 24, 2007 | Rating: B
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
From real-life opera singer Jianin to travel agent Lin Qiu and youngster Zhenbo Yang, the cast is the genuine article…
February 16, 2007 | Rating: B
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
…gorgeously photographed and, like Babel, a subtly organized commentary on the ways people strive to communicate.
December 6, 2006 | Rating: 91/100
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette…
Plot
A Japanese fisherman travels to Tokyo to see his estranged son who has cancer, but when his son rejects him, he decides to finish his dying wish of capturing a famous Chinese opera star’s performance on film. Along the way, he sets out to reunite the singer with his illegitimate son.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Ken Takakura, a legendary Japanese actor known for his roles in yakuza films.
Yimou-Zhang.jpg
85%
Inside Man (2006)
85%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 12 nominations
Spike Lee’s energetic and clever bank-heist thriller is a smart genre film that is not only rewarding on its own terms, but manages to subvert its pulpy trappings with wit and skill
Inside Man is a heist movie that’s as slick as Jodie Foster’s performance as Madeleine White. It’s a Spike Lee joint that’s downright fun, unexpected, and full of plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The interweaving of backstory and subplots deepen the action, and the strong cast delivers strong performances. It’s a gripping thriller that’s Lee’s most polished effort in years, and it’s the best of its kind since The Usual Suspects. Plus, who doesn’t love a good heist movie with a touch of comedy?
Production Company(ies)
Cinema ’84 Euro Film Funding, Hemdale
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Steiner Studios – 15 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some violent images
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 9m
-
Language(s):English, Albanian, Spanish, Polish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 24, 2006 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 8, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama/Crime
Keyword(s)
starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kim Director, Christopher Plummer, directed by Spike Lee, written by Adam Erbacher, produced by Brian Grazer, drama, crime, mystery, thriller, R-rated, box office gross $88.5M, reviewed by Wilson Morales, J.R Jones, David Ansen, Peter Bradshaw, Andrew Sarris, Sandra Hall, David Walsh, Leigh Paatsch, Tom Meek, Michael Compton, Michael Kleinschrodt, bank robbery, hostage crisis, detective, bank robber, power broker, hidden agenda, tense situation, negotiation, flash-forwards, interviews, heist genre, mainstream, thriller, tension, intrigue, subversion, wit, skill, smart genre film, pulpy trappings, fresh take
Worldwide gross: $186,003,591
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $274,291,511
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 544
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 29,911,833
US/Canada gross: $88,513,495
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $130,527,051
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 585
US/Canada opening weekend: $28,954,945
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $42,698,614
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 282
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $45,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $66,359,568
Production budget ranking: 630
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $35,734,627
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $172,197,315
ROI to date (est.): 169%
ROI ranking: 716
Clive Owen – Dalton Russell
Jodie Foster – Madaline White
Willem Dafoe – Capt. Darius
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Det. Bill Mitchell
Kim Director – Stevie
Director(s)
Spike Lee
Writer(s)
Adam Erbacher
Producer(s)
Brian Grazer
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 12 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (208) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (179) | Rotten (29)
Foster’s slick performance as “fixer” Madeleine White adds to the intrigue and suspense, along with the supporting characters…
March 31, 2020
Wilson Morales
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
[A] wily thriller, which revitalizes a familiar premise by turning it inside out.
April 29, 2008
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
As unexpected as some of its plot twists is the fact that this unapologetic genre movie was directed by Spike Lee, who has never sold himself as Mr. Entertainment. But here it is, a Spike Lee joint that’s downright fun.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Supremely annoying and nonsensical.
January 27, 2007 | Rating: 1/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
I gloried in the sheer spectacle of Jodie Foster as Madeline White, an exquisitely groomed, fearlessly feline fixer striding on her high heels and her high horse into one supposedly perilous situation after another.
April 5, 2006
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Like everything [Lee] does, it resonates with the buzz and hum of New Yorkers getting on one another’s nerves.
March 31, 2006
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Inside Man is a run-of-the-mill heist film, something that merely fills up time, directed by Spike Lee.
February 14, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
The best of its kind since The Usual Suspects.
July 31, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
The interweaving of backstory and some taut subplots deepen the action, orchestrated with such precision that each scene innately ratchets up the stakes from its previous frame.
