101 Reykjavik (2001)
85%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 9 wins & 11 nominations
101 Reykjavik is a cinematic masterpiece that blends the deadpan humor of Ingmar Bergman with the quirky charm of Nordic culture. The film’s likable antihero, Hilynur, is a consummate slacker with a wicked sense of pop humor, and his interactions with the delightfully kick-in-the-pants Abril are a joy to watch. Director Kormakur’s nonjudgmental view of his characters is juicily amusing, and the snowy locations are nicely integrated into the film’s stylish aplomb. While some may find the film’s strange and distant tale off-kilter, it’s a tightly packed little snowball of a comedy that picks up steam as it rolls along, leaving audiences entertained and wanting more.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s delightfully quirky and offbeat, then 101 Reykjavik is the perfect pick. With a cast of likable characters and a snowy Icelandic backdrop, this film is a tightly packed little snowball of comedy that will have you laughing from start to finish. Sure, it may seem strange and distant at times, but that’s what makes it all the more entertaining. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
Cosmopolitan Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Reykjavík, Iceland
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Icelandic, English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Oct 28, 2020
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Victoria Abril, Hilmir Snaer Gudnason, Hanna Maria Karlsdottir, Baltasar Kormákur, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Thrudur Vilhjalmdottir, directed by Baltasar Kormákur, written by Baltasar Kormákur, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Geoff Pevere, Rick Groen, Marjorie Baumgarten, Michael Wilmington, Moira MacDonald, Edward Guthmann, B Ruby Rich, Emanuel Levy, Brian Gibson, Dennis Schwartz, Christopher Null, Merle Bertrand, produced by Ingvar Thordarson, Baltasar Kormákur, MPAA rating, Icelandic language, romantic comedy, unlikely tryst, Icelandic landscape, non-picturesque section of Reykjavik, porn, lesbian flamenco teacher, pregnancy
Worldwide gross: $546,459
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $947,787
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,609
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 103,357
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
Hilmir Snær Guðnason – Hlynur
Hanna Maria Karlsdottir – Berglind
Baltasar Kormákur – Þröstur
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson – Marri
Thrudur Vilhjalmdottir – Hófí
Self – Ingvar Thordarson (Producer)
Self – Baltasar Kormákur (Director/Writer)
Director(s)
Baltasar Kormákur
Writer(s)
Baltasar Kormákur
Producer(s)
Ingvar Thordarson, Baltasar Kormákur
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
9 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (5)
A times as flatly deadpan as Hylner, at others as passionately eccentric as Abril’s Lola, 101 Reykjavik is at least dedicatedly unexpected.
March 22, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Imagine, if you dare, Ingmar Bergman as a consummate slacker with a wicked sense of pop humour.
March 22, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Hilynur serves as a likable antihero.
February 3, 2002 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
There’s something juicily amusing about the nonjudgmental way Kormakur views his characters.
November 24, 2001
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
101 Reykjavik sometimes seems to be drifting pointlessly, but it keeps on righting itself, with moments of humor and imagination.
October 12, 2001
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Gudnason makes a delightful anti-hero, Abril is a kick in the pants and the snowy locations are nicely integrated.
September 28, 2001
Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
101 Reykjavík is a straightforward sort of movie, but its unabashed innocence and stylistic aplomb are wonderfully endearing.
February 24, 2020
B. Ruby Rich
The Nation
August 12, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A tightly packed little snowball of a comedy that picks up steam as it rolls along.
December 1, 2003
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)
Everything about this Icelandic sitcom comedy seemed off kilter.
April 21, 2003 | Rating: C
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
It’s a strange and distant tale that would only appear on Jerry Springer in America but comes off as quirky and cute when presented from the cold Nordic perspective.
April 17, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com
A film that’s as outlandish as it is entertaining.
December 8, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Merle Bertrand
Film Threat…
Plot
Thirty-year-old Hlynur still lives with his mother and spends his days drinking, watching porn and surfing the net while living off unemployment checks. A girl is interested in him, but he stands back from commitment. His mother’s Spanish flamenco teacher, Lola, moves in with them for Christmas. On New Year’s Eve, while his mother is away, Hlynur finds out Lola is a lesbian, but also ends up having sex with her. He soon finds out he and his mother are sharing more than a house. Eventually he must find out where he fits into the puzzle, and how to live life less selfishly.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Victoria Abril plays Lola, the vivacious, avowedly lesbian flamenco teacher who has an unlikely tryst with the protagonist.
Baltasar-Kormákur.jpg
85%
Audition (Ôdishon) (1999)
85%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 5 nominations
An audacious, unsettling Japanese horror film from director Takashi Miike, Audition entertains as both a grisly shocker and a psychological drama
Audition is a movie that will make you want to sleep with the lights on for a week. It’s a twisted tale of love and obsession that will leave you feeling like you need a shower. But hey, if you’re into that kind of thing, then this movie is definitely for you. Just don’t watch it with your significant other unless you want things to get real awkward, real fast.
