Things to Come (L’avenir) (2016)
85%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: NA
A union to cherish between a writer-director and star working at peak power, Things to Come offers quietly profound observations on life, love, and the irrevocable passage of time
Things to Come” is a movie that reminds us that life is like a steamroller, it just keeps going no matter what. Isabelle Huppert is amazing, as always, even though she doesn’t have any big emotional moments. The film is visually stunning and filled with ideas that make you think about life. It’s a gentle and warm reminder that we can’t stop the future from coming, but we can learn to live with it. Plus, it’s always fun to watch Isabelle Huppert show off her acting skills.
Production Company(ies)
Armory Films, 1993 Lucky Treehouse
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2016
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 41m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:France, Germany, Lebanon
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 2, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2017
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Isabelle Huppert, André Marcon, Roman Kolinka, Édith Scob, Sarah Lepicard, Solal Forte, directed by Mia Hansen-Løve, written by Mia Hansen-Løve, drama, PG-13, box office gross $282.4K, reviewed by Adam Nayman, David Stratton, Sandra Hall, Tirdad Derakhshani, Peter Travers, Bill Goodykoontz, Gisela Savdie, Michael J Casey, Dustin Chang, Aaron Pinkston, Scott Nye, French cinema, philosophy professor, divorce, middle-aged, life, love, time, Charles Gillibert, IFC Films, Dolby Digital
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
André Marcon – Heinz
Roman Kolinka – Fabien
Édith Scob – Yvette
Sarah Lepicard – Chloé
Solal Forte – Johann
Director(s)
Mia Hansen-Løve
Writer(s)
Mia Hansen-Løve, Mia Hansen-Løve
Producer(s)
Charles Gillibert
Film Festivals
Sundance, Berlin, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (148) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (147) | Rotten (1)
As Denis Lenoir’s camera recedes into a carefully bisected domestic composition, the boundaries between the past, the present, and the future shimmer and blur together in a way that suggests that nothing ever really slows down.
September 28, 2017
Adam Nayman
Cinema Scope
TOP CRITIC
During the course of the film, Nathalie undergoes a series of crises and finds herself increasingly alone and alienated. Yet Hansen-Young, who is very good at this sort of thing, is no pessimist, and she concludes her film on a nod to “l’avenir.”
April 28, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
It sounds like slight stuff but Hansen-Love is an expert in the observational — the habits and customs that make up a life and the sense of dislocation that results when they’re no longer possible.
April 26, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Visually arresting, but never precious, it’s filled with ideas that have relevance to actual life, ideas that are based on a moral conviction that a question well-posed is far more valuable than an easy answer.
January 25, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/4
Tirdad Derakhshani
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Following her triumph in Elle, French screen legend Isabelle Huppert scores another bullseye with this delicate tale of philosophy professor starting over
January 13, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
OK, now Isabelle Huppert is just showing off.
January 5, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Natalie’s reactions to the new situation, a mixture of freedom and loss, are the most interesting parts of the film [Full review in Spanish]
July 18, 2021
Gisela Savdie
El Heraldo
A gentle and warm reminder that life steamrolls us, no matter how hard we try to prevent it.
June 7, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema
L’avenir is also Hansen-Løve’s most technically accomplished work to date. Sun drenched, warm cinematography and always moving camera make a point that whatever life throws at you, it’s not as earth shattering as it seems. One of the very best this year.
February 14, 2021
Dustin Chang
Floating World
Isabelle Huppert is reliably good, despite not having the big emotional moments she so routinely pulls off if more dynamic roles. Her character’s journey builds throughout the film, but in an unusual way.
January 4, 2021
Aaron Pinkston
Battleship Pretension
There’s no way to resolve her dimensions, and Hansen-Løve doesn’t suggest there might be. Living honestly is extraordinarily difficult, especially when you’re trying to live empathetically…
January 4, 2021
Scott Nye
Battleship Pretension
Things to Come is an exquisite vehicle for the incomparable Isabelle Huppert, a performer who is the heartbeat of every sequence within the film.
October 3, 2019
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com…
Plot
Things to Come follows a middle-aged philosophy professor who reevaluates her life after a sudden divorce, leading her to confront the passage of time and the meaning of love.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Isabelle Huppert, an icon of French cinema.
Mia-Hansen-Løve.jpg
85%
Marguerite (2016)
85%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Touching, funny, and thoughtful, Marguerite honors its real-life inspiration with a well-acted and ultimately inspirational look at the nature of art and the value of a dream
Marguerite is a film that will make you laugh, cry, and cringe all at the same time. Catherine Frot’s performance as the tone-deaf Marguerite is both hilarious and heartbreaking, and the cinematography perfectly captures the film’s melancholic tone. While the film may drag on at times, it’s worth watching for Frot’s incredible performance alone. Overall, Marguerite is a must-see for anyone who loves a good tragicomedy.
