The Sapphires (2013)
85%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 27 wins & 26 nominations
While it’s plenty predictable and sentimental, The Sapphires also has an irresistible feel-good vibe, winning music and charming performances to spare
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel good and tap your toes, then The Sapphires is the perfect pick. Sure, it’s a bit formulaic and has some plot holes you could drive a tank through, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? The music is infectious, the characters are lovable, and Chris O’Dowd is hilarious as always. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and let The Sapphires take you on a soulful journey.
Production Company(ies)
Stanley Kubrick Productions,
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sexuality, a scene of war violence, some language, thematic elements and smoking
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):English, Aboriginal
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 22, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 6, 2013
Genre(s)
Comedy/Musical
Keyword(s)
starring Chris O’Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell, Tory Kittles, directed by Wayne Blair, written by Keith Thompson, Tony Briggs, Comedy, Musical, PG-13, Rosemary Blight, Kylie de Fresne, Weinstein Co., box office gross $2.4M, reviewed by Francesca Steele, Joe Neumaier, Marjorie Baumgarten, Lisa Kennedy, Michael Posner, Jeff Shannon, PG-13 rating, music promoter, girl group, Australian singers, Vietnam, American troops, Aboriginal, racism, civil rights struggle, soul music, period music, feel-good vibe, uplifting, charm, performances, Motown
Worldwide gross: $20,423,628
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,330,640
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,600
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,871,389
US/Canada gross: $2,450,867
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,159,718
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,930
US/Canada opening weekend: $38,372
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $49,470
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,212
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $12,892,244
Production budget ranking: 1,566
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,942,474
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,495,922
ROI to date (est.): 33%
ROI ranking: 1,232
Deborah Mailman – Gail
Jessica Mauboy – Julie
Shari Sebbens – Kay
Miranda Tapsell – Cynthia
Tory Kittles – Robby
Director(s)
Wayne Blair
Writer(s)
Keith Thompson, Tony Briggs
Producer(s)
Rosemary Blight, Kylie de Fresne
Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
27 wins & 26 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (139) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (127) | Rotten (12)
This feelgood flick will almost certainly be an international hit and it is undeniably uplifting, the joyousness of soul music smoothing out the odd shifts in tone that arise as a result of the strange genre conflict.
August 11, 2017
Francesca Steele
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This charming Australian import has a groove much like other low-key, let’s-put-on-a-show indies such as Hear My Song and The Commitments, and never uses its social conscience as simply backbeat.
January 1, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Joe Neumaier
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
Exuberant but fairly formulaic.
April 12, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The harmonies they strike in this reality-inspired charmer are sweetly sublime.
April 5, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
You could drive an Abrams tank through the film’s plot holes, but you’ll likely be too busy enjoying yourself to bother.
April 5, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Posner
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
“The Sapphires” feels like a movie you’ve already seen, but it’s nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable, like a pop song that’s no less infectious when you know every word.
April 4, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Jeff Shannon
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Its got a great beat, and you can dance to it, so Ill give “The Sapphires” four out of four stars.
February 6, 2022
Joe Leydon
The Moving Picture Show
A mix of drama and dance, triumph and tragedy, it will take a hard-of-heart audience member not to be swept up by the story.
December 7, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
…it is rare to come across a movie with such sweetness, a movie in which one roots wholeheartedly for the characters and wishes them only the best.
August 13, 2020
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Slightly lacklustre in drama but sassy and lighthearted, The Sapphires is an enjoyable film and is a pretty good platform to show the power of Motown.
November 25, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Katie Smith-Wong
Flick Feast
The Sapphires is a genuinely feel-good film that has grit as well as laughter, and some great music which packs enough emotional power to make the tears flow – in a good way.
August 27, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Alexa Dalby
Dog and Wolf
The Sapphires possesses all the necessary razzle-dazzle, shimmering sequin dresses and O’Dowd comic riffs to prove popular with audiences.