Production Company(ies)
Lama Films, United King Films, Rabinovich Film Fund, Cinema Project
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Tokyo, Japan
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence/torture and sexuality
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS-Stereo Dolby SR
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Japanese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 2009
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Jun Kunimura, Miyuki Matsuda, Ren Ôsugi, Tetsu Sawaki, directed by Takashi Miike, written by Daisuke Tengan, Ryu Murakami, horror, R rating, box office gross $110.8K, reviewed by Chuck Bowen, Peter Bradshaw, Jim Sullivan, Patrick Z McGavin, Kevin Thomas, Marc Savlov, Matt Brunson, Brian Eggert, Trace Thurman, A.S Hamrah, Federico Furzan, Panos Kotzathanasis, psychological drama, dating service, audition, producer, widower, relationship, tension, climax, violence, torture, sexuality, Japanese, Satoshi Fukushima, Akemi Suyama
Worldwide gross: $359,853
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $624,135
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,692
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 68,063
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
Eihi Shiina – Asami Yamazaki
Jun Kunimura – Yasuhisa Yoshikawa
Miyuki Matsuda – Ryoko Aoyama
Ren Ôsugi – Shibata
Tetsu Sawaki – Shigehiko Aoyama
Director(s)
Takashi Miike
Writer(s)
Daisuke Tengan, Ryu Murakami
Producer(s)
Satoshi Fukushima, Akemi Suyama
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (80) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (14)
The film is a brutal examination of social isolation and malaise, and the gulf that often exists between men and women.
July 1, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Chuck Bowen
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A stomach-turning masterpiece.
December 10, 2015 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
This movie, at just under two hours, is a long crawl from inception to climax.
November 30, 2001 | Rating: 2/4
Jim Sullivan
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Miike is brilliant at transforming the mundane and familiar … into something sinister and eerie.
November 29, 2001
Patrick Z. McGavin
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A diabolically adroit piece of filmmaking that goes even further than the films of Italy’s excruciatingly macabre Dario Argento.
November 16, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It gnaws on your mind like a famished larva, and you can fully expect to have a rough time of it later, when you close your eyes and try to sleep.
November 11, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It has lost none of its power to disturb.
May 16, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Miike doesn’t seem too concerned about his message or themes. Instead, he uses obvious triggers to create frightening, horrific stories of extreme style and content.
March 4, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
It takes a while to get there, but Takashi Miike’s adaptation of Ryū Murakami’s novel builds to one of cinema’s most unforgettable endings.
December 30, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
A prolific director known for his willingness to try anything as long as it’s weird, violent, or evil, Takashi Miike outdid himself with Audition…
September 17, 2020
A.S. Hamrah
The Baffler
fans of cult cinema though will definitely appreciate its atmosphere and the grotesqueness of the last part, which is what gave the film the place it currently holds in the category.
July 26, 2020
Panos Kotzathanasis
easternKicks.com
A horrific tale about the mysteries of unseen boundaries. Whatever you do, don’t watch it with the person you love. It gets rather awkward. [Full review in Spanish].
December 9, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Federico Furzan
Cinelipsis…
Plot
In Tokyo, Shigeharu Aoyama is a widower that grieves the loss of his wife and raises his son Shigehiko Aoyama alone. Seven years later, the teenage Shigehiko asks why his middle-aged father does not remarry and Shigeharu meets his friend Yasuhisa Yoshikawa, who is a film producer, and tells his intention. However, Shigeharu has difficulties to approach to available women to date and Yasuhisa decide to organize a sham audition for casting the lead actress for the fake movie. They receive several portfolios of candidates and Shigeharu becomes obsessed by the gorgeous Asami Yamazaki. Despite the advice of the experienced Yasuhisa, Shigeharu calls Asami to date and he falls for her. But who is the mysterious Asami?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for Audition.
Takashi-Miike.jpg
85%
Existenz (1999)
85%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 14 nominations
Gooey, slimy, grotesque fun
eXistenZ is like a video game on steroids, but with a twist. It’s a sci-fi thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. The movie is a cautionary tale about the dangers of technology and how it can blur the lines between reality and fantasy. David Cronenberg’s signature style is on full display, and the movie is a fun romp into the world of deep immersion gaming. The performances may be wonky, but that only adds to the charm of the film. Overall, eXistenZ is a wild ride that’s worth taking.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Rockwood Conservation Area, Ontario, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sci-fi violence and gore, and for language
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 37m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 23, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 19, 1999
Genre(s)
Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Ian Holm, Don McKellar, Callum Keith Rennie, David Cronenberg, Andras Hamori, Robert Lantos, written by David Cronenberg, directed by David Cronenberg, sci-fi, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Danny Leigh, J Hoberman, Anton Bitel, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Andrew Sarris, Geoff Andrew, Jason Shawhan, Jordan M Smith, Emma Wolfe, Mike Massie, Rob Aldam, MPAA rating R, virtual reality, video game designer, bodyguard, damaged copy, fantasy, reality, Miramax Films, Surround, Dolby Digital
Worldwide gross: $2,856,712
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,127,878
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,169
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 559,201
US/Canada gross: $2,856,712
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,127,878
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,806
US/Canada opening weekend: $810,262
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,454,443
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,239
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26,925,418
Production budget ranking: 1,218
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,499,338
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$36,296,878
ROI to date (est.): -88%
ROI ranking: 1,943
Jude Law – Ted Pikul
Willem Dafoe – Gas
Ian Holm – Kiri Vinokur
Don McKellar – Yevgeny Nourish
Callum Keith Rennie – Hugo Carlaw
David Cronenberg – Director/Producer/Writer
Andras Hamori – Producer
Robert Lantos – Producer
Director(s)
David Cronenberg
Writer(s)
David Cronenberg
Producer(s)
David Cronenberg, Andras Hamori, Robert Lantos
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (19)
What we have here is a witty sci-fi teaser built around the coming wave of deep immersion gaming.