Production Company(ies)
Preferred Content Sundial Pictures,
Distributor
Cohen Media Group
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2016
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:2h 9m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:Belgium, Czech Republic, France
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 11, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 2, 2016
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
Marguerite, Catherine Frot, André Marcon, Michel Fau, Christa Théret, Denis Mpunga, Sylvain Dieuaide, Xavier Giannoli, Olivier Delbosc, Marc Missonnier, Marcia Romano, Comedy, French, R, Box Office, Budget, Reviewed by Tara Brady, Jake Wilson, Sandra Hall, David Stratton, Tom Long, Moira MacDonald, Nicholas Bell, Richard Propes, Julian Lytle, Daniel Barnes, Matthew Anderson, Bertie Archer, Inspirational, Art, Singing, Passion, Tragedy, Delusion, Entitlement, Denial, Truth, Peacock, Tableaux, Cinematography, Glynn Speeckaert, Cohen Media Group
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
André Marcon – Georges Dumont
Michel Fau – Atos Pezzini
Christa Théret – Hazel
Denis Mpunga – Madelbos
Sylvain Dieuaide – Lucien Beaumont
Xavier Giannoli – Director/Writer
Olivier Delbosc – Producer
Marc Missonnier – Producer
Marcia Romano – Writer
Director(s)
Xavier Giannoli
Writer(s)
Xavier Giannoli, Marcia Romano
Producer(s)
Olivier Delbosc, Marc Missonnier
Film Festivals
Venice, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (109) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (104) | Rotten (5)
Marguerite’s unspeakable voice is counterpointed by cinematographer Glynn Speeckaert’s exquisitely composed tableaux. And the denouement yields more than one surprise.
August 8, 2016 | Rating: 5/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Frot gives Marguerite a grandeur, but also an anxious, lost quality, emphasised by Glynn Speeckaert’s cinematography with its heavy shadows and tendency to isolate Frot in the middle of the wide screen.
April 21, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
It’s a tale of great sadness — about somebody enchanted by a world she’s forever barred from entering.
April 21, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Marguerite — despite its longueurs — offers much to enjoy, particularly Frot’s ripe, passionate performance.
April 15, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
“Marguerite” is a dark delight, a cringe comedy that skirts tragedy throughout, examining delusion, entitlement, denial and the question of whether the truth is essential.
April 8, 2016 | Rating: A-
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Frot’s performance, as a woman so caught up in the joy of music that she doesn’t quite understand how bad she is, is particularly delightful, and often quite moving.
April 7, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Inventively comedic, its droll moments of melodrama reflect bleak social commentary as well as a successfully mocking character portrait, Marguerite is Giannoli’s strongest title to date.
September 30, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
Would be worth watching if only for the performance of Frot.
September 15, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
What this film is is a good period drama about people living their lives.
January 10, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Julian Lytle
Punch Drunk Critics
The amazing accomplishment of Catherine Frot’s performance is that we both laugh at and pity Marguerite, and regard her celebrity as both a travesty and a tragedy.
April 12, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Daniel Barnes
Dare Daniel
This is a poignant, simultaneously jubilant and deeply sad championing of singing like nobody’s listening.
April 9, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Matthew Anderson
CineVue
Frot is Marguerite, and Marguerite is Frot – her central rendition is the extraordinary performance of a lifetime, capturing the beauty and innocence behind the voice of a peacock.
April 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Bertie Archer
One Room With A View…
Plot
In 1921 France, a wealthy woman follows her passion to sing in front of audiences, but no one tells her how bad she is in Marguerite.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Catherine Frot’s “ripe, passionate performance” as Marguerite Dumont.
Xavier-Giannoli.jpg
85%
Carol (2015)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 6 Oscars
77 wins & 254 nominations total
Shaped by Todd Haynes’ deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Carol lives up to its groundbreaking source material
Carol is the kind of movie that makes you want to fall in love, but also makes you realize that love is complicated and messy. It’s a beautiful and elegant film that will leave you feeling both melancholic and hopeful. The performances by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are simply stunning, and the direction by Todd Haynes is masterful. If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel all the feels, Carol is definitely worth a watch. Just make sure you have some tissues handy.
Production Company(ies)
Strong Heart, Demme Production Orion Pictures,
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for a scene of sexuality/nudity and brief language
Year of Release
2016
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 58m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 8, 2016 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 15, 2016
Genre(s)
Romance/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, John Magaro, Cory Michael Smith, directed by Todd Haynes, written by Phyllis Nagy, romance, drama, LGBTQ+, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Grace Manger, Heather Hogan, Kristen Yoonsoo Kim, Sara Michelle Fetters, Wesley Morris, Udita Jhunjhunwala, Cody Dericks, Brian Eggert, Zofia Wijaszka, Nikki Baughan, Ben Turner, Kip Mooney, produced by Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon, MPAA rating R, 1950s Manhattan, department store, love affair, unconventional relationship, Carter Burwell’s music, New York, production design, Edward Lachman’s cinematography, Judy Becker’s production design, Sandy Powell’s costume design, nuanced performances, subtle facial expressions, eavesdropping secrecy, taboo relationship, complex social issues, Far From Heaven, devastating love story, struggle with freedom of expression
Worldwide gross: $40,272,135
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $49,635,349
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,330
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,412,797
US/Canada gross: $12,711,491
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $15,666,894
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,484
US/Canada opening weekend: $253,510
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $312,451
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,526
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,800,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $14,543,483
Production budget ranking: 1,529
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,831,666
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $27,260,200
ROI to date (est.): 122%
ROI ranking: 848
Rooney Mara – Therese Belivet
Sarah Paulson – Abby Gerhard
Jake Lacy – Richard
John Magaro – Dannie
Cory Michael Smith – Tommy
Director – Todd Haynes
Producer – Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon
Writer – Phyllis Nagy
Director(s)
Todd Haynes
Writer(s)
Phyllis Nagy
Producer(s)
Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon
Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 6 Oscars
77 wins & 254 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (317) | Top Critics (88) | Fresh (298) | Rotten (19)
A wonderful and all-too-rare film.
February 9, 2021
Grace Manger
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
It makes me wish the word “epic” hadn’t been completely diluted so I could bring the full weight of its meaning to bear on this love story. Extraordinary? Singular? Remarkable? Yes, all of those things too.
June 26, 2018
Heather Hogan
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
To call Carol a Christmas miracle feels like a gaudy understatement, but that’s sort of exactly what it is.