August 23, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Joseph Walsh
CineVue…
Plot
1968 was the year that changed the world. And for four young Aboriginal sisters from a remote mission this is the year that would change their lives forever. Around the globe, there was protest and revolution in the streets. Indigenous Australians finally secured the right to vote. There were drugs and the shock of a brutal assassination. And there was Vietnam. The sisters, Cynthia, Gail, Julie and Kay are discovered by Dave, a talent scout with a kind heart, very little rhythm but a great knowledge of soul music. Billed as Australia’s answer to ‘The Supremes’, Dave secures the sisters their first true gig, and flies them to Vietnam to sing for the American troops. Based on a true story, THE SAPPHIRES is a triumphant celebration of youthful emotion, family and music.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Chris O’Dowd plays the would-be music promoter who takes the girl group to Vietnam in The Sapphires.
Wayne-Blair.jpg
85%
Koch (2013)
85%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Koch allows its subject’s sheer force of personality to dominate the picture — but when that personality is this delightful, that’s easy to forgive
Koch” is like a rollercoaster ride through the life of a man who was both loved and hated by the people of New York City. The documentary does a great job of showing the many sides of Ed Koch, from his combative nature to his love for the city he governed. It’s a fascinating look at a complicated man who left a lasting impact on the city he called home. Whether you loved him or hated him, “Koch” is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of New York City politics. Plus, who doesn’t love a good political documentary?
Production Company(ies)
Macrocosm Entertainment, Citizen Skull Productions, Bond It Media Capital
Distributor
Zeitgeist
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2013
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 38m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 1, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2013
Genre(s)
Documentary/Biography
Keyword(s)
documentary, biography, Ed Koch, Neil Barsky, Jenny Carchman, Lindsey Megrue, Mark De Gli Antoni, Tom Hurwitz, Juliet Weber, New York City, mayor, politics, personality, box office, gross USA, Zeitgeist, rated, reviewed, produced by, directed by, written by, critic reviews, audience score, runtime, distributor, English, limited release, streaming, rent/buy, documentary film, former mayor, AIDS crisis, conservative, liberal, Jewish, acting appearances, interview subjects, Jimmy Breslin, Al Sharpton, tabloids, controversies, contradictions, New York story, city governance, city services, suburbanites, tourists, Greenwich Village, Washington Post, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe, Chicago Reader, Oregonian, EntertainmentTell, Michael O’Sullivan, Ronnie Scheib, THR Staff, Steven Rea, Mark Feeney, J R Jones, Mattie Lucas, Kevin Jagernauth, Frank Swietek, Rob Thomas, Jamie S Rich
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
Jenny Carchman – Producer
Lindsey Megrue – Producer
Mark De Gli Antoni – Original Music
Tom Hurwitz – Cinematographer
Juliet Weber – Film Editing
Director(s)
Neil Barsky
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (4)
Like the city, Koch comes across here as brash, contradictory, almost endlessly fascinating and a bit sad.
November 3, 2020
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Barsky wisely includes just enough dissenting voices and admissions of grievous error by Koch himself to prevent the pic from seeming like a 100% feel-good puff piece.
November 3, 2020
Ronnie Scheib
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Koch offers as comprehensive a picture as it can in 94 minutes of a man whose tenure merits a miniseries.
November 3, 2020
THR Staff
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
He was certainly combative, and confident, and full of love for the city he governed with such gusto. Koch is a New York story for the whole world to appreciate.
April 26, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
What he really was was one of a kind. Whether intentionally or not, “Koch” shows that that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
April 11, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Mark Feeney
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
An emphasis on Koch the character obscures his administration.
March 14, 2013
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It isn’t really any more illuminating beyond the history we already know, but it humanizes the man in a way rarely seen in the national media.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Both as a portrait of a changing New York City and the man who was at the epicentre of that evolution for over a decade, Koch is a delight.
August 28, 2013 | Rating: B
Kevin Jagernauth
The Playlist
An engaging if incomplete portrait of an unconventional politician.
May 17, 2013 | Rating: B
Frank Swietek
One Guy’s Opinion
Forget “A Tale of Two Cities:” – the documentary “Koch” is a tale of two mayors. At LEAST two.