June 29, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
Lee handles the strong cast and Russell Gewirtz’s screenplay with precision. This is the director’s best work since 1998’s He Got Game.
November 20, 2019 | Rating: A-
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
Director Spike Lee’s most polished effort in years is a gripping thriller with strong performances.
May 30, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Kleinschrodt
Times-Picayune
It appears to be a heist movie, but it’s too slow for the genre, and the tension keeps slackening into comedy… There are plenty of plot twists, but the comedy is much better than the tension was ever going to be.
November 6, 2018
Michael Wood
London Review of Books…
Plot
Composed and meticulous, the soft-spoken and ingenious bank robber, Dalton Russell, has orchestrated the perfect heist
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found on Fresh Kernels about the film Inside Man.
Spike-Lee.jpg
85%
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party (2006)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party is a raucous return to the spotlight for the comic, buoyed by witty, infectious humor and outstanding musical performances
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party is the perfect mix of music, comedy, and good vibes. It’s like a backyard BBQ with your coolest friends, except the friends are famous musicians and comedians, and the backyard is a block party in Brooklyn. Chappelle’s energy and humor keep the party going, and the performances are top-notch. It’s a must-watch for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up and a reminder that good times are still out there waiting to be had.
Production Company(ies)
Channel 4 News Channel 4 Frontline
Distributor
Rogue Arts, Focus Features
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 2006 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 13, 2006
Genre(s)
Documentary/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, The Fugees, Big Daddy Kane, directed by Michel Gondry, written by Dave Chappelle, documentary, comedy, music, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, Matthew Leyland, Edward Lawrenson, Tim Cogshell, Richard Roeper, Peter Hartlaub, Victor Stiff, MPAA rating R, produced by Dave Chappelle, Bob Yari, Michel Gondry, Rogue Arts, Focus Features, Dolby SRD, DTS, Flat (1.85:1), actor, writer, comic, Ohio, Brooklyn, concert, rehearsal footage, comedy, community, hip-hop, influences, musical performances, behind the scenes, party mood, preachiness, dirty jokes, prostitutes, rib-busting, stand-up act, inclusive hum, progressive hip-hop, Willy Wonka, fun experience, likable, cheaply filmed, descent, hip-hop fans
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
Michel Gondry – Director
Dave Chappelle – Writer, Producer
Bob Yari – Producer
Michel Gondry – Producer
Director(s)
Michel Gondry
Writer(s)
Dave Chappelle
Producer(s)
Dave Chappelle, Bob Yari, Michel Gondry
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (128) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (118) | Rotten (10)
February 18, 2012 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
Yes, there’s a little preachiness here, but it doesn’t puncture the party mood. Or stop Chappelle telling dirty jokes about prostitutes, for that matter. Thanks to him this isn’t just a musical feast, but a rib-busting comedy too.
July 1, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Leyland
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Chappelle keeps things lively, joking on camera, punctuating the acts with gags , while Michel Gondry maintains our interest, focusing as much on Chappelle’s energy and wit, and goings-on behind the scenes, as the gig itself.
June 29, 2006
Edward Lawrenson
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
This is effectively an inner-city Woodstock — only funny.
March 11, 2006 | Rating: 4/4
Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine
TOP CRITIC
I want to see another hour of Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.
March 6, 2006
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
TOP CRITIC
A return to rowdy form.
March 3, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Hartlaub
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
This masterclass in black excellence will soothe your spirit like comfort food for your soul.
July 10, 2021
Victor Stiff
Dope Black Movies
It’s a behind-the-scenes documentary, a music concert, and a stand-up act all rolled into one.
April 23, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
One of this year’s feel good films of the year.
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Set against the backdrop of a fascinating rap concert, this film gives fans a dose of why the comedian has risen to such huge popularity.
November 19, 2019 | Rating: B
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
Gives off an inclusive hum
August 30, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
November 20, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Brian Marder
Hollywood.com…
Plot
Dave Chappelle loads up a bus with residents of his Ohio hometown and takes them to Brooklyn, N.Y. for a raucous block party featuring musical performances by Kanye West, the Fugees, Big Daddy Kane, and more.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels says that Dave Chappelle’s Block Party features “outstanding musical performances” and is a “raucous return to the spotlight” for the comedian.