February 27, 2017 | Rating: 4.5/5
Kristen Yoonsoo Kim
Complex
TOP CRITIC
The smile of recognition and understanding that closes things out is an unforgettable celebratory stunner that shook me right to my very core.
August 16, 2016 | Rating: 4/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
This is a slender movie that Haynes gives plenty of antique atmosphere.
August 16, 2016
Wesley Morris
Grantland
TOP CRITIC
A showcase for the towering talents of Blanchett and Mara, Carol is a sumptuous watch.
June 21, 2016
Udita Jhunjhunwala
Scroll.in
TOP CRITIC
A masterpiece of melancholy longing that manages to miraculously avoid being devastatingly tragic or dramatic.
June 30, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
Cody Dericks
Next Best Picture
Haynes, an experimental filmmaker whose dramatic work may seem straightforward yet is anything but, knows just how to fold his audience into a moment.
April 23, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Todd Haynes and Phyllis Nagy created a compelling, extraordinary tale about love and its meanders in life. The time passes, but Carol remains the most critical romantic story with a happy ending. For me, it will always mean a lot.
February 13, 2022 | Rating: A
Zofia Wijaszka
In Their Own League
Poised, elegant and desperately moving, it’s yet another tour de force turn from an actress who has clearly defined herself as the best of her generation.
September 29, 2021
Nikki Baughan
AWFJ Women on Film
Veering toward moments of heightened drama, Haynes shows measured restraint in maintaining the focus that essentially this is a story about love, rather than heading into cheaper plot devices.
September 2, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Ben Turner
The Pink Lens
A gorgeous, complicated and absolutely captivating film.
August 10, 2021 | Rating: A
Kip Mooney
Central Track…
Plot
In an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, CAROL follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Kyle Chandler) begins to question her competence as a mother as her involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) come to light.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises the “exceptional lead performances” of Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in Carol.
Todd-Haynes.jpg
85%
Our Brand Is Crisis (2005)
85%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Our Brand Is Crisis is a documentary that delves into the murky world of politics and public relations, exposing the disturbingly intertwined relationship between democracy and capitalism. While some critics found the film to be somewhat sloppy in its filmmaking craft, others praised it for its insightful and provocative nature. The movie manages to be both frightening and ironically funny, leaving viewers with a sense of unease about the role of American public-relations companies in foreign political campaigns. Overall, Our Brand Is Crisis is a must-see for anyone interested in politics, and a reminder of how easily idealism can run amok.
Our Brand is Crisis” is a documentary that explores the intersection of democracy and capitalism, and it’s both frightening and funny at times. While some critics found the filmmaking to be somewhat sloppy, others praised the film for its insightful and provocative look at the role of American public-relations companies in foreign political campaigns. Overall, it’s a riveting study of boneheaded intervention by James Carville consultants in Bolivian politics, and it’s definitely worth a watch for anyone interested in politics or mass communication. Plus, it’s almost as grotesque as Woody Allen’s “Bananas” – what’s not to love?
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Puerto Rico
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language including some sexual references
Year of Release
2015
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Datasat Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 19, 2006
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, politics, Bolivia, election, campaign, political strategy, James Carville, Greenberg Carville Shrum, media assault team, Washington D.C., La Paz, Rachel Boynton, produced by Rachel Boynton, executive produced by Steven Shainberg, Robbie Kravis, Sanders Goodstein, reviewed by Courtney Fitzgerald, John Monaghan, Jeff Shannon, Michael Wilmington, Ty Burr, Tim Cogshell, Emanuel Levy, Eric Monder, Louis Proyect, David Cornelius, Bill White, Phil Villarreal, directed by Rachel Boynton, starring James Carville, Gonzalo “Goni” Sanchez de Lozada, MPAA rating, box office performance, budget, democracy, capitalism, mass communication, foreign political campaigns, American public-relations companies, boneheaded intervention, Woody Allen, Bananas
Worldwide gross: $8,527,658
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,644,806
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,951
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,160,829
US/Canada gross: $7,002,261
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,740,701
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,657
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,238,433
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,042,433
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,128
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $34,951,514
Production budget ranking: 1,058
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,821,390
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$43,128,099
ROI to date (est.): -80%
ROI ranking: 1,884
Rachel Boynton – Producer
Steven Shainberg – Executive Producer
Robbie Kravis – Executive Producer
Sanders Goodstein – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Rachel Boynton
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (3)
This documentary by first-time director Boynton proves democracy and capitalism are disturbingly intertwined.
September 22, 2020
Courtney Fitzgerald
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The movie is both frightening and ironically funny, sometimes both.
November 24, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Subject matter dominates over filmmaking craft in Rachel Boynton’s somewhat sloppy but otherwise riveting documentary.
August 18, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Jeff Shannon
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Politics and mass communication are the volatile subjects of Rachel Boynton’s information-packed documentary.
July 27, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
It’s a galling and provocative experience to viewers of any political persuasion, and a reminder to the left of how easily idealism can run amok.
July 1, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Insightful if not altogether objective.
June 24, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine
TOP CRITIC
February 1, 2013 | Rating: B+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Our Brand Is Crisis is not just for political junkies and should be widely seen and discussed.
March 1, 2007
Eric Monder
Film Journal International
Absolutely riveting study of boneheaded intervention by James Carville consultants in Bolivian politics. Nearly as grotesque as Woody Allen’s “Bananas”.
October 4, 2006
Louis Proyect
rec.arts.movies.reviews
Crisis is angry and intrigued at the same time, and so are we.
September 20, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
David Cornelius
DVDTalk.com
Purporting to expose the role of American public-relations companies in foreign political campaigns, Our Brand Is Crisis is never more than a dull and confused film about Bolivia’s 2003 presidential election.