May 9, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
The film neither glorifies nor vilifies. Instead, it treats triumphs and controversies with equal balance.
May 8, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jamie S. Rich
Oregonian
A fascinating, multi-faceted look at a very complicated man, a quintessential New Yorker who was both an uncommonly skilled politician and, at times, a tremendous jerk.
May 2, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Stephen Silver
EntertainmentTell…
Plot
Koch is a documentary about the life of former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, showcasing his forceful personality and his impact on the city during his tenure.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Koch on Fresh Kernels.
Neil-Barsky.jpg
85%
Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2013)
85%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win
Filled with breathtaking images of the foreboding Siberian countryside, Happy People: A Year in the Taiga is a fascinating look at an isolated society
Happy People: A Year in the Taiga” is a documentary that follows the lives of Siberian fur trappers. Critics seem to be divided on whether or not the film is interesting, but one thing is for sure – it’s a minor addition to Werner Herzog’s canon. However, if you’re interested in seeing how people can still live off the land and co-exist with nature, this film is for you. Plus, who doesn’t love a good dose of Herzog’s golden touch? Just don’t expect any catastrophic tragedies or a clear story arc. It’s more about the raw view of lives spurning modern comforts with a vengeance. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the lyrical and poetic winter landscape of Siberia.
Production Company(ies)
First Thought Films,
Distributor
Music Box Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Bakhta Village, Siberia, Russia
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 34m
-
Language(s):English, Russian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 23, 2013
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Happy People: A Year in the Taiga, Siberian Taiga, indigenous people, river Yenisei, isolated society, breathtaking images, foreboding Siberian countryside, harsh nature, pure heart, snowbound Siberian fur trappers, remote Siberian Taiga, boat or helicopter, simplicity, assuredness, profound insight, stunning visuals, surreal, foreign, engaging, narration, dialogues, astonishing shots, human stories, pure human, living off the land, trappers, boat makers, fishermen, hunters, WWII hero, free, no law, no telephones, no computers, different way of life, grand pretentiousness, underlying human themes, slow, uneventful business, peek into a different way of life directed by Dmitry Vasyukov, written by Rudolph Herzog and Werner Herzog, executive produced by Klaus Badelt, Timur Bekmambetov, Werner Herzog, starring indigenous people of Siberian Taiga Reviewed by Tom Long, Joe Williams, Marjorie Baumgarten, Barbara VanDenburgh, Sam Adams, Brian Tallerico, David Harris, Mattie Lucas, Bernard Boo, Kelly Jane Torrance, Brandon Judell, Rob Thomas Box Office (Gross USA): $337.5K, MPAA rating: NR, produced by Music Box Films
Worldwide gross: $338,987
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $437,030
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,768
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 47,659
US/Canada gross: $338,987
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $437,030
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,359
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,481
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $13,512
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,629
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
Rudolph Herzog – Screenwriter
Werner Herzog – Screenwriter, Executive Producer
Klaus Badelt – Executive Producer
Timur Bekmambetov – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Dmitry Vasyukov
Writer(s)
Rudolph Herzog, Werner Herzog
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Tribeca, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
1 win
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (6)
“Happy People” seems to strain toward the notion that harsh nature makes for a pure heart. And perhaps it does for some. But all?
March 15, 2013 | Rating: C
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Titling a documentary about snowbound Siberian fur trappers “Happy People” is not as ironic as it seems.
March 7, 2013
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
It’s not that Happy People is uninteresting… It’s just that the one sensibility of which we were previously aware — that of Herzog’s — is indiscernible, as if frozen beneath all this movie’s ice.
February 28, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Herzog’s longing for the ideological purity in which these lives are lived, free of paperwork and bureaucracy, taxes and technology, drives the film, which lacks an overall story arc.
February 28, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Barbara VanDenburgh
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Unmistakably part of the director’s canon, and just as unmistakably a minor addition to it.
