The King of Laughter (2022)
85%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
The King of Laughter is a film that is both technically brilliant and thematically ambitious, exploring the life of Eduardo Scarpetta, a beloved Neapolitan actor and playwright. While the film commits to its driving conceit of Scarpetta’s wild personal life, it also manages to conjure up the atmosphere of the era with impeccable period detail. However, the dialogue can feel mannered at times, and Scarpetta’s actions can be so pompous and selfish that they become irritating. Nevertheless, the film is a dazzling feat, the work of an experienced and passionate director who manages to balance the comedic and dramatic elements of Scarpetta’s life with skill and nuance. Overall, The King of Laughter is a must-see for fans of biopic-comedies and period dramas alike.
The King of Laughter” is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and wonder how one man could be so dedicated to both theater and making babies out of wedlock. The director did an amazing job of bringing Eduardo Scarpetta’s life to the big screen, and the period details were spot on. Sure, Scarpetta’s actions could be a bit irritating at times, but that’s just part of his charm. Overall, this movie is a must-see for anyone who loves a good biopic-comedy and wants to learn more about the man who was truly the king of laughter.
Production Company(ies)
6th & Idaho, DUST, Stampede Ventures, Village Roadshow Pictures, Warner Bros.
Distributor
Film Movement
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:2h 13m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 25, 2022 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2022
Genre(s)
Biography/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Toni Servillo, Maria Nazionale, Cristiana Dell’Anna, Antonia Truppo, Eduardo Scarpetta, Roberto De Francesco, directed by Mario Martone, written by Mario Martone, Ippolita Di Majo, genre: Biography, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Anna Smith, Lovia Gyarkye, Guy Lodge, Filipe Freitas, produced by Film Movement, MPAA rating, Italian language, Eduardo Scarpetta, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Naples, parody, legal troubles, familial strife, legacy, theater
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
Maria Nazionale – Rosina Anselmi
Cristiana Dell’Anna – Luisa Scarpetta
Antonia Truppo – Emma Grammatica
Roberto De Francesco – Peppino De Filippo
Director – Mario Martone
Writers – Mario Martone, Ippolita Di Majo
Distributor – Film Movement
Director(s)
Mario Martone
Writer(s)
Mario Martone, Ippolita Di Majo, Mario Martone, Ippolita Di Majo
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (5) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (1)
Figuring out the exact nature of all their relationships has a certain fascination, but it’s not exactly entertaining. The dialogue feels mannered and Scarpetta’s actions are so selfish and pompous they become irritating.
September 13, 2021
Anna Smith
Deadline Hollywood Daily
TOP CRITIC
It’s a dazzling and technically brilliant feat, the work of an ambitious, experienced and passionate director.
September 10, 2021
Lovia Gyarkye
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Commits without compromise to its driving conceit: that Scarpetta’s personal life was as wildly expressive and uninhibited as his stage presence, to the extent that they’re not all that differently presented on-screen.
September 10, 2021
Guy Lodge
Variety
TOP CRITIC
… an upbeat biopic-comedy centered on the beloved Neapolitan actor and playwright Eduardo Scarpetta, whose dedication to theater and illegitimate procreation were remarkably consistent.
June 25, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Filipe Freitas
Always Good Movies
An impeccably made period drama superbly conjures up the atmosphere of the era.
January 30, 2022
Rob Aldam
Backseat Mafia…
Plot
In “The King of Laughter,” Eduardo Scarpetta risks everything to stage a parody of the great Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, fighting for his legacy as one of the greats of Italian theater despite legal troubles and familial strife.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Toni Servillo plays the role of Eduardo Scarpetta in The King of Laughter.
Mario-Martone.jpg
85%
Sweat (2020)
85%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: 13 wins & 18 nominations
Well-acted and appropriately beautiful, Sweat takes a thoughtful, empathetic look at social media fame.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel better about your own social media habits, Sweat is the one for you. This film takes a deep dive into the life of a fitness influencer and the toll that constant online attention can take on a person. Magdalena Kolesnik gives a standout performance as Sylwia, and director Magnus von Horn does a great job of balancing empathy with a critical eye. Plus, the neon visuals and propulsive pacing make for a really engaging watch. Just don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to delete all your apps afterwards.
Production Company(ies)
Kudos Film and Television, BBC Films, Serendipity Point Films,
Distributor
MUBI
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 47m
-
Language(s):Polish, English
-
Country of origin:Poland, Sweden
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 18, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 23, 2021
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Magdalena Koleśnik, Julian Swiezewski, Aleksandra Konieczna, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Tomasz Orpinski, Lech Lotocki, directed by Magnus von Horn, written by Magnus von Horn, drama, social media, fitness influencer, pressure, insecurities, lifestyle, MUBI, Polish, Mariusz Włodarski, $7.3K, critic reviews, Shubhra Gupta, Mark Kermode, Kevin Maher, Robert Abele, Simran Hans, Amy Nicholson, Filipe Freitas, Dennis Schwartz, Shikhar Verma, Dennis Harvey, Robin Clifford, Tomatometer, audience score, box office, streaming, limited release, 1h 47m, producer Mariusz Włodarski, MPAA rating, Sylwia Zajac, Klaudiusz, Basia, Fryderyk, Rysiek, Andrzej, aspect ratio, Swedish-Polish film, character portrait, social media users, addiction, fame, endorsements, photo spreads, magazines, empathetic, well-acted, beautiful
Worldwide gross: $11,546
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,558
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,137
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,369
US/Canada gross: $11,546
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,558
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,815
US/Canada opening weekend: $966
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,051
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,858
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
Julian Swiezewski – Klaudiusz
Aleksandra Konieczna – Basia
Zbigniew Zamachowski – Fryderyk
Tomasz Orpinski – Rysiek
Lech Lotocki – Andrzej
Director(s)
Magnus von Horn
Writer(s)
Magnus von Horn
Producer(s)
Mariusz Wlodarski
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
13 wins & 18 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (1)
Magnus von Horn directs his Swedish-Polish film with empathy, never letting us judge Sylwia (played with ferocious acuity by Magdalena Kolesnik) and her burning desire for the spotlight.