August 17, 2006 | Rating: C
Bill White
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
It’s tough not to root for them to succeed. That’s a testament to Boynton’s skill with the narrative.
July 27, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star…
Plot
In 2002, Bolivian politician Pedro Gallo hires American James Carville’s political consulting firm, Greenberg Carville Shrum, to help him win the 2002 Bolivian presidential election. GCS brings in Jane Bodine to manage the campaign in Bolivia. Battling her arch nemesis, the opposition’s political consultant Pat Candy.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film Our Brand Is Crisis.
Rachel-Boynton.jpg
85%
Cartel Land (2015)
85%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
19 wins & 38 nominations total
Raw, brutal, and bitter, Cartel Land offers a ground-level look at vigilante efforts to thwart organized crime at the Mexican-American border
Cartel Land is like a real-life action movie, but without the happy ending. It’s a raw and brutal look at the Mexican drug wars, and the people who are fighting against them. The documentary is not for the faint of heart, as it shows graphic images of cartel victims. However, the film’s limited scope left me wanting more. Overall, Cartel Land is an ambitious and urgent account of a crisis that seems impossible to escape.
Production Company(ies)
Stanley Donen Films,
Distributor
The Orchard
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
MPAA / Certificate
: Rated R for violent disturbing images, language, drug content and brief sexual material
Year of Release
2015
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 38m
-
Language(s):Spanish, English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 3, 2015 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 29, 2016
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, drug problem, Mexican-American border, vigilante efforts, organized crime, Matthew Heineman, directed by Matthew Heineman, Tom Yellin, produced by Tom Yellin, Kathryn Bigelow, Robert DeBitetto, Molly Thompson, executive producers, R rating, violence, drug content, brief sexual material, language, violent disturbing images, genre, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Ehrlich, Mark Kermode, Geoffrey Macnab, Tara Brady, Kevin Maher, Leslie Felperin, Michael J Casey, Christine Jun, Amie Simon, Joel Mayward, Thrillist Entertainment Staff, Dare Daniel, Enrique Peña Nieto, cast and crew, critic reviews, audience score, streaming, rent/buy, The Orchard, distributor, Neptune Frost, 18 1/2, H.P Lovecraft’s Witch House, Stay Prayed Up, 11th Hour Cleaning, Sh*t Saves the World, Final Caller, Girl in the Picture, Hello, Goodbye, Everything in Between, Confessions from the Hart, The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus, The Sea Beast, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, Incantation, The Road to Galena, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play
Worldwide gross: $1,145,923
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,430,419
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,507
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 155,989
US/Canada gross: $704,352
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $879,220
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,217
US/Canada opening weekend: $15,581
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $19,449
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,521
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
Matthew Heineman – director
David McKillop – executive producer
Kathryn Bigelow – executive producer
Robert DeBitetto – executive producer
Molly Thompson – executive producer
Director(s)
Matthew Heineman
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Tom Yellin, Matthew Heineman
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
19 wins & 38 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (101) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (91) | Rotten (10)
Heineman goes through the gates of Hell and comes back empty-handed.
September 10, 2015 | Rating: 2/5
David Ehrlich
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Horribly real, an urgent and alarming account of a crisis so hellishly labyrinthine it’s hard to see how anyone can escape its widening web of violence, extortion and corruption.
September 7, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Matthew Heineman’s documentary about the Mexican drug wars plays like a real-life version of some grim Sam Peckinpah Western in which violence and corruption have become endemic.
September 4, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The road to hell, as paved with best intentions, has never looked better.
September 4, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Thoroughly researched, occasionally engrossing, but ultimately frustrating.
September 3, 2015 | Rating: 2/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
There’s no doubting Heineman and his crew’s audacity as they venture close to the line of fire, but the commitment to observing dispassionately at all times starts to feel a bit like a cop-out.
September 3, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Leslie Felperin
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
There is the occasional tinge of bias in the way Heineman presents these people and their stories, but there isn’t a moment where he flinches, even in the face of a cartel firefight.
September 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema
Cartel Land vividly presents the gulf between fantasies of vigilante heroism, and how they often harrowingly — if not bitterly — play out in reality.
April 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Christine Jun
CineVue
It’s really hard to take your eyes off Cartel Land-even when you might need to (re: graphic images of cartel victims).
March 2, 2019
Amie Simon
Three Imaginary Girls
Raw, brutal, and ambitious, Cartel Land may be a real life story, but its limited scope in truly exploring the ideas it raised left me wanting more.
January 9, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/5
Joel Mayward
Cinemayward
The run-and-gun style and Heineman’s jaw-dropping access will keep your heart pounding through this examination of the current War on Drugs.
November 28, 2018
Thrillist Entertainment Staff
Thrillist
An almost unbelievably intimate piece of cinematic journalism
November 16, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Daniel Barnes
Dare Daniel…
Plot
A physician in Michoacán, Mexico leads a citizen uprising against the drug cartel that has wreaked havoc on the region for years. Across the U.S. border, a veteran heads a paramilitary group working to prevent Mexico’s drug wars from entering U.S. territory.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Cartel Land.
Matthew-Heineman.jpg
85%
The Diary Of A Teenage Girl (2015)
85%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: 16 wins & 37 nominations
Boldly unconventional and refreshingly honest, Diary of a Teenage Girl is a frank coming-of-age story that addresses its themes — and its protagonist — without judgment
The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and cringe all at the same time. It’s a refreshing take on adolescent sexuality from a female perspective, and the acting is top-notch. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie that’s both shocking and genuine? It’s definitely a must-watch for anyone who’s ever been a teenager (or is currently one). And let’s not forget about Kristen Wiig’s amazing performance as Minnie’s mother – she’s a total scene-stealer. Overall, this movie is bold, brassy, and brilliant – just like Minnie herself.