February 23, 2013 | Rating: B-
Sam Adams
Philadelphia City Paper
TOP CRITIC
It’s a minor film from a major director but it’s still a strong one for those interested in its subject matter – how people can still co-exist with and live off the land instead of ignoring or abusing it.
February 22, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/5.0
Brian Tallerico
HollywoodChicago.com
TOP CRITIC
Although Happy People feels cobbled together, Herzog and Vasyukov do provide us with some pretty astounding images.
November 19, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Puts things in perspective, offering a welcome respite from a world of hustle and bustle that has become all too superficial.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Herzog lends the golden touch that is his voice to the film, making the grueling, harsh winter landscape lyrical and poetic.
April 12, 2019 | Rating: 8.7/10
Bernard Boo
Way Too Indie
Every documentary could use the Werner Herzog touch.
December 14, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner
Cut down from a four-hour documentary by Vasyukov, the result is a film lacking in catastrophic tragedies of any sort that holds you nonetheless with its raw view of lives spurning quotidian modern comforts with a vengeance.
March 23, 2013
Brandon Judell
CultureCatch
In a very real sense, we are watching Herzog watch this film, his rapturous reaction illuminating as much about himself as his subjects.
March 7, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)…
Plot
Happy People: A Year in the Taiga is a documentary about the indigenous people living in a village on the river Yenisei in Siberia, showcasing their way of life and how they coexist with and live off the land.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no specific tidbit about someone in the cast mentioned in the Fresh Kernels description of Happy People: A Year in the Taiga.
Dmitry-Vasyukov.jpg
85%
Life of Pi (2012)
85%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Won 4 Oscars
81 wins & 135 nominations total
A 3D adaptation of a supposedly “unfilmable” book, Ang Lee’s Life of Pi achieves the near impossible — it’s an astonishing technical achievement that’s also emotionally rewarding
Life of Pi is a movie that will make you believe that a boy and a tiger can survive on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean for 277 days. Ang Lee’s direction is nothing short of magical, and the special effects are mind-blowing. Sure, there are moments when you’ll be waiting for something to happen, but when it does, it’s worth the wait. And let’s not forget about Suraj Sharma’s performance as Pi, which is both charming and desperate. Overall, Life of Pi is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good survival story, or just wants to see a boy and a tiger become unlikely friends.
Production Company(ies)
Miramax, A Band Apart Jersey Films,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences and peril
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DolbyDatasat SDDS Dolby Atmos Dolby Surround 7.1 Sonics-DDP
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 5m
-
Language(s):English, Hindi, Japanese, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 2012 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 12, 2013
Genre(s)
Adventure/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Rafe Spall, Gérard Depardieu, Adil Hussain, directed by Ang Lee, written by David Magee, adventure, drama, PG rating, box office gross $125.0M, reviewed by Shubhra Gupta, Deborah Ross, Nick Pinkerton, David Thomson, Marjorie Baumgarten, David Sexton, David Walsh, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Brent McKnight, Yasser Medina, CGI, 3D, emotional, survival, shipwreck, tiger, India, Canada, family, tragedy, animals, ocean, trust, technical achievement, visually stunning, Ang Lee’s masterpiece, based on a supposedly “unfilmable” book, Gil Netter, Ang Lee, David Womark produced, English language, 20th Century Fox distributed, SDDS, Dolby, Datasat sound mix
Worldwide gross: $609,016,565
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $785,159,032
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 151
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 85,622,577
US/Canada gross: $124,987,023
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $161,136,323
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 483
US/Canada opening weekend: $22,451,514
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $28,945,040
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 480
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $120,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $154,706,931
Production budget ranking: 210
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $83,309,682
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $547,142,418
ROI to date (est.): 230%
ROI ranking: 573
Irrfan Khan – Adult Pi Patel
Tabu – Gita Patel
Rafe Spall – Writer
Gérard Depardieu – Cook
Adil Hussain – Santosh Patel
Director(s)
Ang Lee
Writer(s)
David Magee
Producer(s)
Gil Netter, Ang Lee, David Womark
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 4 Oscars
81 wins & 135 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Cinematography Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Directing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Visual Effects Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Original Score Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (253) | Top Critics (73) | Fresh (218) | Rotten (35)
A boy, and a tiger, and a vast, endless ocean. Ang Lee makes a film out of material that seems almost unfilmable, and a lot of it is quite wondrous.