March 26, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s striking that eXistenZ, a send-up of computer games that parodied The Matrix avant la lettre, and one of the great underappreciated movies of the late 1990s, yields the richest trove of relics.
March 8, 2019
J. Hoberman
The New York Review of Books
TOP CRITIC
eXistenZ – both Allegra’s latest beta release and David Cronenberg’s dizzying B-movie – makes the different textures of game, film and life increasingly difficult to tease apart.
May 21, 2018
Anton Bitel
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
I just don’t happen to like puzzle films of any kind, but I must credit Mr. Cronenberg with more intellectual depth than most of his fellow pessimistic movie pranksters.
April 27, 2007
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Dark, delirious fun.
January 26, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
…this 1999 David Cronenberg masterpiece is one of the unheralded sci-fi classics of that decade.
September 10, 2021
Jason Shawhan
Nashville Scene
Though the rigidly wonky lead performances detract from the overall impact of eXistenZ, the feature remains a fun sci-fi romp into the inquisition of reality that hinges on signature Cronenberg style.
November 17, 2020
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
[I] thought it was good for what it was but it doesn’t really beat other films I’ve seen like it.
October 21, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Emma Wolfe
SpookyAstronauts
As a multi-layered cautionary tale and satire, perhaps it’s brilliant; but by the end, it ultimately seems like a lot of nonsense.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Cronenberg wraps the tale in layers of mystery, never allowing the audience to confidentially comprehend precisely what is happening.
November 8, 2018
Rob Aldam
Backseat Mafia
eXistenZ is a hugely enjoyable SF thriller with a playfulness to its narrative that keeps you well and truly baffled as too where you are.
May 15, 2018 | Rating: 8/10
Robert Martin
Starburst…
Plot
Allegra Geller, the leading game designer in the world, is testing her new virtual reality game, eXistenZ with a focus group. As they begin, she is attacked by a fanatic assassin employing a bizarre organic gun. She flees with a young marketing trainee, Ted Pikul, who is suddenly assigned as her bodyguard. Unfortunately, her pod, an organic gaming device that contains the only copy of the eXistenZ game program, is damaged. To inspect it, she talks Ted into accepting a gameport in his own body so he can play the game with her. The events leading up to this, and the resulting game lead the pair on a strange adventure where reality and their actions are impossible to determine from either their own or the game’s perspective.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for the film Existenz.
David-Cronenberg.jpg
85%
Out of Sight (1998)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
13 wins & 15 nominations total
Steven Soderbergh’s intelligently crafted adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel is witty, sexy, suprisingly entertaining, and a star-making turn for George Clooney
Out of Sight is the perfect movie for those who love a good heist, a little bit of romance, and a lot of George Clooney. Soderbergh’s direction and Scott Frank’s adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel make for a slick and stylish film that still holds up today. And let’s not forget the amazing supporting cast, who bring their A-game to every scene. Sure, it may not be as sexy as some remember, but it’s still a fun watch that will leave you wanting more.
Production Company(ies)
Brandywine Productions,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Kronk Recreation Center – 5555 McGraw Street, Detroit, Michigan, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some strong violence
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS-Stereo DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 2m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 26, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 18, 2006
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle, Dennis Farina, Albert Brooks, directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Elmore Leonard and Scott Frank, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Chuck Bowen, Jay Boyar, David Edelstein, Stephen Hunter, Michael O’Sullivan, Anthony Lane, R MPAA rating, produced by Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Universal Pictures, Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1), bank robber, FBI agent, romance, action, thriller, heist, prison escape, jewel heist, Detroit, Miami, trunk scene, career criminal, US Marshal, Elmore Leonard adaptation, ensemble cast, witty dialogue, nonlinear narrative, freeze frames, flashbacks, David Holmes score, Steven Zahn, Steve McQueen reference, Karen Sisco, Jack Foley, Buddy Bragg, Maurice ‘Snoopy’ Miller, Marshall Sisco, Richard Ripley, Glenn Michaels, Adele, Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers, The Ohio Players, The Stylistics, The Rascals, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays, The Spinners, The Delfonics, The Chi-Lites, The Dramatics, The Three Degrees, The Dells, The Moments,
Worldwide gross: $77,745,966
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $142,674,810
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 856
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 15,558,867
US/Canada gross: $37,562,568
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $68,932,609
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 926
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,020,435
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,059,193
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 603
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $48,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $88,086,768
Production budget ranking: 469
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $47,434,725
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,153,317
ROI to date (est.): 5%
ROI ranking: 1,374
Jennifer Lopez – Karen Sisco
Ving Rhames – Buddy Bragg
Don Cheadle – Maurice ‘Snoopy’ Miller
Dennis Farina – Marshall Sisco
Albert Brooks – Richard Ripley
Director – Steven Soderbergh
Producers – Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
Writers – Elmore Leonard, Scott Frank
Director(s)
Steven Soderbergh
Writer(s)
Elmore Leonard, Scott Frank
Producer(s)
Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
13 wins & 15 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (98) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (92) | Rotten (6)
The film is a lark that develops an emotional undertow.
June 30, 2022
Chuck Bowen
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Soderbergh understands the flaky, funny spirit of Leonard’s characters and he gets his cast to express it.
August 4, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Out of Sight is slick in all the right ways.
August 4, 2013
David Edelstein
Slate
TOP CRITIC
Clooney is the most impressive he’s been on film. Jack Foley feels real, not like some Hollywood improvisation. Foley is charming, handsome, graceful, cultured, energetic and disciplined. He just can’t stop committing crimes.