Michel-Gondry.jpg
85%
The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2007)
85%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 1 nomination
Ostensibly a bio about an eccentric farmer, The Real Dirt on Farmer John also doubles as a stirring exploration of man’s common struggle with loss and prejudice
The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and want to start your own farm. It’s a heartwarming story of a man who went through ups and downs but never gave up on his dream of organic farming. Even if you’re not interested in farming, you’ll find yourself rooting for John Peterson and his family. Plus, who doesn’t love a good rebel with a cause? This film is a must-watch for anyone who wants to be inspired and entertained.
Production Company(ies)
Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, farmer, loss, prejudice, Taggart Siegel, Teri Lang, John Peterson, organic agriculture, bio, bankruptcy, depression, Midwest, eccentric, performance art, Illinois, English, Jan 21 2005, Aug 15 2008, $34.3K, 1h 22m, Kevin Crust, Ella Taylor, Frank Scheck, J.R Jones, Owen Gleiberman, Joshua Land, Peter Calder, Urban Cinefile Critics, Christopher Campbell, Glenn Whipp, Andrew Wright, Gianni Truzzi, reviewed by critics, 88% Tomatometer, 78% audience score, inspiring, humorous, dramatic, moving, alternative Americana, likable oddball, rebel, down-home, baby boomer ideals, progressive farmer, targeted, embraced, society, new ideas, positive manner
Worldwide gross: $141,999
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $209,400
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,924
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,835
US/Canada gross: $65,429
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $96,485
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,670
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,376
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $18,250
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,542
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
John Peterson – Writer
Teri Lang – Producer
Director(s)
Taggart Siegel
Writer(s)
John Peterson
Producer(s)
Teri Lang
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (5)
… outstanding documentary …
July 26, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Crust
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s fascinating that this portrait of the rise, fall and rise of Midwestern organic farmer John Peterson can be read in so many different ways, only some of which appear intentionally in Taggart Siegel’s sympathetic documentary.
July 26, 2007
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Of interest even to those not particularly interested in the subject of farming.
July 25, 2007
Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
A beguiling combination of agrarian ode and The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, deepened by Peterson’s square sincerity as he struggles to find himself in relation to his family’s land.
July 6, 2007
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The Real Dirt on Farmer John turns into a portrait of how American family farming could blossom for a new century.
July 5, 2007 | Rating: B+
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Warmhearted.
June 23, 2007 | Rating: 3/6
Joshua Land
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It also, not incidentally, an inspiring vision of the way forward for food production, a portrait of what Peterson calls “a dead farm coming back to life”. After reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma, it may be just the antidote you need.
April 25, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Calder
New Zealand Herald
Inspiring, instructive, humorous, dramatic and moving, The Real Dirt on Farmer John is something special
October 21, 2007
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
The Real Dirt on Farmer John offers no discovery or mystery into the Peterson family or their farm, only matter-of-fact self-importance.
September 17, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Christopher Campbell
Cinematical
Yes, John Peterson is a flake, but he’s a likable oddball, a rebel you can get behind.
July 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News
Despite an occasional tendency to ramble on and hold forth, it stands as a worthwhile tale of down-home alternative Americana.
July 20, 2007
Andrew Wright
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
A triumph of baby boomer ideals, that work and art can and ought to coexist.
July 19, 2007 | Rating: B+
Gianni Truzzi
Seattle Post-Intelligencer…
Plot
“The Real Dirt on Farmer John” is a documentary about the life of John Peterson, an Illinois farmer who saves his livelihood through organic agriculture and also delves into writing and performance art.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Real Dirt on Farmer John features John Peterson, an Illinois farmer who also dabbles in writing and performance art.