March 22, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
While you are bathing in all the beauty, you are waiting and waiting and waiting for this film to say something, yet when it finally does… it all just feels empty somehow.
September 4, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Lee shows his hero’s imperilled position as a mixed blessing. By tottering on the ledge of his mortality, Pi gains a front-row seat on the miracles of creation… All this is, in a word, Awesome.
July 31, 2018
Nick Pinkerton
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Veteran filmmakers will warn you, don’t film at sea and don’t work with animals. Ang Lee built a vast tank in Taiwan and he whips up awesome storms. [However,] watching the water here is more rewarding than watching the characters.
June 14, 2013
David Thomson
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
When adrift with Pi and the tiger on the open sea, the film is at its most wondrous: a ravishing spectacle that treads judiciously on the infinite line between what’s possible and impossible.
January 8, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Lee is a wizard, Life of Pi is an incredible spectacle and the technical effects are brilliant.
December 21, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
David Sexton
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
In my view, people who find no drama in everyday life and lives, and feel obliged, for example, to ski down Mount Everest to keep themselves occupied and excited, are not to be trusted about important matters.
February 12, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Why must bitter reality always rear its ugly head in such parables?
December 2, 2020 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Suraj Sharma gives a performance that exudes both boyish charm and a soulful desperation.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Giving Ang Lee access to 3D camera equipment and a modern-day fable like “Life of Pi” is the best idea anyone has had in a long time.
July 14, 2020 | Rating: B+
Brent McKnight
The Last Thing I See
I have certainly seen dramas about survivors; but none, absolutely none that I have seen compare to the spectacular Life of Pi. [Full review in Spanish]
June 25, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
Among its many virtues, this beautiful fable of a teen boy holding a grown tiger at bay for 277 days at sea makes a strong case for the superiority of live-action drama over animation…
June 19, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter…
Plot
In Canada, a writer visits the Indian storyteller Pi Patel and asks him to tell his life story. Pi tells the story of his childhood in Pondicherry, India, and the origin of his nickname. One day, his father, a zoo owner, explains that the municipality is no longer supporting the zoo and he has hence decided to move to Canada, where the animals the family owns would also be sold. They board on a Japanese cargo ship with the animals and out of the blue, there is a storm, followed by a shipwrecking. Pi survives in a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena and a male Bengal tiger nicknamed Richard Parker. They are adrift in the Pacific Ocean, with aggressive hyena and Richard Parker getting hungry. Pi needs to find a way to survive.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Life of Pi.
Ang-Lee.jpg
85%
The Queen of Versailles (2012)
85%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 27 nominations
The Queen of Versailles is a timely, engaging, and richly drawn portrait of the American Dream improbably composed of equal parts compassion and schadenfreude
The Queen of Versailles is a wild ride that will have you feeling all sorts of emotions. From jealousy to sympathy to schadenfreude, this documentary has it all. It’s like reality TV, but better. You’ll be rooting for Jackie Siegel one minute and shaking your head at her the next. And let’s not forget about the Marxist punchline and excessive side of the American dream. It’s a cautionary tale that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. So, grab some popcorn and settle in for a wild ride.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, U-Drive Productions,
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic elements and language
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 2012 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 13, 2012
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, The Queen of Versailles, PG, 2012, 1h 40m, directed by Lauren Greenfield, written by Lauren Greenfield, produced by Danielle Renfrew Behrens and Lauren Greenfield, starring Jaqueline Siegel, Lorraine Barrett, reviewed by Gretchen Sisson, Noah Berlatsky, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Tara Brady, Steve Rose, Antonia Quirke, Robin Holabird, Matt Warren, Andy Dehnart, Debbie Lynn Elias, Nicholas Bell, genre, box office performance, budget, producer names, MPAA rating, American Dream, economic crisis, Florida billionaires, building a 90,000 square-foot estate, thematic elements, language, English, release date, theaters, streaming, gross USA, cast and crew
Worldwide gross: $2,495,706
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,119,002
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,307
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 340,131
US/Canada gross: $2,401,999
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,001,892
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,938
US/Canada opening weekend: $51,326
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $64,145
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,114
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,249,747
Production budget ranking: 2,076
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $672,989
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,196,266
ROI to date (est.): 62%
ROI ranking: 1,090
Jaqueline Siegel – Herself (as Jackie Siegel)
Lauren Greenfield – Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Danielle Renfrew Behrens – Producer
Director(s)
Lauren Greenfield
Writer(s)
Lauren Greenfield
Producer(s)
Danielle Renfrew Behrens, Lauren Greenfield
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 27 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (120) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (114) | Rotten (6)
[Jackie’s] story can show the ways in which the economic crisis can bring out not only the hierarchical differences that divide us, but the hopes and flaws that unite us.