August 4, 2013
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The characters all seem to have known each other for years, referring to long-held grudges and resentments that only gradually are revealed to the audience. They’re a seedy, petty, dangerous and delightful bunch.
August 4, 2013
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
After many mishaps, the art of bringing Elmore Leonard’s novels to the screen is coming to fruition. This latest adaptation, by director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Scott Frank, gets it just about right.
August 4, 2013
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Out of Sight was a critical success, but never quite caught on completely with audiences. Hopefully, that will change, as it deserves to be considered a classic.
July 6, 2022 | Rating: A
Frank J. Avella
Edge Media Network
Those seeking a superb adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel should watch Get Shorty; those who opt instead for Out of Sight will catch an occasionally meandering yarn elevated by a handful of choice scenes and an exemplary roster of supporting players.
July 3, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Out of Sight still holds up as one of the best films of 1998…
June 28, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
A great, good-looking, old fashioned Hollywood entertainment in a gloriously film-like 4K upgrade from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
.
June 28, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Canavese
Celluloid Dreams
Scott Frank adapts Elmore Leonard’s novel and Soderbergh matches the Leonard sensibility with a style and rhythm that practically swings.
June 25, 2022
Sean Axmaker
Stream on Demand
This wasn’t as sexy as I remembered but it’s fine. Definitely a bit too long and some of the secondary characters were too cartoonish for me but it’s a fun watch.
April 21, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Justin Brown
Medium Popcorn…
Plot
A career bank robber busts out of jail (Clooney) with the help of his buddy (Rhames) and kidnaps a US Marshal (Lopez) in the process. When the two cons head for Detroit to pull off their final big scam, the Marshal is put on their case but she finds she is attracted to one of them and has second thoughts about bringing them in.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises George Clooney’s performance as “a star-making turn” in Out of Sight.
Steven-Soderbergh.jpg
85%
Mulan (1998)
85%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
17 wins & 21 nominations total
Exploring themes of family duty and honor, Mulan breaks new ground as a Disney film, while still bringing vibrant animation and sprightly characters to the screen
Mulan is a Disney classic that tells the story of a brave young woman who defies gender norms to save her country. Critics have praised the film for its beautiful animation, captivating music, and powerful themes of family, honor, and duty. While some have criticized the film for its portrayal of gender roles and cultural appropriation, Mulan remains a beloved favorite among Disney fans of all ages. So grab some popcorn, sing along to “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” and enjoy this timeless tale of courage and heroism.
Production Company(ies)
Castle Rock Entertainment, Detour Filmproduction Filmhaus Wien Universa Filmproduktion,s
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Disney+)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1 (original and intended ratio)
-
Runtime:1h 28m
-
Language(s):English, Mandarin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 26, 2004
Genre(s)
Musical
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $304,320,254
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $558,470,577
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 253
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 60,901,917
US/Canada gross: $120,620,254
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $221,355,174
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 306
US/Canada opening weekend: $22,745,143
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $41,740,545
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 291
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $90,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $165,162,691
Production budget ranking: 186
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $88,940,109
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $304,367,778
ROI to date (est.): 120%
ROI ranking: 857
Eddie Murphy – Mushu (Voice)
BD Wong – Shang (Voice)
Miguel Ferrer – Shan-Yu (Voice)
Harvey Fierstein – Yao (Voice)
Beth Fowler – Bather (Voice)
Director(s)
Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft
Writer(s)
Rita Hsiao, Christopher Sanders, Philip LaZebnik, Raymond Singer, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer
Producer(s)
Pam Coats
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
17 wins & 21 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (80) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (12)
Only when local cultural traditions die can Disney sell its brand of glossy nostalgia…
June 16, 2022 | Rating: 1/4
Matt Roth
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Mulan is a well-animated tale that can still inspire.
March 30, 2020 | Rating: B+
Chris Stuckmann
ChrisStuckmann.com
TOP CRITIC
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 4/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Overall, this is a lovely film, ranking with the best of Disney’s animated features while taking on rather serious issues of war, honor, gender roles and family pride.
October 18, 2008
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
What’s terrific about Mulan is its reaching for emotions that other movies run from: family love and duty, personal honor and group commitment, obedience and ingenuity.
September 1, 2008
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Goes about halfway toward setting new boundaries for Disney’s, and the industry’s, animated features, but doesn’t go far enough.
September 1, 2008
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
What sets Mulan apart is that it is both one of the funniest and one of the darkest Disney films.
January 30, 2021 | Rating: 9/10
Nicole Ackman
Next Best Picture
…the show tunes and sidekicks are largely unnecessary.
March 27, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
Even though Mulan is a brave, strong hero, her motivation for entering the army has nothing to do with her own ambitions and everything to do with serving patriarchy (represented by her father and her emperor).
February 26, 2020
Kathi Maio
New Internationalist
The backdrops are also beautifully drawn with a watercolor flair. There are a lot of little touches like that which help it feel rich and textured.
May 7, 2019 | Rating: A
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
Disney animation depends on captivating music, powerful villains, and effective comic relief, and Mulan has all three.
March 29, 2016 | Rating: A-
James Plath
Family Home Theater
What is chiefly impressive is that the appropriation of Chinese iconography in a film that was plainly made by Western animators feels ultimately so natural and successful.