August 20, 2021
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
Really well-done, a propulsive and neon feeling to it, well worth checking out and I’d love to see it in cinemas.
June 30, 2021
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
The gap between difficult reality and filtered social media fantasy is ruthlessly exposed in this ingenious character portrait from Swedish film-maker Magnus von Horn.
June 28, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Sweat” can at times feel like one of those star-sanctioned documentaries that unwittingly capture more than the subject may have intended to reveal.
June 28, 2021
Robert Abele
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The film is not a straightforward send-up; it shows compassion for Sylwia and her search for self-definition – for her loneliness and her labour, its drudgery and its physical strain.
June 28, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s really great portrait that adds a bit of empathy to social media users.
June 25, 2021
Amy Nicholson
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Sweat survives its glossy production varnish due to the emotional stakes of the plot and a confident performance by Kolenik.
March 25, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Filipe Freitas
Always Good Movies
Gives us an intense look at a popular fitness guru without trying to falsely glamorize her.
January 3, 2022 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
While von Horn’s film is a wee bit thin and unfocused in what it really wants to convey, this is definitely a deeply unsettling and realistic portrayal of a life that is completely inhibited by being online.
August 1, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Shikhar Verma
High on Films
It’s got its finger firmly on the pulse of something that few other fictive films to date have captured quite so well.
July 23, 2021
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
The story shows how the dangerous addiction to the social platform can have on those who crave its attention and the fame it can give
July 22, 2021 | Rating: B+
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
Kolesnik never displays an ounce of self-consciousness or shows us the strings. Her performance is perfect.
July 21, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension…
Plot
Without a doubt, young, fresh, and effortlessly sexy Sylwia, a famous social media influencer and motivational fitness guru, is on top of her game. Oozing with energy and optimism, the athletic, obsessively self-promoting blonde messiah of fitness leads entire workout classes to ecstasy and self-acceptance, having managed to amass an army of die-hard followers. However, who can believe that deep-seated sadness resides in Sylwia’s soul? For instance, who knows what Sylwia is doing between her posts, apart from posing for glamorous magazines and promoting her sponsors’ products? And, what happens if one of Sylwia’s fans is interested in much more than learning how to burn stubborn fat?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The lead actress, Magdalena Koleśnik, delivers a “confident performance” in Sweat, according to one critic.
Magnus-von-Horn.jpg
85%
Some Kind of Heaven (2021)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 10 nominations
Some Kind of Heaven could have gone deeper into its subject, but it remains a breezily entertaining look at some interesting people
Some Kind of Heaven is like a real-life version of The Good Place, but with a lot more wrinkles and golf carts. This documentary takes us inside America’s largest retirement community, where the residents are searching for their own version of paradise. From synchronized swimming to speed dating, the film captures the strange and often hilarious ways that people try to find meaning in their golden years. And while the setting may seem idyllic, the film doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of aging, like loneliness and loss. Overall, Some Kind of Heaven is a fascinating and entertaining look at what happens when the American Dream meets the reality of getting old.
Production Company(ies)
Audiovisual Development Bureau, Ministerio da Cultura BEI Comunicações Bahiatursa
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
The Villages, Florida, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 23m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, retirement community, Florida, dreams, desires, happiness, meaning, love, final act, Lance Oppenheim, Darren Aronofsky, Simon Horsman, Kathleen Lingo, Melissa Oppenheim, Jeffrey Soros, Pacho Velez, Magnolia Pictures, box office, $43.5K, genre, English, 1h 23m, directed by Lance Oppenheim, produced by Darren Aronofsky, reviewed by Mark Kermode, Simran Hans, Deborah Ross, Kevin Maher, Linda Marric, Tara Brady, Dan Bayer, Dominic Corry, Paul Whitington, Soham Gadre, Jaime Fa de Lucas, starring Andrew Blau, Jake Carter, Morgan Earnest, Trevor Groth
Worldwide gross: $53,222
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $57,885
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,077
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,312
US/Canada gross: $43,492
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,302
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,759
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,820
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,680
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,688
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
Andrew Blau – Executive Producer
Jake Carter – Executive Producer
Morgan Earnest – Executive Producer
Trevor Groth – Executive Producer
Darren Aronofsky – Producer
Director(s)
Lance Oppenheim
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Darren Aronofsky, Simon Horsman, Kathleen Lingo, Lance Oppenheim, Melissa Oppenheim, Jeffrey Soros, Pacho Velez
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 10 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (85) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (79) | Rotten (6)
Strange dystopia and really entertaining…
May 24, 2021
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
It’d be easy to mistake the director’s deadpan observation for mocking, but the space he holds for the darker aspects of his characters’ individual stories helps to puncture any cultivated cutesyness.