January 11, 2021
Gretchen Sisson
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
The Siegels are fascinating because they both are and aren’t us, and the film’s pleasures are correspondingly-a la reality tv-made up of equal parts jealousy, sympathy, and schadenfreude.
August 28, 2019
Noah Berlatsky
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
[Siegel] is now suing Greenfield for “misrepresentation”. Well, I know whose side I’m on.
September 7, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Greenfield’s film is bathed in Florida sunshine, adding to the sensation that we’re watching Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with a Marxist punchline.
September 6, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Never has grotesque wealth looked so unenviable, or its removal been so entertaining, as in this garishly watchable riches-to-rags documentary …
September 6, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Steve Rose
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
[Siegel] ultimately emerges as someone who belongs more in The Little House on the Prairie: ever cheerful, and triumphantly unimpeachable.
September 6, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Antonia Quirke
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield effectively captures an excessive side of the American dream, which includes ventures in Las Vegas.
August 11, 2021
Robin Holabird
Robin Holabird
The Queen of Versailles is one of the best films of the year, nonfiction or otherwise.
March 10, 2021
Matt Warren
Battleship Pretension
The Queen of Versailles is an exceptional, must-watch film that’s better reality TV than most reality television. We need more documentaries-and more reality television-like this.
March 6, 2020
Andy Dehnart
Reality Blurred
Even if you’re on a budget, it will be money well spent to see this Must See Festival Film.
November 26, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
The Queen of Versailles is a deliriously enjoyable documentary, a warning about the ridiculous hubris of the American Dream, and how, like the trap of traditions, may very well be a nightmare.
July 25, 2019
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
It’s this turn of events that transforms The Queen of Versailles into a surprisingly empathetic look at Jackie Siegel as everything around her begins to crumble.
July 3, 2019 | Rating: 7.3/10
C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie…
Plot
The Queen of Versailles follows the story of Florida billionaires David and Jackie Siegel as they struggle to maintain their fortune during the 2008 global economic crisis while building a 90,000 square-foot estate.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features Jackie Siegel, the wife of timeshare mogul David Siegel, as one of its main subjects.
Lauren-Greenfield.jpg
85%
Polisse (2012)
85%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 22 nominations
Polisse is a gripping and powerful procedural drama filled with fine acting and unflinching eye for truth and brutality
Polisse” is like a rollercoaster ride, but instead of loops and drops, it’s a whirlwind of emotions. Some critics loved it, some hated it, but one thing’s for sure – it’s not a movie you’ll forget easily. With a huge cast and a realistic portrayal of the CPU, “Polisse” is a character-driven drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Sure, it might have some false notes and a bizarre ending, but isn’t that what makes it all the more interesting? So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride with “Polisse” – just don’t forget to bring some tissues.