December 3, 2009 | Rating: 7/10
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy…
Plot
This retelling of the old Chinese folktale is about the story of a young Chinese maiden who learns that her weakened and lame father is to be called up into the army in order to fight the invading Huns. Knowing that he would never survive the rigours of war in his state, she decides to disguise herself and join in his place. Unknown to her, her ancestors are aware of this and to prevent it, they order a tiny disgraced dragon, Mushu to join her in order to force her to abandon her plan. He agrees, but when he meets Mulan, he learns that she cannot be dissuaded and so decides to help her in the perilous times ahead.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Mulan on Fresh Kernels.
Barry-Cook.jpg
85%
Buffalo ’66 (1998)
85%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 11 nominations
Self-indulgent yet intriguing, Buffalo ’66 marks an auspicious feature debut for writer-director-star Vincent Gallo while showcasing a terrific performance from Christina Ricci
Buffalo ’66 is a film that’s as bizarre as it is fascinating. Vincent Gallo’s performance as a troubled guy is both narcissistic and captivating, while Christina Ricci’s portrayal of a dream-girl in powder-blue fishnet tights and sparkly tap shoes is incandescent. The film’s combination of crudeness and sophistication is preternaturally powerful, and Gallo’s direction and score are smart and tightly controlled. It’s like Martin Scorsese, John Cassavetes, and Abel Ferrara took turns directing scenes of a film written by and starring Jerry Lewis. Overall, Buffalo ’66 is a highly constructed and intriguing work that’s definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
MSNBC Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Buffalo, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, strong violent images and scenes involving nudity
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzara, Kevin Corrigan, Mickey Rourke, directed by Vincent Gallo, written by Vincent Gallo, Alison Bagnall, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Gavin Smith, Richard Schickel, Ella Taylor, David Edelstein, Michael O’Sullivan, Owen Gleiberman, David Walsh, Margaret Pomeranz, Maitland McDonagh, Rob Nelson, Emanuel Levy, Michael Dequina, R rating, convict, prison, kidnapping, tap dancing, football, dysfunctional family, obsession, dark humor, narcissism, redemption, Coen Brothers, Jarmusch, Garden State, character study, acting, directing, writing
Worldwide gross: $2,375,718
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,359,778
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,214
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 475,439
US/Canada gross: $2,375,097
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,358,638
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,840
US/Canada opening weekend: $39,555
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $72,589
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,061
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,752,712
Production budget ranking: 1,989
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,482,335
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $124,731
ROI to date (est.): 3%
ROI ranking: 1,383
Christina Ricci – Layla
Anjelica Huston – Jan
Ben Gazzara – Jimmy
Kevin Corrigan – Rocky the Goon
Mickey Rourke – The Bookie
Director(s)
Vincent Gallo
Writer(s)
Vincent Gallo, Alison Bagnall
Producer(s)
Chris Hanley
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (59) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (14)
There is a air of intriguing atavism about the textures and contours of Buffalo ’66’s visual style and tone.
April 11, 2018
Gavin Smith
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Gallo, who also wrote, directed and scored Buffalo ’66 , is a smart young filmmaker, not least in his casting.
August 30, 2016
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
For a study in untrammeled lunacy, the movie is a highly constructed and tightly controlled work.
August 30, 2016
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Gallo’s combination of crudeness and sophistication has a preternatural power.
August 30, 2016
David Edelstein
Slate
TOP CRITIC
The intimate, idiosyncratic and very funny Buffalo ’66 –directed by and starring Vincent Gallo, from a semi-autobiographical script co-authored with Alison Bagnall –feels like a projection of Gallo’s very psyche.
August 30, 2016
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Vincent Gallo, gaunt and pop-eyed, with a gaze of sexy, hostile paranoia, has the look of a born sociopath or a born movie star (or both).
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The film communicates a level of anguish that is difficult to bear at times.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Performances are outstanding, particularly those of Gallo and Ricci. It`s so refreshing and invigorating to see a film like this.
August 30, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
Gallo’s poor, poor pitiful me routine wears very thin, very fast, but Ricci is incandescent, a softly-glowing dumpling of a dream-girl in powder-blue fishnet tights and sparkly tap shoes.
August 30, 2016 | Rating: 2/5
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
If Martin Scorsese, John Cassavetes, and Abel Ferrara took turns directing scenes of a film written by and starring Jerry Lewis, it might resemble Buffalo ’66.
August 21, 2009
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Actor Vincent Gallo makes a feature directing debut with this bizarre, self-indulgent tale of a troubled guy, played by him in a narcissistic mode, who has never reconciled his unhappy childhood.
July 15, 2009 | Rating: B-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
It may not be the masterpiece that its narcissistic writer-director-star Vincent Gallo has claimed to be, but his filmmaking debut is a ceaselessly fascinating piece of work.
May 3, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com…
Plot
Billy is released after five years in prison. In the next moment, he kidnaps teenage student Layla and visits his parents with her, pretending she is his girlfriend and they will soon marry (and forcing her to say the same).
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Vincent-Gallo.jpg
85%
One True Thing (1998)
85%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 nominations total
Solid performances lift this drama to a higher level
One True Thing is a movie that will make you cry, but in a good way. It’s like a well-oiled machine that knows exactly how to tap into your emotions and make you feel all the feels. Streep is amazing, as always, and Zellweger and Hurt hold their own. It’s not a movie for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for a good cry, this is the one for you. Just make sure you have some tissues handy!