Taggart-Siegel.jpg
85%
Transamerica (2006)
85%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
32 wins & 26 nominations total
A terrific performance by Felicity Huffman carries this unconventional but touching transgender road movie
Transamerica is a heartwarming film that explores the importance of family and friends. Felicity Huffman’s performance as Bree is nothing short of amazing, and she brings depth and authenticity to the character. While the narrative setup may be basic and obvious, the film still manages to be funny, touching, and life-affirming. It’s a challenging movie that tackles tough subject matter with brutal honesty and graphic imagery, but it’s also a movie that honors both a good story and a movement. Overall, Transamerica is a must-watch for anyone who wants to see a fantastic performance and a touching story.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures,
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Black Canyon City, Arizona, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexual content, nudity, language and drug use
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 2, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Graham Greene, Burt Young, Elizabeth Peña, directed by Duncan Tucker, written by Duncan Tucker, LGBTQ+, transgender, road movie, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Victoria Segal, Zadie Smith, Sandra Hall, Marjorie Baumgarten, Jeff Strickler, James Berardinelli, Bruce C Steele, Richard Propes, Veronica Vera, David Lamble, Micheal Compton, MPAA rating R, produced by Linda Moran, Rene Bastian, Sebastian Dungan
Worldwide gross: $15,151,744
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $22,343,626
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,678
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,436,600
US/Canada gross: $9,015,303
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,294,480
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,532
US/Canada opening weekend: $46,908
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $69,173
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,089
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,474,657
Production budget ranking: 2,057
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $794,103
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,074,867
ROI to date (est.): 885%
ROI ranking: 143
Kevin Zegers – Toby
Fionnula Flanagan – Elizabeth
Graham Greene – Calvin
Burt Young – Murray
Elizabeth Peña – Margaret
Duncan Tucker – Director/Writer
Linda Moran – Producer
Rene Bastian – Producer
Sebastian Dungan – Producer
Director(s)
Duncan Tucker
Writer(s)
Duncan Tucker
Producer(s)
Linda Moran, Rene Bastian, Sebastian Dungan
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
32 wins & 26 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (145) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (112) | Rotten (33)
… ultimately, it is about the primacy of family and friends, and how decency begets decency.
September 26, 2017
Victoria Segal
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Around [Felicity Huffman’s] bold performance shelter cardboard cut-outs.
September 28, 2006
Zadie Smith
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s a very likeable film. With a big heart, good intentions and a sharp eye for social absurdities, it can hardly be anything else.
February 24, 2006
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Writer-director Duncan Tucker does little to develop his narrative setup beyond the basic and obvious, and his film begins to feel more like an exercise than a fully realized story.
February 4, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It’s funny in spots, touching in others and uniformly life-affirming.
February 2, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Huffman’s performance redeems parts of the movie but, until the final 30 minutes, Transamerica too often feels like a journey to nowhere.
February 2, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
Felicity Huffman may well balance off her mantle come March 5 with an Oscar to complement the Emmy she scored for Desperate Housewives in September.
April 20, 2022
Bruce C. Steele
The Advocate
A challenging film both for its subject matter and its brutal honesty and, at times, graphic imagery.
September 26, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
The filmmakers’ priority was to tell a good story: their commitment was to a movie, not a movement. In truth, they did honor to both.
May 21, 2020
Veronica Vera
Transgender Tapestry
Huffman and Zegers have the off-kilter chemistry needed…
May 7, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
A so-so film that features a fantastic performance by Felicity Huffman.
November 19, 2019 | Rating: B-
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
Bree was, and still is, an identifiable character in a movie that has aged well; credit for this lands solely in the lap of Felicity Huffman for her ability to turn a potentially clown-like depiction of a Trans woman into a loving mother.
September 15, 2019
Alexander Ryll
Gay Essential…
Plot
Southern Californian Bree Osbourne, formerly Stanley Chupak, has finally received the news for which she has been waiting: she has been approved for male-to-female sexual reassignment surgery. But before Margaret, her therapist, will allow her to go through with the surgery scheduled in a week’s time, Bree has to deal with an unresolved problem from her past. Bree gets a telephone call from a seventeen year old man named Toby Wilkins, who is looking for Stanley, his biological father. Toby is in a New York jail, having been supporting himself by petty crime and hustling. Stanley/Bree knew nothing about Toby before the telephone call. Toby apparently is all alone in the world, with his mother having committed suicide and being estranged from his stepfather in Tennessee. Masquerading as a Christian social worker, Bree, not telling him either of her true identity or her transgender status, bails Toby out of jail and tells him she will take him to Los Angeles, where Toby has aspirations of becoming a porn actor and reconnecting with his biological father. As Bree and Toby take their trans-American journey which includes some interesting encounters along the way, Bree has to decide what is best for Toby while having the foremost goal of making it back to Los Angeles for the scheduled surgery.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Felicity Huffman’s performance as a transgender woman is “remarkable” according to one audience review.