May 17, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It is a fascinatingly weird place and the film is worth seeing if only to get a sense of that.
May 17, 2021
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
The film sits back at a (cowardly?) distance, until all we can do is admire those painterly images.
May 17, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The awkward silences, deadpan deliveries and semi-comedic tone are often reminiscent of Louis Theroux’s early BBC work which gave us a previously unseen slice of middle America.
May 14, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Intersects with the suburbia of Blue Velvet and, in common with that dark dramatic underbelly, there’s a compelling soap opera bubbling under the sterile surface.
May 14, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
What’s more remarkable is that Oppenheim manages to give the happier scenes a sheen of grotesquerie without making them feel fake.
May 13, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Dan Bayer
Next Best Picture
This documentary about America’s largest retirement community is a much more wondrous film than the preconceptions elicited by that short description may suggest.
September 24, 2021
Dominic Corry
New Zealand Herald
[A] winning and funny documentary.
August 20, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Whitington
Irish Independent
In Lance Oppenheim’s playful and otherworldly documentary Some Kind of Heaven, we get a peculiar glimpse of the lives of people seeking to escape into something utopian and idealistic with varying results but a common sense of isolation.
June 24, 2021
Soham Gadre
Film Inquiry
David Bolen’s spectacular cinematography is the highlight of Some Kind of Heaven. [Full review in Spanish]
June 9, 2021
Jaime Fa de Lucas
Culturamas
The struggle to find fulfillment … mirrors the fragile illusions, aspirations, and failures of everyday folk in their quest to secure that elusive American promise.
June 5, 2021
Igor Fishman
In Review Online…
Plot
Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary that explores the lives of residents in America’s largest retirement community, The Villages, as they search for happiness and meaning in their final act.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for Some Kind of Heaven.
Lance-Oppenheim.jpg
85%
Days (Rizi) (2021)
85%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Tsai Ming-liang’s Days is a cinematic masterpiece that transcends language and relies on the power of visual storytelling to convey its emotional depth. The film’s minimalist approach, devoid of dialogue and subtitles, immerses the viewer in a world of raw human connection and longing. Ming-liang’s ability to collapse the boundaries between the real and the fictional, the corporeal and the spiritual, creates a vision of grace that is both haunting and beautiful. While it may not be an easy sit, committing to Days’ earthy dream logic is a rewarding experience that lingers long after the credits roll. This film is a testament to the power of cinema and a must-see for any true cinephile.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s a little different, a little artsy, and a lot of beautiful, then Days is the film for you. Sure, there’s not a lot of dialogue, but who needs words when you have stunning visuals and a story that speaks to the human need for connection? Plus, it’s got that slow cinema vibe that’s perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Just be prepared to commit to the dream logic and let yourself get lost in the experience. Trust us, it’s worth it.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Grasshopper Film
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:France, Taiwan
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 13, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 11, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary/Drama
Keyword(s)
Days, documentary, drama, Chinese, loneliness, Ming-liang Tsai, Claude Wang, Kang, Lee Kang-sheng, Non, Anong Houngheuangsy, Pei-Hua Yu, directed by Ming-liang Tsai, written by Ming-liang Tsai, executive produced by Ming-liang Tsai, Grasshopper Film, limited release, streaming release, critic reviews, Jake Cole, Slant Magazine, Amy Nicholson, FilmWeek, David Ehrlich, indieWire, Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, Simon Abrams, RogerEbert.com, A.A Dowd, AV Club, Carson Timar, Clapper, Christopher Cross, Tilt Magazine, A.S Hamrah, The Baffler, Mattie Lucas, From the Front Row, Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews, genre, box office performance, budget, producer, MPAA rating
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
Anong Houngheuangsy – Non
Ming-liang Tsai – Director, Writer, Executive Producer
Pei-Hua Yu – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Ming-liang Tsai
Writer(s)
Ming-liang Tsai
Producer(s)
Claude Wang
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (1)
Tsai Ming-liangs largely dialogue-free Days speaks volumes, and Grasshoppers excellent home video release highlights the aesthetic and tonal complexity of its minimalist approach.
March 4, 2022
Jake Cole
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
There are no subtitles here, but subtitles also feel unnecessary because it’s a really immersive experience.
August 21, 2021
Amy Nicholson
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
“Days” becomes such a resonant addition to Tsai’s exhumed body of work because the filmmaker recognizes and embraces that uncharacteristically sentimental undertow.
August 17, 2021 | Rating: A-
David Ehrlich
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
What “Days” gives us is something that can’t really be intellectualized or even explained: a vision of grace that collapses the boundaries between the real and the fictional, the corporeal and the spiritual.
August 13, 2021
Justin Chang
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
To enjoy Days, you have commit to its earthy dream logic. It is an extraordinary movie; it is not an easy sit.
August 13, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
Simon Abrams
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
The beauty of Tsai’s approach, a taste worth acquiring, is the way he builds empathy for his characters by pulling us into their geographic, temporal, and by extension emotional space.