Production Company(ies)
Wildwood Enterprises Artemis Rising Foundation Foothill Productions,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
San Francisco, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking-all involving teens.
Year of Release
2015
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital Dolby Surround 7.1
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 2015 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 19, 2016
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Meloni, Abby Wait, Miranda Bailey, directed by Marielle Heller, written by Marielle Heller, Drama, R, Strong Sexual Content, Dialogue, All Involving Teens, Language, Drinking, Drug Use, Graphic Nudity, Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey, produced by Sony Pictures Classics, $1.5M, reviewed by Nell Minow, Andi Zeisler, Anisha Jhaveri, Max Weiss, Jason Bailey, Emily St James, directed by Marielle Heller, Phoebe Gloeckner, coming-of-age story, San Francisco, 1970s, sexual odyssey, mother’s current lover, female perspective, adolescent sexuality, frank, unconventional, refreshingly honest, protagonist, judgment, nudity, uncomfortable, animations, unique character, school slut, dark/sexual future, abrupt ending, uncomfortable to watch, interesting visuals, great cast, solid filmmaking
Worldwide gross: $1,775,133
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,215,842
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,388
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 241,640
US/Canada gross: $1,477,002
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,843,695
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,053
US/Canada opening weekend: $52,334
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $65,327
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,107
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,496,537
Production budget ranking: 2,008
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,344,385
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$1,625,079
ROI to date (est.): -42%
ROI ranking: 1,635
Alexander Skarsgård – Monroe
Kristen Wiig – Charlotte
Christopher Meloni – Pascal
Abby Wait – Gretel
Miranda Bailey – Andrea
Director(s)
Marielle Heller
Writer(s)
Marielle Heller
Producer(s)
Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey
Film Festivals
Sundance, Berlin
Awards & Nominations
16 wins & 37 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (172) | Top Critics (55) | Fresh (163) | Rotten (9)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a rare frank look at adolescent sexuality from a female perspective. Beautifully acted by all.
October 4, 2021
Nell Minow
AWFJ Women on Film
TOP CRITIC
With female sexuality onscreen, especially young women’s, we’re often presented with a binary: Is it exploitative or empowering? Damaging or liberating? Depressing or joyful? The Diary of a Teenage Girl asks why it can’t be all of these things and more.
February 3, 2021
Andi Zeisler
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
Shocking but genuine, poignant and hilarious, Diary of a Teenage Girl could well become one of the more memorable entries in the Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. competition.
October 28, 2017 | Rating: A-
Anisha Jhaveri
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
You’ll be happy to meet the strong, smart — and yes — unapologetically horny teenage Minnie and, for two hours, be immersed in her world.
June 12, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
Max Weiss
Baltimore Magazine
TOP CRITIC
She’s not defined by her damage, nor her sexuality. That quality is what makes the picture revolutionary; the insight and wit of of the writing and direction and the bracing humanity of the playing are what make it great.
May 27, 2016
Jason Bailey
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
The film is quietly radical not because it dares to rattle cages so much but because it doesn’t. This is a story of huge emotions and big moments, told via intimate gestures and tiny power shifts. It’s a gem.
December 17, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Emily St. James
Vox
TOP CRITIC
Bless every independent fiber of it being true to its own vigorous heartbeat.
January 10, 2022
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
Heller’s screenplay and direction also keep Minnie firmly at the centre of this narrative, her drawings and doodlings playing a key role in the telling of her story. Bold, brassy and brilliant…
October 4, 2021
Nikki Baughan
AWFJ Women on Film
Told from a teenage girl’s unfiltered point of view, this is not an easy-to-watch movie, but the uncomfortable moments raise important and highly relevant questions.
October 4, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film
Frank, pure and beautiful, The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a candid ode to growing up.
June 25, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Yasmin Omar
Harper’s Bazaar
Powley is razor-sharp as Minnie and Kristen Wiig is delightfully cast-against-type as her mother.
June 24, 2021
George Fenwick
Stuff.co.nz
The Diary of a Teenage Girl does one of the things that movies, and art in general, do only when they’re at their best. It makes us see the world entirely from another person’s point of view.
January 14, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension…
Plot
In 1970s San Francisco, a 15-year-old girl embarks on a sexual journey with her mother’s boyfriend, exploring her own desires and identity in The Diary of a Teenage Girl.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Bel Powley delivers a great performance as the lead character, Minnie.
Marielle-Heller.jpg
85%
Slow West (2015)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 20 nominations
Slow West serves as an impressive calling card for first-time writer-director John M. Maclean — and offers an inventive treat for fans of the Western
Slow West is like a cowboy who’s in no rush to get to the rodeo. It takes its time, but boy is it worth the wait. The film is a fresh take on the classic western genre, with a weirdly lyrical portrait of frontier life that balances on the knife edge between western and musical. The performances are indelible, with Michael Fassbender leading the charge. And let’s not forget the gorgeous, nihilistic, and brutally sad shootout that crescendos into a bravura finale. It’s a work of rare purity, directness, and concision that will leave you feeling like you just rode off into the sunset.