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Media Rights Capital,
Distributor
Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Morristown, New Jersey, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 7m
-
Language(s):English, Portuguese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William Hurt, Tom Everett Scott, Lauren Graham, Nicky Katt, directed by Carl Franklin, written by Anna Quindlen, Karen Croner, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, Rick Groen, Peter Travers, Kenneth Turan, Paul Tatara, Michael O’Sullivan, Maitland McDonagh, Tom Meek, Robin Clifford, James Sanford, Eugene Novikov, John R McEwen, R MPAA rating, produced by Harry J Ufland, Jesse Beaton, cancer, family, mother-daughter relationship, secrets, journalism, New York City, undervalued matriarch, difficult life, higher level, solid performances, simple things, everyday woman, moving, sad, death, dealing with loss, excellent performances, top notch, worthwhile, barfy, sentimental, hokey
Worldwide gross: $26,616,840
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $48,845,655
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,345
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,326,680
US/Canada gross: $23,245,840
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $42,659,394
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,137
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,606,455
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,123,776
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 893
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $30,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $55,054,230
Production budget ranking: 731
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $29,646,703
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$35,855,279
ROI to date (est.): -42%
ROI ranking: 1,636
Renée Zellweger – Ellen Gulden
William Hurt – George Gulden
Tom Everett Scott – Brian Gulden
Lauren Graham – Jules
Nicky Katt – Jordan Belzer
Director – Carl Franklin
Producers – Harry J. Ufland, Jesse Beaton
Writers – Anna Quindlen, Karen Croner
Director(s)
Carl Franklin
Writer(s)
Anna Quindlen, Karen Croner
Producer(s)
Harry J. Ufland, Jesse Beaton
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (60) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (7)
Probably won’t appeal to teens.
December 26, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
A well-oiled machine manufactured to tap our welled-up ducts.
April 12, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Even director Carl Franklin…can’t prevent One True Thing from descending into chick-movie hell.
May 11, 2001
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
One True Thing demonstrates that the power of simple things, the transcendent nature of the ordinary, can make for riveting filmmaking.
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Streep is luminous as the hypermaternal Kate.
January 1, 2000
Paul Tatara
CNN.com
TOP CRITIC
One True Thing celebrates the very things you don’t miss, or even know exist, until they are gone.
January 1, 2000
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Carl Franklin’s understated direction keeps the tears and life-affirming revelations from congealing into chicken shmaltz for the soul.
June 18, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
There’s a lot of Oscar timber here…
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Tom Meek
Film Threat
Streep, Zellweger, and Hurt are outstanding.
April 9, 2005 | Rating: B
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
the movie ultimately belongs to Streep, who illuminates the extraordinary soul inside an everyday woman.
June 4, 2003
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette
One of those rare films — a movie that is genuinely sad and moving without being melodramatic, sentimental or hokey.
May 22, 2003 | Rating: B+
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather
Streep’s performance will probably secure her another Oscar nomination.
February 8, 2003 | Rating: 4.5/5
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online…
Plot
When a tough New Yorker’s mother is stricken with a serious illness, she is forced to quit her job and her relationship with her boyfriend to take care of her, finding out a lot of things she didn’t know about her mother and father and her life along the way.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features solid performances from Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, and William Hurt.
Carl-Franklin.jpg
85%
Michael Jackson’s This Is It (2009)
85%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: NA
While it may not be the definitive concert film (or the insightful backstage look) some will hope for, Michael Jackson’s This Is It packs more than enough entertainment value to live up to its ambitious title
Michael Jackson’s This Is It is a must-watch for any fan of the King of Pop. It’s like getting a backstage pass to see the magic behind the music. And let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to see MJ in action one last time? The film captures his talent and passion, reminding us why he was such an icon. Plus, the dance moves are so good, you’ll want to moonwalk out of the theater. Don’t miss it!
Production Company(ies)
Wildbear Entertainment, National Geographic
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and violence
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTSS DDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 51m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 28, 2009 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 26, 2010
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Michael Jackson, This Is It, PG, Documentary, Kenny Ortega, Randy Phillips, Paul Gongaware, English, Sony Pictures Entertainment, $71.8M, 1h 51m, suggestive choreography, scary images, Michael Jackson, Orianthi, Darryl Phinnessee, Timor Steffens, Dreya Weber, directed by Kenny Ortega, written by Kenny Ortega, produced by Kenny Ortega, reviewed by Candice Frederick, Nell Minow, Dwight Brown, Rebecca Nicholson, A.O Scott, Mario Tarradell, Mike Massie, Micheal Compton, Kelly Jane Torrance, Kaleem Aftab, Jeremy Jahns, Capitalism: A Love Story, Earth, Be Kind Rewind, Oceans, Whip It, starring Michael Jackson, documentary, concert film, behind-the-scenes footage, pop superstar, “This Is It” tour, music, dance, entertainment, box office success, PG rating, intimate detail, rehearsals, sold-out concerts, London, summer 2009
Worldwide gross: $1,995,911
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,662,778
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,264
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 399,431
US/Canada gross: $1,995,911
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,662,778
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,893
US/Canada opening weekend: $135,606
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $248,856
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,594
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
Orianthi – Self
Darryl Phinnessee – Self
Timor Steffens – Self
Dreya Weber – Self
Kenny Ortega – Self (Director/Producer)
Randy Phillips – Self (Producer)
Paul Gongaware – Self (Producer)
Director(s)
Kenny Ortega
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Kenny Ortega, Randy Phillips, Paul Gongaware
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (186) | Top Critics (58) | Fresh (151) | Rotten (35)
It’s always inspiring to see a genius at work. And that’s exactly how I felt watching Michael Jackson in This Is it–inspired.