August 12, 2021 | Rating: B+
A.A. Dowd
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
There is a sense of poetry to Days and the emotional core of the film is a powerful and relevant exploration of humans’ need for connection
February 22, 2022
Carson Timar
Clapper
Tsai is still firing off on all cylinders to create an experience truly unlike any other and one that lingers well after its conclusion.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Christopher Cross
Tilt Magazine
Tsai Ming-liang’s films are test cases of cinema. They require projection on large screens in dark auditoriums, even demand it, but quietly.
January 18, 2022
A.S. Hamrah
The Baffler
Not only the most romantic film of the year, it’s one of the most disarmingly emotional, a work of almost limitless beauty that only a true master could have conjured.
December 29, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
initially the film, which definitely identifies as slow cinema, may frustrate, but Ming-liang’s modus operandi becomes mesmerizing and ultimately very moving.
September 25, 2021 | Rating: B+
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
Given its somewhat random origins, this modest drama demonstrates the artist’s ability to make natural connections simply by observing the real world.
September 20, 2021 | Rating: 76/100
Pat Padua
Spectrum Culture…
Plot
Days is a poetic exploration of loneliness as two men, Kang and Non, share their solitude in a hotel room, highlighting the deep understanding of the human condition by director Ming-liang Tsai.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Days on Fresh Kernels.
Ming-liang-Tsai.jpg
85%
Stray (2021)
85%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Stray takes a patient, meditative look at the lives of Istanbul’s stray dog population — and uncovers truths of the human condition in the process
Stray is like a dog’s version of a reality show, but with a lot more heart and a lot less drama. It’s a beautiful and immersive look into the lives of Istanbul’s street dogs, and it’s hard not to fall in love with each and every one of them. From bone-chewing to butt-sniffing, this documentary captures the essence of what it means to be a dog, and it does so with a delicate touch that’s both compassionate and contemplative. So if you’re a dog lover, or just looking for a film that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, Stray is definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Participant First Look Media, Anonymous Content
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 13m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 5, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Istanbul, stray dogs, human condition, Elizabeth Lo, Shane Boris, Ina Fichman, Magnolia Pictures, Chinese, 2021, limited release, streaming, box office, $13.0K, Zeytin, Nazar, Kartal, Syrians, sensory voyage, bone-chewing, play-fighting, butt-sniffing, Kedi, Alison Willmore, Bilge Ebiri, Kevin Maher, Clarisse Loughrey, Danny Leigh, Josh Slater-Williams, Jane Freebury, Christopher Bourne, Sean Fallon, Fernanda Solórzano, Todd Jorgenson, slow-paced, compassionate, coexistence, belonging, outsiders, human experience, action-hungry Americans, horror movies, MCU, Netflix, TV shows, renewed, cancelled, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, best Netflix series, reviewed by critics
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
Ina Fichman – Executive Producer
Elizabeth Lo – Producer
Shane Boris – Producer
Director(s)
Elizabeth Lo
Writer(s)
Elizabeth Lo
Producer(s)
Elizabeth Lo, Shane Boris
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (3)
A kind of companion to Kedi, that 2016 documentary about Istanbul’s street cats, Elizabeth Lo’s film is a tender look into the lives of some of the city’s free-roaming dogs.
August 11, 2021
Alison Willmore
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
It’s meant to be an immersive experience, an effort to put us as viewers not just behind the eyes of a dog, but also in its mind. It succeeds beautifully.
July 13, 2021
Bilge Ebiri
Spirituality & Health
TOP CRITIC
This isn’t Disney. These dogs are dogs. They bark, they bite, they defecate. Yet their primal allure remains indisputable.
March 31, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A colourful tapestry of bone-chewing, play-fighting, and butt-sniffing.
March 29, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Stray doesn’t editorialise, but lets us notice. It treats us as if we were as smart as Zeytin. Take that as a compliment.
March 24, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A simple but effective sensory voyage that’s hard to shake.
March 23, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Josh Slater-Williams
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Sometimes filmed from derriere and always with a fine eye, this doco on dogs in Istanbul where strays wander free, takes its audience to a contemplative, harmonious place
December 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Jane Freebury
The Canberra Times (Australia)
Stray, to its credit, excels at studying both dog and human with equal delicacy and compassion.
September 26, 2021
Christopher Bourne
In Review Online
It shows us the animals and people who stay in the shadows and remain invisible to those wandering by.
August 28, 2021
Sean Fallon
Film Inquiry
A photo album of life in Instanbul. [Full review in Spanish]
August 27, 2021
Fernanda Solórzano
Letras Libres
… evolves into a uniquely compassionate look at coexistence and belonging through the eyes of outsiders. It resonates regardless of species.
July 10, 2021
Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue
A film-going experience that we, action-hungry Americans, are not used to. It’s slow and plodding but says a lot about the human experience-an experience the majority of us will never admit we’ve experienced.
June 7, 2021 | Rating: 7.5/10
Alan Ng
Film Threat…
Plot
Stray follows the lives of three stray dogs in Istanbul as they navigate the city and form bonds with a group of young Syrians, offering a unique perspective on human civilization through the eyes of dogs.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about Stray, but it does mention that the film follows the lives of three stray dogs in Istanbul and explores the human condition through their perspective.