Production Company(ies)
Dreamworks Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Amblin Entertainment,
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Twizel, Canterbury, New Zealand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence and brief language
Year of Release
2015
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 31m
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 15, 2015 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 7, 2015
Genre(s)
Western
Keyword(s)
Slow West, Michael Fassbender, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ben Mendelsohn, Caren Pistorius, Rory McCann, Western, John M Maclean, Rachel Gardner, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Conor McCaughan, written by John Maclean, box office, budget, reviewed by David Sims, Mark Kermode, Geoffrey Macnab, David Sexton, Donald Clarke, Wendy Ide, Brian Eggert, Nick Levine, Leigh Paatsch, Debbie Lynn Elias, Nathanael Hood, MPAA rating R, A24, Colorado, bounty hunter, bodyguard, guide, 1800s, violence, brief language, English, limited release, streaming, gross USA, distributor
Worldwide gross: $1,295,574
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,617,224
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,473
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 176,360
US/Canada gross: $229,094
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $285,971
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,472
US/Canada opening weekend: $67,003
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $83,638
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,010
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,496,537
Production budget ranking: 2,008
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,344,385
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$2,223,698
ROI to date (est.): -58%
ROI ranking: 1,732
Kodi Smit-McPhee – Jay Cavendish
Ben Mendelsohn – Payne
Caren Pistorius – Rose Ross
Rory McCann – John Ross
Andrew Robertt – Werner
Rachel Gardner – Producer
Iain Canning – Producer
Emile Sherman – Producer
Conor McCaughan – Producer
John Maclean – Writer/Director
Director(s)
John Maclean
Writer(s)
John Maclean
Producer(s)
Rachel Gardner, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Conor McCaughan
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 20 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (136) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (125) | Rotten (11)
Slow West crescendos into a bravura shootout between all the involved parties, and it’s as gorgeous, nihilistic, and brutally sad as the rest of the film.
October 14, 2015
David Sims
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
With its weirdly lyrical portrait of frontier life, this blackly comic oddity balances on the generic knife edge between the western and the musical.
June 28, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
As the title suggests, Maclean is in no hurry. Even at the most climactic moments, he always looks for an offbeat perspective.
June 26, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s a work of rare purity, directness and concision – a pity that it’s lumbered with that slightly deceptive, off-putting title. Slow it’s not.
June 26, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
David Sexton
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Slow West is not much like any other western. It’s not a great deal like any other film.
June 26, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
The western may be about as relevant to American society as the ability to lasso a rampaging steer, but the genre refuses to die. Instead it evolves, taking on new meanings with each new incarnation.
June 25, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Maclean isn’t interested in realizing a Fordian romanticism of the American West; rather, he considers his characters, like Anthony Mann did, as internally conflicted emotional beings who are reflected by their surrounding landscape.
June 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Michael Fassbender stars in a fresh and distinctive take on the classic western.
June 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Nick Levine
NME
A casual weirdness. A wisened grasp of when to embrace or reject a cliche. A quartet of ripping performances. These are the calling cards of this odd, funny and compelling western.
July 30, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
A meticulously crafted story with indelible performances from the likes of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ben Mendelsohn and Caren Pistorius…one is transported back in time, immersed in cinematic beauty and scope, and loving every second of it.
December 8, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
It’s so obsessed with being a well-constructed, socially conscious film that it forgets to be a good one.
December 28, 2018 | Rating: 6/10
Nathanael Hood
Screen Comment
It shows the rewards of taking the road less traveled, relishing the telling of the tale as much as the tale itself.
November 15, 2018
Stephen Saito
Moveable Fest…
Plot
Slow West’ follows a 16-year-old boy on a journey across 19th Century frontier America in search of the woman he loves, while accompanied by mysterious traveler Silas.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Michael Fassbender gives an impressive performance in Slow West.
John-Maclean.jpg
85%
The Babadook (2014)
85%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: 56 wins & 64 nominations
The Babadook relies on real horror rather than cheap jump scares — and boasts a heartfelt, genuinely moving story to boot
The Babadook is a horror movie that will make you want to sleep with the lights on. It’s a story about a single mother and her son who are haunted by a monster from a children’s book. The movie is a perfect blend of horror and drama, and it’s not just about the scares. The Babadook is a movie that will make you think about the struggles of being a single parent and the impact it has on the child. The performances are top-notch, and the direction is brilliant. If you’re a horror fan, you don’t want to miss this one. Just make sure you have a nightlight handy.
Production Company(ies)
Mass Distraction Media, Radical Media, Vulcan Productions,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 33m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:Canada, Australia
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 28, 2014 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 14, 2015
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, Cathy Adamek, directed by Jennifer Kent, written by Jennifer Kent, horror, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Candice Frederick, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Noel Murray, Sara Michelle Fetters, Antonia Quirke, Alison Willmore, David Reddish, Dann Gire, Rob Aldam, Jason Adams, Dan Brightmore, Tom Meek, MPAA rating, producer Kristina Ceyton, Kristian Moliere, single parent, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, children’s book, monster, Australian, Dolby Digital, Essie Davis as Amelia, Daniel Henshall as Robbie, Noah Wiseman as Samuel, Hayley McElhinney as Claire, Barbara West as Mrs Roach, Cathy Adamek as Prue
Worldwide gross: $10,507,563
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,131,798
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,877
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,432,039
US/Canada gross: $964,413
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,205,272
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,144
US/Canada opening weekend: $30,007
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $37,501
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,291
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,499,494
Production budget ranking: 2,007
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,345,978
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,286,325
ROI to date (est.): 241%
ROI ranking: 546
Daniel Henshall – Robbie
Noah Wiseman – Samuel
Hayley McElhinney – Claire
Barbara West – Mrs. Roach
Cathy Adamek – Prue
Jennifer Kent – Director/Writer
Kristina Ceyton – Producer
Kristian Moliere – Producer
Director(s)
Jennifer Kent
Writer(s)
Jennifer Kent
Producer(s)
Kristina Ceyton, Kristian Moliere
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
56 wins & 64 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (243) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (238) | Rotten (5)
Nestled deep within this teeny Australian thriller packs a simple yet profound message about what it often feels like to be a single parent, and even what it feels like to be the child of that parent.