September 12, 2017 | Rating: A
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
There are some who will claim this documentary is ghoulish. I think haunting is a better word, as you fathom what the music world would have been like had he lived.
July 7, 2010
Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
TOP CRITIC
A bizarre and opportunist piece of film-making.
November 6, 2009 | Rating: 2/5
Rebecca Nicholson
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The Michael Jackson we see here is not a self-styled Messiah or a tabloid oddity. He is, instead, what he always was underneath it all: a talented musician, a brilliant dancer, and one of the most gifted entertainers of his time.
November 2, 2009
A.O. Scott
At the Movies
TOP CRITIC
It’s purpose isn’t to reinvent Jackson, but to recapture some of the creative magic that made the kid from Indiana a worldwide musical ambassador.
October 30, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Mario Tarradell
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
It’s difficult not to appreciate the popularity and impact of Michael Jackson’s music, along with the elaborate stage show that was put together for his final concert tour.
November 29, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
This is a film designed to give fans one last chance to see the Jackson they knew and loved. And on that level, “This Is It” succeeds – showing that Jackson still had it, even in his final moments.
May 11, 2019
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
This Is It gives us a fuller portrait of the man and his passion than we’ve ever seen before. But don’t think it lets us finally understand him.
December 1, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Times
A film that treads way too carefully around the star and the desire to preserve his image as the consummate entertainer.
November 1, 2018
Kaleem Aftab
The National (UAE)
I think you’re going to feel like you paid full price to watch the special features on a Michael Jackson DVD.
January 23, 2018
Jeremy Jahns
JeremyJahns.com
Don’t watch this documentary film expecting to find insight into Jackson’s troubled psyche, or to spot premonitions of his impending death, watch instead for glimpses of his peerless talent.
August 2, 2012
Jason Best
Movie Talk…
Plot
Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie to grow up are immense. When Francie’s world turns to madness, he tries to counter it with further insanity, with dire consequences.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for Michael Jackson’s This Is It.
Kenny-Ortega.jpg
85%
The Apostle (1998)
85%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
13 wins & 8 nominations total
Robert Duvall’s The Apostle is a cinematic masterpiece that explores the complexities of faith, sin, and redemption with a level of nuance and depth that is rarely seen in Hollywood. Duvall’s performance as the titular preacher is nothing short of mesmerizing, and his direction is a testament to his skill as a filmmaker. The film is a vindication of belief without being a vindication of every believer, and it stands as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of faith. With its unbridled energy, raw emotion, and subtle grace, The Apostle is a must-see for anyone who appreciates intelligent, thought-provoking cinema.
The Apostle” is a movie that’s been praised by critics for years, and it’s not hard to see why. Robert Duvall’s performance as a preacher on a redemption journey is nothing short of mesmerizing. The movie explores the complexities of faith and sin, and does so with a subtlety and grace that’s rare in American cinema. Even if you’re not a churchgoer, or even a Christian, you’ll be moved by the power of Duvall’s great performance. It’s a movie that’s shocking in its raw emotion and unbridled energy, and it’s a must-see for anyone who loves great acting and thought-provoking storytelling.
Production Company(ies)
Decla-Bioscop AG,
Distributor
October Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Collin County, Texas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and a related scene of violence
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 28m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 20, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2002
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Robert Duvall, Farrah Fawcett, Miranda Richardson, Todd Allen, John Beasley, June Carter Cash, directed by Robert Duvall, written by Robert Duvall, drama, PG-13, box office gross $20.8M, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, Emanuel Levy, Steven D Greydanus, Edward Guthmann, Jay Carr, Steve Davis, Richard Propes, Todd Gilchrist, Michael Dequina, Gary Brown, Thomas Delapa, personal project, southern Pentecostal preacher, affair, beating, coma, Louisiana, church, personal demons, radio station worker, peace, redemption, faith, religion, character study, powerful, message, accurate, fair, three-dimensional, music, cinematography, sets, costumes, entertainment
Worldwide gross: $19,868,354
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $36,461,231
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,478
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,976,143
US/Canada gross: $19,868,354
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $36,461,231
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,203
US/Canada opening weekend: $29,396
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $53,946
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,184
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $9,175,705
Production budget ranking: 1,706
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,941,117
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $22,344,409
ROI to date (est.): 158%
ROI ranking: 741
Farrah Fawcett – Jessie Dewey
Miranda Richardson – Toosie
Todd Allen – Horace
John Beasley – Brother C. Charles Blackwell
June Carter Cash – Mrs. ‘Momma’ Dewey Dr.
Director(s)
Robert Duvall
Writer(s)
Robert Duvall
Producer(s)
Rob Carliner
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
13 wins & 8 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (5)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
A labor of love coming to fruition after 13 years, this is Robert Duvall’s third and best directorial effort, a sharply observed exploration of a preacher who embarks on a redemption odyssey after committing a crime.
February 18, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Disturbing but thought-provoking depiction of genuine faith coexisting with sin and carnality… like the troubling fiction of Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, and Flannery O’Connor, a vindication of belief without being a vindication of every believer.
July 19, 2003 | Rating: A-
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jay Carr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4/5
Steve Davis
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Duvall’s script is one of subtle grace and beauty.
September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Duvall is effortlessly mesmerizing in the lead role…
January 4, 2019
Todd Gilchrist
Birth.Movies.Death.
Shocking in its unbridled, electrifying energy and raw emotion.