Duncan-Tucker.jpg
85%
De zaak Alzheimer (The Memory of a Killer) (2005)
85%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 3 nominations
The Alzheimer Affair is a film that is as clever as it is thrilling, with a premise that is both unique and intriguing. The film’s characterizations are full and believable, making the audience care about the characters and their fates. The film’s use of Antwerp locations and visual style add to the soulfulness of the performances, making it a welcome addition to the genre. The moral dilemmas raised by the assassin and Mr. Decleir’s fierce performance are what make the film memorable, and the film’s tight plot and expert unraveling will keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall, The Alzheimer Affair is a dark, violent, and intelligent thriller that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
The Alzheimer Affair” is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, even if you don’t speak Flemish. The movie boasts a unique premise that’s as good as any American thriller of the past several years. The film’s complex anti-hero and the soulfulness of the performances make it a welcome European addition to the genre. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see grandpa as a hitman losing his mind during a killer assignment? It’s a dark, violent, and intriguing thriller that’s expertly unraveled, resulting in a movie that you’ll remember.
Production Company(ies)
Das Films, David Sonenberg Production Polygram Filmed Entertainment,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, sexuality and nudity
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 3m
-
Language(s):Dutch, French, Flemish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 21, 2006
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Jan Decleir, Koen de Bouw, Werner De Smedt, Gene Bervoets, Jo de Meyere, Tom Van Dyck, Laurien Van den Broeck, directed by Erik Van Looy, written by Carl Joos, action, Dutch language, Alzheimer’s disease, hitman, murder, police officers, revenge, failing memory, Hilde De Laere, Erwin Provoost, produced by, Sony Pictures Classics, box office gross, R rating, nudity, violence, sexuality, reviewed by Richard Nilsen, Carrie Rickey, Richard Roeper, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Marjorie Baumgarten, Marta Barber, Yasser Medina, Dennis Schwartz, Lewis Beale, Jules Brenner, critic reviews, audience reviews
Worldwide gross: $712,387
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,085,666
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,583
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 118,393
US/Canada gross: $333,707
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $508,564
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,321
US/Canada opening weekend: $41,254
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $62,870
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,122
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 2500000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $3,809,958
Production budget ranking: 1,952
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,051,663
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$4,775,955
ROI to date (est.): -81%
ROI ranking: 1,893
Koen de Bouw – Eric Vincke
Werner De Smedt – Freddy Verstuyft
Gene Bervoets – Seynaeve
Jo de Meyere – Baron Gustave De Haeck
Tom Van Dyck – Jean de Haeck
Director(s)
Erik Van Looy
Writer(s)
Carl Joos
Producer(s)
Hilde De Laere, Erwin Provoost
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (11)
It is distinguished by the intelligence of its plotting and the fullness of its characterizations: These are believable people, not merely plot fodder.
December 24, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
A jaw-dropping premise so smartly executed that if this movie weren’t in Flemish I’d swear that Michael Mann had directed it.
September 29, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Close, but not quite.
September 26, 2005
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
TOP CRITIC
Though Memory works perfectly well as a policier, it works even better as a character study of a man losing his edge.
September 26, 2005 | Rating: B
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
The movie is tightly wound and expertly unraveled, resulting in a thriller that you’ll remember.
September 26, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film won’t put you at the edge of your seat, but will keep your attention.
September 23, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
It is a dark, violent and intriguing thriller that employs the parameters of the police film in a very effective way. [Full review in Spanish]
September 17, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
The moral dilemmas raised by the assassin and Mr. Decleir’s fierce performance are what make the stylish straightforward policier somewhat memorable.
April 12, 2007 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Not only as good as any American thriller of the past several years, but boasts a totally unique premise.
March 1, 2007
Lewis Beale
Film Journal International
exemplary crime stuff, complex anti-hero and all.
December 9, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jules Brenner
Filmcritic.com
The unusual Antwerp locations, the visual style of the filmmaking, and the soulfulness of the performances make it a welcome European addition to the genre.