September 1, 2017 | Rating: B+
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
The Babadook’s villains and victims are still running amok in my brain. I think they might be there for some time.
October 5, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
What’s most terrifying about The Babadook is that Kent grounds a bizarre supernatural premise in very real feelings of anxiety and depression.
October 5, 2016
Noel Murray
Nashville Scene
TOP CRITIC
Davis gives one of the best performances you will see this, or in any other, year.
October 5, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
The style of the film is not teasing exactly — it’s too sad and lonely — but there is certainly a hair-pulling mixture of glum laughter and vast apprehension. Is the demon real? Does it matter?
October 5, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Antonia Quirke
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A deftly inventive and psychologically charged horror story that trades on the ways in which the prospect of maternal failure can be just as fearsome a boogeyman as any monster under the bed.
October 5, 2016
Alison Willmore
BuzzFeed News
TOP CRITIC
Watch the film as an ironic coming-out story, or as an atmospheric creeper playing with themes of depression and mental illness. Either way, we have a feeling well be seeing The Babadook at Halloween partiesand pride celebrationsfor years to come.
March 20, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
David Reddish
Queerty
A supremely original concept starring the Mr. Hyde version of a Dr. Seuss character.
November 2, 2021
Dann Gire
Chicago Daily Herald
Captures the twin pressures of loss and single parenting, kneading them into a hauntingly tense and anxiety-inducing horror.
July 23, 2021
Rob Aldam
Backseat Mafia
From early on there’s something gorgeously wrong in its rhythms – a nasty arrhythmic pulse like a hiccup inside our chest or a bubble of air in our bloodstream, weaving towards our heart. It squeezes and it squeezes and oh, what a marvelous rush.
July 2, 2021
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
A haunting Aussie chiller destined to become a horror classic
May 26, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Dan Brightmore
NME
Jennifer Kent is maestro of moody ambiance and emotional turmoil…
November 10, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day…
Plot
Amelia, who lost her husband in a car crash on the way to give birth to Samuel, their only child, struggles to cope with her fate as a single mom. Samuel’s constant fear of monsters and violent reaction to overcome the fear doesn’t help her cause either, which makes her friends become distant. When things can not get any worse, they read a strange book in their house about the ‘Babadook’ monster that hides in the dark areas of their house. Even Amelia seems to feel the effect of Babadook and desperately tries in vain to destroy the book. The nightmarish experiences the two encounter form the rest of the story.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
Jennifer-Kent.jpg
85%
To Be Takei (2014)
85%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
To Be Takei rests almost entirely on its subject’s inherent likability — and, for the most part, that’s more than enough
To Be Takei is a documentary that celebrates the life of George Takei, the man behind the iconic character of Sulu in Star Trek. The film is a mix of humor and heart, showcasing Takei’s resilience and infectious personality. While some critics found the film to be a bit too straightforward, it’s hard not to be charmed by Takei’s stories and his unique perspective on life. Overall, To Be Takei is a fun and uplifting tribute to a man who has made a lasting impact on popular culture.
Production Company(ies)
Svensk Filmindustri
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 13, 2014 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 7, 2014
Genre(s)
Documentary/Lgbtq+
Keyword(s)
documentary, LGBTQ+, George Takei, Brad Takei, Jennifer Kroot, Bill Weber, Gerry Kim, Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Tina Kroot, written by Jennifer Kroot, produced by Gerry Kim, Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Jennifer Kroot, Tina Kroot, directed by Jennifer Kroot, Bill Weber, box office gross $51.5K, Tomatometer 90%, audience score 75%, actor-activist, Star Trek, internment camps, gay marriage, Asian American actor, fan conventions, social media sensation, Broadway show, Allegiance, William Shatner, childhood, relationship, humor, candidness, dignity, found footage, kooky, heart, poignancy, childish score
Worldwide gross: $52,823
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $66,015
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,066
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 7,199
US/Canada gross: $52,823
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $66,015
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,721
US/Canada opening weekend: $22,846
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $28,552
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,382
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
Bill Weber – Director
Jennifer Kroot – Writer
Gerry Kim – Producer
Mayuran Tiruchelvam – Producer
Jennifer Kroot – Producer
Director(s)
Jennifer Kroot, Bill Weber
Writer(s)
Jennifer Kroot
Producer(s)
Gerry Kim, Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Jennifer Kroot, Tina Kroot
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (5)
Director Jennifer M. Kroot delivers something that is as profound as it is funny and uplifting.
September 5, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kristy Puchko
CinemaBlend
TOP CRITIC
With his trademark baritone and focused diction, Takei is a natural storyteller who lends an enjoyable flow to the movie’s uncomplicated proceedings.
September 3, 2014 | Rating: B-
Eric Kohn
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
To Be Takei is a celebration of a man of great resilience, infectious humor, a voracious appetite for the richness of the human experience, and the best laugh in the history of laughing.
September 3, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
While there’s pathos and tragedy here, there’s also good humor and human strength.
August 28, 2014 | Rating: 7.4/10
James Rocchi
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
This is a film blessed with excellent footage and plenty of nice moments.
August 28, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
David Lewis
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Another pleasant if disposable portrait.
August 28, 2014
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A hilarious, agreeable, ultimately very intimate look into the actor’s life.
July 7, 2020 | Rating: B+
Brent McKnight
The Last Thing I See
While To Be Takei educates and entertains, much of the 90-minute runtime seems like filler.
July 18, 2019 | Rating: 2.75/5
Josh Goller
Spectrum Culture
To Be Takei is as natural as Takei is in front of the camera and during public speeches. It’s vibrant, interesting, and enjoyable.