Elizabeth-Lo.jpg
85%
Farewell Amor (2020)
85%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 9 wins & 8 nominations
A striking debut feature for writer-director Ekwa Msangi, Farewell Amor movingly captures the fallout from a long-separated family’s reunion
Farewell Amor is like that one friend who always surprises you with their hidden talents. At first, you think it’s just another immigrant story, but then it hits you with its unique perspective and split narrative. The performances are top-notch, and the cinematography captures the intimacy of the story beautifully. Sure, it may be a bit slow at times, but it’s worth it to see where this family’s desires and truths collide. Overall, Farewell Amor is a promising debut from Ekwa Msangi, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 41m
-
Language(s):English, Portuguese, Aboriginal
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 11, 2020
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Farewell Amor, drama, Ekwa Msangi, Huriyyah Muhammad, Sam Bisbee, Josh Penn, Ntare Mwine, Zainab Jah, Jayme Lawson, Joie Lee, Marcus Scribner, Nana Mensah, immigrant story, family reunion, emotional distance, Brooklyn apartment, dance, inter-generational tale, America, English, limited release, streaming, box office, IFC Films, reviewed by Derek Smith, Mark Kermode, Joe Morgenstern, Simran Hans, Wendy Ide, Leslie Felperin, Kay-B, Nicholas Yap, Bianca Garner, Logan Del Fuego, David Bax, John Serba
Worldwide gross: $4,689
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,351
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,149
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 584
US/Canada gross: $4,689
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,351
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,829
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,168
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,615
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,823
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
Zainab Jah – Esther
Jayme Lawson – Sylvia
Joie Lee – Nzingha
Marcus Scribner – DJ
Nana Mensah – Linda
Ekwa Msangi – Director/Writer
Huriyyah Muhammad – Producer
Sam Bisbee – Producer
Josh Penn – Producer
Director(s)
Ekwa Msangi
Writer(s)
Ekwa Msangi
Producer(s)
Huriyyah Muhammad, Sam Bisbee, Josh Penn
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
9 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (73) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (2)
Ekwa Msangi’s debut feature attempts to give a fresh spin on the American immigrant story.
June 23, 2022
Derek Smith
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The best thing I can say about Farewell Amor is that it’s its own movie, the opposite of I’m Thinking of Ending Things…
December 30, 2020
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
One of the great strengths of Farewell Amor is its intimacy, the sense it conveys of three people close together yet emotionally distant in Walter’s small, narrow Brooklyn apartment. Another strength, and a huge one, is Mr. Mwine’s portrayal of Walter.
December 29, 2020
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
There are three sides to every story in Ekwa Msangi’s vivid and carefully observed feature debut, and so she cleverly splits the film into thirds, replaying the action but changing the vantage point with each chapter.
December 20, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
An accomplished feature film debut from writer and director Ekwa Msangi.
December 17, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
An auspicious start to a career that’s likely to accelerate fast.
December 15, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leslie Felperin
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
While a bit slower than I hoped and a little less defined in the story when we got to Sylvias point of view, I still found myself heavily invested in where the intersection of this familys desires and truths would collide.
February 9, 2022 | Rating: B
Kay-B
Pay or Wait
Farewell Amor resembles, in shape, less accomplished recent indie efforts, but it eschews much of their patness in creating something altogether more complex and affecting.
June 5, 2021
Nicholas Yap
In Review Online
Superb performances from the film’s central three leads with stunning cinematography which captures the film’s intimacy.
May 5, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Bianca Garner
Next Best Picture
Msangi proves with this impressive first feature that she is a rising star, and definitely one to watch.
April 28, 2021
Logan Del Fuego
Bust Magazine
Like the kid at the party too self-conscious to peel himself off the back wall, Farewell Amor would have a better time if it just got out on the floor.
March 22, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension
An insightful drama, simple in story but complex in presentation, about people on the fringe of American society.
March 19, 2021
John Serba
Decider…
Plot
After 17 years apart, an Angolan immigrant named Walter is reunited with his wife and daughter in the U.S., but they struggle to overcome the emotional distance between them as they adjust to their new life in a one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Ntare Mwine’s portrayal of Walter in Farewell Amor as a “huge strength” of the film.
Ekwa-Msangi.jpg
85%
Cow (2022)
85%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 27 wins & 161 nominations
A stark and emotionally resonant look at the life of a farm animal, Cow simply yet insistently asks the viewer to reconsider their relationship with their food.
Cow” is a moo-ving documentary that takes you on a journey through the eyes of a dairy cow named Luma. Director Andrea Arnold does an udderly fantastic job of humanizing Luma and giving her a voice to tell her own story. While it may be a bit of a bumpy ride, the film is both heartwarming and eye-opening, shedding light on the harsh realities of farm life. So grab some popcorn and prepare to be milked of all your emotions.