March 31, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
I cannot recall a movie so dominated by the performance of one actor (Robert Duvall) as this one.
August 13, 2007 | Rating: 4/4
Gary Brown
Houston Community Newspapers
Some kind of acting miracle … One doesn’t have to be a churchgoer, or even a Christian, to be moved by the power of Duvall’s great performance.
August 21, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly
… may be the most unapologetic, intimate portrayal of a religious man in the history of American cinema.
January 15, 2005 | Rating: A+
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer…
Plot
Eulis ‘Sonny’ Dewey is a preacher from Texas living a happy life with his beautiful wife Jessie. Suddenly his stable world crumbles: Jessie is having an affair with young minister Horace. Sonny gets enraged and hits Horace with a softball bat, putting him into a coma. After that he leaves town, takes a new name, ‘Apostle E.F.’ and goes to Louisiana. There he starts to work as a mechanic for local radio station owner Elmo, and Elmo lets him preach on the radio. E.F. starts to preach everywhere: on the radio, on the streets, and with his new friend, Reverend Blackwell he starts a campaign to renovate an old church.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Robert Duvall wrote, directed, and starred in this film, which was a personal project and labor of love for him.
Robert-Duvall.jpg
85%
The Namesake (2006)
85%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 4 nominations
An ambitious exploration of the immigrant experience with a talented cast that serves the material well
The Namesake is like a warm hug from your grandma – it’s gentle, evocative, and makes you feel all the feels. Sure, there are some quibbles about the Bengali and cultural accuracy, but who cares when you’re swept up in the emotional journey of the characters? Tabu and Khan give subtle, loving performances that communicate great passion without ever overplaying. It’s a generational drama that will leave you feeling deeply moved and maybe even a little bit nostalgic for your own family’s history. Plus, it’s got Mira Nair’s signature touch of humanity and heart. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to feel all the feels.
Production Company(ies)
Aurum Film Canal+ Polska W F S Walter Film Studio,
Distributor
Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language and some violence
Year of Release
1997
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:2h 2m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States, India
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 27, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Kal Penn, Tabu, Irrfan Khan, Zuleikha Robinson, Jacinda Barrett, Glenne Headly, directed by Mira Nair, written by Sooni Taraporevala, drama, PG-13, immigrant experience, Bengali American, cultural identity crisis, family, traditions, American culture, sacrifice, opportunities, heritage, box office gross $13.6M, budget, reviewed by Shubhra Gupta, Namrata Joshi, Roxana Hadadi, David Fear, Hank Sartin, Roger Ebert, Yasser Medina, Leigh Paatsch, Felicia Feaster, Kaleem Aftab, Sarah Manvel, emotional, heart-wrenching, beauty, subtlety, exceptional cast, labor of love, India, Indian culture
Worldwide gross: $7,281,450
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,573,212
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,859
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,480,176
US/Canada gross: $7,281,450
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,573,212
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,520
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,020,015
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,629,552
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,075
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $33,553,456
Production budget ranking: 1,085
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,068,536
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$38,048,780
ROI to date (est.): -74%
ROI ranking: 1,826
Tabu – Ashima Ganguli
Irrfan Khan – Ashoke Ganguli
Zuleikha Robinson – Moushumi Mazoomdar
Jacinda Barrett – Maxine
Glenne Headly – Lydia
Director(s)
Mira Nair
Writer(s)
Sooni Taraporevala
Producer(s)
Lydia Dean Pilcher, Mira Nair
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (135) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (115) | Rotten (20)
Mira Nair turns Jhumpa Lahiri’s gentle, evocative novel The Namesake, into a gentle, evocative film.
June 19, 2019
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
There are bound to be quibbles about whether they get their Bengali right or whether Nair captures the culture and ethos. But it still can’t take much away from this humane, warm and elegantly crafted film.
January 24, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
The Namesake captures the interior struggle between centuries of history and the appeal of living only in the now, and it’s grippingly beautiful and overwhelmingly moving.
August 23, 2018
Roxana Hadadi
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
November 16, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
David Fear
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 16, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
What holds it together are the subtle loving performances by Tabu and Khan, both Bollywoood stars. They never overplay, never spell out what can be said in a glance or a shrug, communicate great passion very quietly.
December 7, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
Indian director Mira Nair’s film has noble intentions that become noticeable from the preamble, but to me it seems as a flat and very dull drama about family, immigration, and cultural traditionalism. [Full review in Spanish]
January 6, 2021 | Rating: 4/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
One of those films that easily wins your respect, but struggles to hold your attention.
May 12, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
[Nair’s] film covers so much ground that it’s hard to sustain emotional investment in its characters.
February 3, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
The Namesake is an unhurried, insightful and deeply moving generational drama that cannot be recommended highly enough.
November 3, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Kaleem Aftab
The List
Since Nair made such a stir with her fresh approach to William Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, the fact that she simply translated The Namesake from page to screen proves to be a bit of a letdown.
August 7, 2018
Sarah Manvel
Cinemattraction
Sprawling, uneven, heartfelt
August 27, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion…
Plot
Maureen is pregnant and her husband Eddie is missing. Nervous, Maureen shares a couple of drinks with neighbor Kiefer, who tries to rape her and then beats her. When Eddie returns and finds his wife bruised, he goes ballistic, shoots a paramedic and is put in a psychiatric institution. Ten years later, Eddie is released and finds that Maureen has divorced him and is remarried with three children, one of whom is his little girl Jeanie. Eddie goes to reclaim his wife.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Namesake.
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