August 14, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5
Mae Abdulbaki
Punch Drunk Critics
Celebrates Takei but blithely neglects to probe for any complexity in a man who has surely suffered much.
July 14, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Can be more of a platform than a chronicle; its look at homophobia and gay marriage is a bit earnest and over-explained. Still, Takei provides a sharp lens through which to see ethnic and sexual minorities’ progress in America’s post-’50s popular culture.
May 25, 2015
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)
Before watching this film I thought of Takei as being just another celebrity, but this film makes it clear that Takei is a guy who has done something with his life. He has made his life count for something. He’s a fascinating character.
April 4, 2015 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope…
Plot
From outer space to Capitol Hill, from the silver screen to YouTube, the legendary George Takei has blazed his own trail while conquering new frontiers with a beaming trademark grin. Oh, my! To Be Takei is a look at the many roles played by eclectic 77-year-old actor/activist George Takei. His wit, humor and grace have helped him to become an internationally beloved figure and Internet phenomenon with 7-million Facebook fans and counting. The film offers unprecedented access to the daily life of George and his husband/business partner Brad and chronicles George’s fascinating personal journey from Japanese American internment camp to his iconic and groundbreaking role as Sulu on “Star Trek,” and his rise as an pop culture icon.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
To Be Takei features actor-activist George Takei, known for his role in the original Star Trek series, and his husband Brad.
Jennifer-Kroot.jpg
85%
The Drop (2014)
85%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 5 nominations
There’s no shortage of similarly themed crime dramas, but The Drop rises above the pack with a smartly written script and strong cast
The Drop” is like a dog that’s almost learned a new trick but keeps getting distracted by its own tail. It’s not quite brilliant, but it’s still a good boy. Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini are the real stars here, carrying the film through its plot idiosyncrasies and lived-in squalor. It’s a smart, funny thriller that could have been so much better, but hey, at least the dogs are cute.
Production Company(ies)
Excelsa Film
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
1216 Fulton St, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some strong violence and pervasive language.
Year of Release
2014
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SDDS Dolby Atmos Datasat Dolby Surround 7.1
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 47m
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Language(s):English, Russian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2014 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 20, 2015
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz, Ann Dowd, directed by Michaël R Roskam, written by Dennis Lehane, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Jason Bailey, Antonia Quirke, David Edelstein, Jim Slotek, Paul MacInnes, Alissa Wilkinson, Kip Mooney, Richard Crouse, Jordan M Smith, David Lamble, Chris McCoy, produced by Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, R-rated, Brooklyn, bar, mobsters, puppy, robbery, abusive ex, crime drama, slow burn, gritty, gangsters, character actors, blue collar, underbelly of crime, relationships, dog rearing, suspense, intricate plot, twist, top horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, renewed and cancelled TV shows, 2022’s most anticipated movies and TV & streaming
Worldwide gross: $18,658,381
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $23,318,260
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,658
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,542,885
US/Canada gross: $10,724,389
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,402,775
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,531
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,104,552
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,129,652
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,098
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,600,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $15,746,815
Production budget ranking: 1,494
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,479,660
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$908,215
ROI to date (est.): -4%
ROI ranking: 1,416
Noomi Rapace – Nadia
James Gandolfini – Cousin Marv
Matthias Schoenaerts – Eric Deeds
John Ortiz – Det. Ortiz
Ann Dowd – Dottie
Director(s)
Michaël R. Roskam
Writer(s)
Dennis Lehane
Producer(s)
Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (202) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (179) | Rotten (23)
‘The Drop’ reminds us of what Gandolfini always did well: providing support, heft, and color, in the tradition of our finest character actors.
June 18, 2016
Jason Bailey
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
The film is just three degrees off being brilliant yet is always creepingly moving, and I loved its lived-in squalor.
January 5, 2015
Antonia Quirke
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
As a vehicle for those two actors, The Drop is gangbusters.
January 5, 2015
David Edelstein
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
It’s a classic case of a little becoming a lot onscreen on the basis of a single impressive performance.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jim Slotek
Toronto Sun
TOP CRITIC
Lehane, the hardboiled master, has almost gone soft here.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Paul MacInnes
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
I have the distinct impression the film could have slid off into the territory of the hokey, or at least forgettable. Thankfully, Hardy and Gandolfini have it under control.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
Alissa Wilkinson
Christianity Today
TOP CRITIC
There’s nothing terrible about The Drop, but every scene reveals how it could have been so much better.
August 10, 2021
Kip Mooney
Screen Invasion
A slickly made look at the underbelly of crime, relationships and dog rearing. Nice performances make up for some plot idiosyncrasies and a story that doesn’t so much comment on the condition of its characters as it does reveal it.
February 1, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
A respectable attempt at roping cheap canine melodrama within a tightly wound yarn of underground corruption and long buried familiar dirty laundry.
October 29, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/5
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
A smart if funny thriller…
June 18, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Director Michael R. Roskam and writer Dennis Lehane are clearly going for a slow burn, but they turned in a no-burn.
January 8, 2020
Chris McCoy
Memphis Flyer
Overall, The Drop may not seem special but its strong cast, well-crafted direction and strong script makes it stand out from other recent gangster films.
November 20, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Katie Smith-Wong
Flick Feast…
Plot
Bob Saginowski tends bar in his cousin’s pub and looks the other way when local mobsters use the joint as a temporary bank. His simple life takes a complicated turn when he finds a battered puppy and a robbery at the bar forces him to face the truth about those he thinks he knows best — including himself.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
James Gandolfini is excellent in the kind of part he used to do so very well.
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