Production Company(ies)
Ciné-tamaris Social Animals Rouge International,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Howell Territorial Park, Sauvie Island, Oregon, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 33m
-
Language(s):North, American, Indian, English, Russian
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 8, 2022 Limited
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, cow, farm animal, Andrea Arnold, Kat Mansoor, Maxyne Franklin, Rose Garnett, Sandra Whipham, Magda Kowalczyk, English, limited release, IFC Films, box office, gross USA, reviewed by Kathleen Sachs, Richard Brody, Ty Burr, Katie Walsh, Tomris Laffly, Radheyan Simonpillai, Elsa Fernández-Santos, Josh Parham, Sergi Sánchez, Loren King, Carla Hay, MPAA rating, Academy Award-winner, emotional, intimate, service, beauty, challenges, food, relationship, dairy cow, industrial farm, women, reality, heartwarming, disturbing, hypnotic, rhythm, visuals, sound design, subjectivity, humanizes, Luna, heartwarming, devastating, perspective-shifting, cinematic experience, silent cinema, daily experience, inner life, farm animal
Worldwide gross: $1,380,500
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,575,379
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,481
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 171,797
US/Canada gross: $101,068
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $115,335
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,646
US/Canada opening weekend: $81,323
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $92,803
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,958
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
Kat Mansoor – Producer
Maxyne Franklin – Executive Producer
Rose Garnett – Executive Producer
Sandra Whipham – Executive Producer
Magda Kowalczyk – Cinematographer
Director(s)
Andrea Arnold
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Kat Mansoor
Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
27 wins & 161 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (96) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (92) | Rotten (4)
The documentary from British writer-director Andrea Arnold conveys something similar to the splendor that radiates from the best of silent cinema.
April 9, 2022
Kathleen Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
“Cow” reflects an admirable and fascinating motive: to enter into the daily experience and the inner life of a farm animal.
April 8, 2022
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
It will deepen your understanding of the world we share with the creatures we use.
April 8, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Ty Burr
Ty Burr’s Watch List
TOP CRITIC
It is as moving as it is devastating, and although this film requires patience and fortitude, it rewards with a singular and perspective-shifting cinematic experience.
April 8, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Katie Walsh
Tribune News Service
TOP CRITIC
By the end of Arnolds lyrical passion project, one feels genuinely connected to Luma and her likes.
April 8, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Tomris Laffly
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
Arnolds documentary about a dairy cow living out her days in the fields and cages on an industrial farm fits remarkably well alongside the directors other work about the cruelest realities facing women.
April 8, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Radheyan Simonpillai
NOW Toronto
TOP CRITIC
Arnold’s camera works like a sponge. [Full review in Spanish]
June 8, 2022
Elsa Fernández-Santos
El Pais (Spain)
The quiet moments amplify a cinematic gravity that’s aided by such inviting cinematography.
June 8, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
A rigorous exercise of subjectivity, Arnold humanizes this cow with no future… [Full review in Spanish]
May 19, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Sergi Sánchez
Fotogramas
Its lyricism comes from the stark visuals and sound design, the hypnotic rhythm, and the camera’s intimacy.
May 5, 2022
Loren King
Newport This Week (RI)
Cow is not always an easy documentary to watch, because it shows the often-harsh realities of being a cow on a farm. The starkness of this reality is fascinating because it can be heartwarming in some ways and disturbing in other ways.
May 1, 2022
Carla Hay
Culture Mix
A film which tells the story of dairy cows through the lens of one dairy cow. Luna tells her own story. Luna is a cow. How? How you ask? Because Andrea Arnold does not get humans to tell the story of Lunas life. She does it herself.
May 1, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Carey-Ann Pawsey
Orca Sound…
Plot
A loner and cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee). The men collaborate on a business, although its longevity is reliant upon the participation of a wealthy landowner’s prized milking cow.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film Cow.
Andrea-Arnold.jpg
85%
House of Hummingbird (Beolsae) (2020)
85%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: 59 wins & 48 nominations
A striking debut for writer-director Kim Bora, House of Hummingbird delicately captures a turning point in one young woman’s life
House of Hummingbird is a coming-of-age drama that will make you feel like you’re in a contemplative midsummer lassitude. The film takes its time getting where it’s going, but the journey is worth it. It’s a slow-moving but exquisitely drawn character study that captures the dilemmas of adolescence with a certain compositional sobriety. The young lead actress Ji-hu Park delivers a touching and true performance that will stay with you for a long time. If you’re looking for a film that’s both brutal and achingly hopeful, House of Hummingbird is the one for you.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Well Go USA Entertainment
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 18m
-
Language(s):Korean
-
Country of origin:Korea (South)
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 26, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2020
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
House of Hummingbird, drama, Korean, Bora Kim, Zoe Sua Cho, written by Bora Kim, Park Ji-hu starring, Kim Sae-byeok starring, Jung In-gi starring, Lee Seung-Yun starring, Park Soo-yeon starring, Son Sang-yeon starring, Well Go USA Entertainment, 2018, 2h 18m, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Richard Whittaker, Nina Li Coomes, Cary Darling, Angie Han, David Ehrlich, Peter Sobczynski, Kathy Fennessy, Yasser Medina, Filipe Freitas, Witney Seibold, Dennis Harvey, MPAA rating, coming-of-age, character study, Seoul, Seongsu Bridge, collapse, love, adolescence, turning point, young woman’s life, sensitive, engrossing, naturalistic performances, striking debut, better future, businesses, teachers, world
Worldwide gross: $1,041,948
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,189,035
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,555
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 129,666
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
Kim Sae-byeok – Yong-ji
Jung In-gi – Eun-hee’s Dad
Lee Seung-Yun – Eun-hee’s Mom
Park Soo-yeon – Soo-hee
Son Sang-yeon – Dae-hoon
Director(s)
Bora Kim
Writer(s)
Bora Kim
Producer(s)
Bora Kim, Zoe Sua Cho
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
59 wins & 48 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (48) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (1)
That there is less a plot than a series of events is what distinguishes House of Hummingbird as a character study.