November 10, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
What if grandpa was a hit man, and he was rapidly losing his mind during a killer assignment?
October 17, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Larry Ratliff
San Antonio Express-News…
Plot
An aging hitman with Alzheimer’s disease refuses to kill a 12-year-old girl, putting a price on his head and forcing him to battle the police and his own failing memory in order to get revenge against his former boss.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Jan Decleir, who plays the aging hitman with Alzheimer’s in The Alzheimer Affair, delivers a “fierce performance” according to one critic.
Erik-Van-Looy.jpg
85%
Capote (2005)
85%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
59 wins & 89 nominations total
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s riveting central performance guides a well-constructed retelling of the most sensational and significant period in author Truman Capote’s life
Capote is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and want to drink your sorrows away. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance as Truman Capote is nothing short of amazing, and his ability to make you laugh at his own jokes is something to behold. The chemistry between Hoffman and Catherine Keener is electric, and Keener’s laugh is the loveliest thing you’ll hear in a movie. While the film may not answer all the pressing questions about American life and senseless violence, it does take you on a journey through the dark art of journalism and the exploitation of real-life inspiration. Overall, Capote is a must-watch for anyone who loves great acting and a good story.
Production Company(ies)
Large Lab
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Stony Mountain Penitentiary, Rockwood, Manitoba, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violent images and brief strong language
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 55m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 14, 2006
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, Mark Pellegrino, directed by Bennett Miller, written by Dan Futterman, biography, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Tim Robey, Zadie Smith, Victoria Segal, Adam Nayman, J Hoberman, Kimberley Jones, David Walsh, Clifton Collins Jr., Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Chris Cooper, producer Caroline Baron, William Vince, Michael Ohoven, R MPAA rating, Truman Capote, In Cold Blood, murder, Kansas family, true crime, emotional bond, jailhouse interviews, childhood friend, aspiring novelist, Harper Lee, Alvin Dewey, William Shawn
Worldwide gross: $49,327,405
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $72,741,007
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,176
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 7,932,498
US/Canada gross: $28,750,530
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $42,397,172
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,142
US/Canada opening weekend: $324,857
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $479,053
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,422
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,322,600
Production budget ranking: 1,655
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,558,720
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $56,859,687
ROI to date (est.): 358%
ROI ranking: 387
Catherine Keener – Nelle Harper Lee
Clifton Collins Jr. – Perry Smith
Chris Cooper – Alvin Dewey
Bruce Greenwood – Greenwood
Bob Balaban – William Shawn
Director(s)
Bennett Miller
Writer(s)
Dan Futterman
Producer(s)
Caroline Baron, William Vince, Michael Ohoven
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
59 wins & 89 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (195) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (174) | Rotten (21)
As Capote, Philip Seymour Hoffman is in complete control of his effects… No other actor has the ability to laugh at his own jokes and be so appallingly funny.
August 1, 2018
Tim Robey
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
It’s the acting that sings, especially when Hoffman duets with luminous Catherine Keener, the lady with the loveliest laugh in film. Hoffman’s writer is a self-serving egoist; Keener’s a restrained, wise soul.
January 16, 2018
Zadie Smith
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Unfortunately, by the end of it, Capote isn’t the only one who wants to turn to drink.
September 26, 2017
Victoria Segal
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Miller and Futterman underscore the idea that what Capote’s achievement does to the story of Hickock and Smith and the Clutter killings is to remove it from the actual world and place it in a literary one.
February 29, 2016
Adam Nayman
The Walrus
TOP CRITIC
Capote is a cool and polished hall of mirrors reflecting the ways in which Truman Capote came to write (and be written by) In Cold Blood.
January 5, 2006
J. Hoberman
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
[Hoffman’s] performance is undeniably great. Everything else — solid, satisfying though it may be — falls short of that greatness.
October 30, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Capote fails to treat the most pressing issues-above all, what is it about American life that produces this “senseless” homicidal violence?
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
As Perry Smith, Clifton Collins, Jr. is particularly strong in revealing a killer whose path may have been chosen for him.
September 4, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Philip Seymour Hoffman gives a mesmerizing take on a tortured soul who many still regard as one of America’s greatest writers.