February 12, 2021
Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
With an easy, lingering tempo and stunning frames shot through with light, this South Korean drama leaves the viewer with a sense of contemplative midsummer lassitude.
August 13, 2020
Nina Li Coomes
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This slow-moving but exquisitely drawn character study and coming-of-age story, which has picked up several awards at film festivals around the world, takes its time getting where it’s going, but the cumulative impact of the journey is powerful.
July 16, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Cary Darling
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A really lovely, sensitive coming of age drama.
July 9, 2020
Angie Han
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Sensitive and lived-in and strong in ways that a more forceful version of this story could never have been, Bora’s debut sketches a portrait of a girl coming into her own strength.
June 26, 2020 | Rating: B+
David Ehrlich
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
A thoughtful and engrossing take on a familiar theme that is boosted immeasurably by the contributions of writer/director Bora Kim and young lead actress Ji-hu Park.
June 26, 2020 | Rating: 4/4
Peter Sobczynski
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
Kim Bora avoids melodrama as Eun-hee faces one challenge after another, sometimes with grace, sometimes the opposite. If she isn’t a hero, she isn’t a victim either.
May 1, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Kathy Fennessy
Seattle Film Blog
A coming-of-age drama that captures the dilemmas of adolescence with a certain compositional sobriety, but which turns out, at least for me, to be quite dull and routine when it slowly travels the univocal paths of indulgence. [Full review in Spanish]
November 28, 2021 | Rating: 6/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
Eun-hee is not afraid to give a step forward and probe alternative directions that could bring her less suffering. And that, by itself, is laudable.
February 6, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Filipe Freitas
Always Good Movies
A touching, true, brutal, and frustratingly achingly hopeful coming-of-age drama that will stay with me for a long, long time. One of the best films of 2020.
November 3, 2020
Witney Seibold
Critically Acclaimed Podcast
House builds impact almost imperceptibly, so that when our heroine finally lets her emotions out in a well-deserved tantrum, it’s like the sky is falling.
October 12, 2020
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
A tale that mixes solemnity and spontaneity while possessing naturalistic performances from its central cast, House of Hummingbird is an assured debut from Kim Bora that truly soars.
September 23, 2020
Matthew St. Clair
Cinema Sentries…
Plot
In 1994 Seoul, a 14-year-old girl named Eunhee searches for love and navigates a turning point in her life after the collapse of the Seongsu Bridge in House of Hummingbird, a character study and coming-of-age story directed by Bora Kim.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels describes House of Hummingbird as a “striking debut” for writer-director Kim Bora.
Bora-Kim.jpg
85%
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
85%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: Won 2 Oscars
82 wins & 191 nominations total
Framed by a pair of powerhouse performances, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom pays affectionate tribute to a blues legend — and Black culture at large
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a film that will leave you wanting more, but not in a bad way. Viola Davis is amazing as Ma Rainey, but Chadwick Boseman steals the show as Levee. The music is fantastic and the story is both heartbreaking and uplifting. It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves great acting and powerful storytelling. Plus, it’s a great reminder that we should all appreciate the blues a little more.
Production Company(ies)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violence
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.00 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 34m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 25, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 18, 2020
Genre(s)
Music
Keyword(s)
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
Chadwick Boseman – Levee
Glynn Turman – Toledo
Colman Domingo – Cutler
Michael Potts – Slow Drag
Taylour Paige – Dussie Mae
Director – George C. Wolfe
Producers – Todd Black, Denzel Washington, Dany Wolf
Writer – Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Director(s)
George C. Wolfe
Writer(s)
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Producer(s)
Todd Black, Denzel Washington, Dany Wolf
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
82 wins & 191 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Costume Design Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (307) | Top Critics (75) | Fresh (299) | Rotten (8)
The focus of the film is more on Levee, Chadwick Boseman’s character. It felt like Viola was the pull but I was left wanting to learn even more about Ma Rainey than before. However, that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the film because I absolutely did.
April 13, 2022
Shelli Nicole
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
The sense that we’re beholden to the whims of unseen forces-that we’re not the protagonists of our own stories-cuts deep in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
March 21, 2021
Roxana Hadadi
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
The story concerns itself chiefly with the role of music in documenting and, in some cases, defusing the unspeakable pains that birthed the blues.
March 2, 2021
Hannah Giorgis
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
Acting doesn’t come much bolder and more blistering than in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
January 27, 2021
Nick Schager
Esquire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Each of the actors rises to the occasion in this production, riding a wave of heat crafted by screenwriter and Wilson whisperer Ruben Santiago-Hudson.
January 20, 2021
Soraya Nadia McDonald
Andscape
TOP CRITIC
The downside to the film’s almost musical rhythm is that it never quite transcends its stagey feel… On the other hand, it’s hard to argue against the power of seeing Boseman or Davis’ faces fill the screen.