May 7, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Capote is about the snake. Perfecting his scenes play like therapy sessions, with a homoerotic undercurrent, and they go to the core of journalism’s dark art.
October 17, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
Hoffman doesn’t just act like Truman Capote; he is Truman Capote.
June 5, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)
The film burdensomely lugs around its single, grand thematic idea (namely how a writer is in lure to, but ultimately exploits, their real-life inspiration or subject matter).
January 27, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro…
Plot
Novelist Truman Capote travels to a small town to cover the story of a Kansas family’s murder and forms an emotional bond with one of the young criminals during his jailhouse interviews, despite his apparent guilt.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance as Truman Capote is “undeniably great” according to critic Kimberley Jones.
Bennett-Miller.jpg
85%
The Woodsman (2004)
85%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 20 nominations
Kevin Bacon’s performance as a pedophile who is trying to start fresh has drawn raves from critics, who have praised the Woodsman as compelling, creepy, complex and well-crafted
The Woodsman” is a movie that will make you feel all sorts of emotions – disturbed, creeped-out, sorry, and even moved. Kevin Bacon delivers a solid performance as a former pedophile struggling to lead a normal life. It’s a haunting piece of acting that will leave you thinking about it long after the credits roll. The movie is not perfect, but it’s a powerful film that tackles one of the most difficult subjects a film could tackle. Overall, “The Woodsman” is a really intelligent and amazing piece of real filmmaking that will leave you with a lot to think about.
Production Company(ies)
Liberty Films,
Distributor
Newmarket Film Group
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexuality, disturbing behavior and language
Year of Release
2005
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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 29m
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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): Dec 24, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 12, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $4,678,405
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,129,811
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,067
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 777,515
US/Canada gross: $1,576,231
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,402,150
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,988
US/Canada opening weekend: $53,985
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $82,272
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,013
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
Kyra Sedgwick – Vickie
Eve – Mary-Kay
Yasiin Bey – Sargent Lucas
David Alan Grier – Bob
Benjamin Bratt – Carlos
Director(s)
Nicole Kassell
Writer(s)
Nicole Kassell, Steven Fechter
Producer(s)
Lee Daniels
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 20 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (133) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (117) | Rotten (16)
Often cast in high-energy, borderline manic roles, Bacon creates here a sad, lank-haired, introverted character who doesn’t fish for sympathy and, for that very reason, and against all odds, ends up winning it.
January 10, 2018
Sheila Johnston
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A lean and unapologetic piece about a type of person too often rendered in simplistic ‘monster’ colors.
April 8, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
[Ms. Kassell and Mr. Fechter] trick up Walter’s character with so many conflicting moods and impulses and then place him within a post-prison society that is itself alternately oppressive and permissive.
January 27, 2005
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
A courageous and often moving drama.
January 26, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
An involving, intense but ultimately confused portrait.
January 21, 2005 | Rating: 2/4
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
To watch this picture is to feel, and what you’re feeling is an intense swirl of conflicting emotions — disturbed, creeped-out, sorry, and, yes, even moved.
January 21, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
It is not a perfect film, yet it is a powerful film that tackles one of the most difficult subjects a film could tackle.
September 27, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
I have no doubt that Kevin Bacon delivers a solid performance in ‘The Woodsman’. [Full review in Spanish]
August 7, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
It’s a haunting piece of acting, certainly Bacon’s best to date.
April 23, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Miles Fielder
The List
A really intelligent and amazing piece of real filmmaking…
April 29, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Debut director Nicole Kassell compassionately explores the troubled psyche of a former pedophile struggling with inner demons and external obstacles to lead a normal life.
April 16, 2009 | Rating: A-
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review…
Plot
After twelve years in prison, Walter arrives in an unnamed city, moves into a small apartment across the street from an elementary school, gets a job at a lumberyard, and mostly keeps to himself. A quiet, guarded man, Walter finds unexpected solace from Vickie, a tough-talking woman who promises not to judge him for his history. But Walter cannot escape his past. A convicted sex offender, Walter is warily eyed by his brother-in-law, shunned by his sister, lives in fear of being discovered at work, and is hounded by a suspicious local police officer, Detective Lucas. After befriending a young girl in a neighborhood park, Walter must also grapple with the terrible prospect of his own reawakened demons.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
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