January 12, 2021
Angie Han
Mashable
TOP CRITIC
Boseman and Davis are the most alluring attractions in this talented ensemble, all giving great work for the purpose of, once again, exposing the intricate and distinct tales of the Black experience.
June 5, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
It’s one of the most thoroughly well-rounded, excellently made films of the year.
May 20, 2022
John Paul King
Washington Blade
Boseman, in his final role, gives the performance of his life.
March 13, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
David Reddish
Queerty
Moments of joy are interwoven with pain, as Chadwick Boseman bids farewell with a performance that sums up the authentic brilliance of his career.
February 28, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
James Luxford
City AM
Washingon, backed by the Wilson estate, plans to adapt all ten entries in the Pittsburgh Cycle to the screen. If they each end up like Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, audiences have a wealth of layered, intricately written films in their future.
February 17, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
There’s no easy to way to say this: Davis is horrendously miscast in the role.
November 5, 2021
Cate Young
Thirty, Flirty + Film…
Plot
Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (Academy Award® winner Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music. As the band waits in the studio’s claustrophobic rehearsal room, ambitious trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Boseman) – who has an eye for Ma’s girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry – spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of stories revealing truths that will forever change the course of their lives. Adapted from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson’s play, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM celebrates the transformative power of the blues and the artists who refuse to let society’s prejudices dictate their worth. Directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted for the screen by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the film is produced by Fences Oscar® nominees Denzel Washington and Todd Black. Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Taylour Paige and Dusan Brown co-star alongside Grammy® winner Branford Marsalis’ score.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
George-C.-Wolfe.jpg
85%
All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020)
85%RT Audience Score: 69%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
6 wins & 16 nominations total
All In: The Fight for Democracy lives up to its title as a galvanizing rallying cry for voters to exercise — and preserve — their right to be heard
All In: The Fight for Democracy” is a must-watch documentary that will make you want to stand up and fight for your right to vote. It’s informative, eye-opening, and at times, infuriating. But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. The film also offers hope and inspiration, reminding us that change is possible if we all come together and demand it. So grab some popcorn, get comfortable, and get ready to be educated and entertained. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Production Company(ies)
Films,onor Vera Films,
Distributor
Amazon Studios
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Prime Video), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some disturbing violent images, thematic material and strong language – all involving racism
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 9, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 18, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, voter suppression, Stacey Abrams, Lisa Cortes, Liz Garbus, Jack Youngelson, Amazon Studios, PG-13, Dan Cogan, reviewed by Linda Marric, Dwight Brown, Angie Han, Kathleen Sachs, Kevin Crust, Craig Mathieson, Liz Kocan, Erik Nielsen, Diane Pershing, Alex Bentley, Nicole Ackman, Jennie Kermode, galvanizing, rallying cry, U.S citizens, history, activism, voting rights, policy, injustice, change, education, entertainment, enlightening, sobering, urgent, registration, voting, featured audience reviews, MCU movies, horror movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, careers, licensing, critic submission, feedback, Tomatometer, Fandango
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
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Budget and Earnings Details
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Lisa Cortes – Director
Liz Garbus – Director
Jack Youngelson – Writer
Stacey Abrams – Producer
Dan Cogan – Producer
Director(s)
Lisa Cortes, Liz Garbus
Writer(s)
Jack Youngelson
Producer(s)
Stacey Abrams, Dan Cogan, Lisa Cortes, Liz Garbus
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
6 wins & 16 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (66)
Although a little repetitive in parts, All In: The Fight For Democracy is essential viewing…
June 14, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Linda Marric
NME
TOP CRITIC
Timely. Illuminating. Required viewing.
October 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
TOP CRITIC
It’s a fun watch, and also timely and useful.
September 19, 2020
Angie Han
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Political documentaries are a dime a dozen, yet I was moved by how stridently this one’s subjects are fighting for people’s right to vote.
September 17, 2020
Kathleen Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
“All In” manages the triple-E feat of being entertaining, educational and enlightening.
September 17, 2020
Kevin Crust
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s sobering viewing, especially with a policy rooted in the 19th century growing stronger in the 21st.
September 16, 2020
Craig Mathieson
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Show it to everyone.
February 15, 2021
Liz Kocan
Decider
If you’ve been paying attention to the state of our country these last four years, and still need convincing, after a viewing of this film, you will feel the urgent need to get out, register, and vote.
February 15, 2021 | Rating: B+
Erik Nielsen
The Film Stage
Headlines might call attention to the false patriots; this is a portrait of a genuine one-someone who saw (and lived) injustice, rolled up her sleeves and got busy with changing it. Bravo.
February 12, 2021
Diane Pershing
Malibu Times
All In: The Fight for Democracy is a searing indictment of the long history of voter suppression in this country, and yet also a film that remains hopeful that things can be changed for the better.
February 5, 2021
Alex Bentley
CultureMap
It’s the sort of film that makes you angry about the injustice that it recounts, while also motivating you to do something to make a change.
February 1, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Nicole Ackman
Next Best Picture
A thorough but accessible guide to the history of voting in the US and what that history means for the electorate today.
January 8, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film…
Plot
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features Stacey Abrams as one of its producers and as a subject matter expert on voter suppression.
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