Production Company(ies)
Government of West Bengal
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Boulevard du Palais, Paris 1, Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2011
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 7m
-
Language(s):French, Italian, Romanian, Arabic
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 18, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 30, 2012
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Karine Viard, JoeyStarr, Marina Foïs, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Maïwenn, Karole Rocher, directed by Maïwenn, written by Maïwenn, Emmanuelle Bercot, genre: Crime, Drama, box office performance: $171.3K, budget: N/A, reviewed by Stanley Kauffmann, John Hartl, Joe Williams, Peter Bradshaw, Nigel Andrews, Tim Robey, Nicholas Bell, C.J Prince, Daniel Green, Kelly Jane Torrance, produced by Alain Attal, MPAA rating: N/A, Paris, Child Protection Unit, police, crimes against children, personal problems, procedural drama, fine acting, unflinching eye, truth, brutality
Worldwide gross: $20,601,245
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $27,121,495
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,579
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,957,633
US/Canada gross: $211,440
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $278,360
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,476
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,568
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,812
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,487
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
JoeyStarr – Fred
Marina Foïs – Iris
Nicolas Duvauchelle – Mathieu
Maïwenn – Melissa
Karole Rocher – Chrys
Director(s)
Maïwenn
Writer(s)
Maïwenn, Emmanuelle Bercot, Emmanuelle Bercot, Maïwenn
Producer(s)
Alain Attal
Film Festivals
Sundance, Cannes
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 22 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (84) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (11)
[O]ne of the best based-on-facts police pictures.
August 8, 2012
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Whatever you think of it, you won’t be neutral.
June 28, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
“Polisse” draws us uncomfortably close to a taboo subject then rewards us with real nourishment.
June 15, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
A drama with interesting moments, but also some false notes and a wildly bizarre ending.
June 14, 2012 | Rating: 2/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
So amorphous, volatile and multi-plotted it could be a rough cut.
June 14, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s restless and compelling, ragged and moving.
June 14, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Polisse is a finely wrought piece of compelling cinema, and certainly demonstrates that in the director’s chair, Maiwenn is someone to watch out for.
July 24, 2019
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
When Polisse sticks to its realistic fly-on-the-wall approach to the CPU it’s some of the best filmmaking from this year, but its poor attempts to make the film more of a character piece hold it back from being truly great.
July 3, 2019 | Rating: 7.8/10
C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie
Despite all the best intentions, Maïwenn’s CPU melodrama feels like a TV mini-series hastily re-edited for the big screen, with little or no cinematic consideration.
January 10, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Daniel Green
CineVue
That emphasis on realism, in plot and portrayal, has paid off.
January 3, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner
[Maiwenn] ets such good performances out of a huge cast that one can forgive the navel-gazing, and in a movie about a police force with management issues, she is clearly an effective manager.
August 30, 2018
Pat Padua
DCist
Supremely and superbly character-driven, this film is a throwback to many of the best police dramas of the past.
September 18, 2017
Neely Swanson
Easy Reader (California)…
Plot
Parisian police officers navigate their personal struggles while investigating crimes against children in the gripping and powerful procedural drama, Polisse.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Polisse includes Karine Viard, JoeyStarr, Marina Foïs, Nicolas Duvauchelle, and Maïwenn.
Maïwenn.jpg
85%
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 20 wins & 34 nominations
The Cabin in the Woods is an astonishing meta-feat, capable of being funny, strange, and scary — frequently all at the same time
The Cabin in the Woods is the perfect movie for horror fans who also love a good laugh. It’s like the filmmakers took all the horror movie clichés and put them in a blender with some witty dialogue and a dash of self-awareness. The result is a wonderfully weird and horrifying movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat and laughing at the same time. The cast is fantastic, the script is clever, and the structure is well-done. It’s definitely a must-watch for Halloween!
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Working Title Films,
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong bloody horror violence and gore, language, drug use and some sexuality/nudity
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1
-
Aspect ratio:2.40 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):English, Japanese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 13, 2012 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 18, 2012
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, directed by Drew Goddard, written by Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard, horror, R rating, Lionsgate Films, box office gross $42.0M, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Eric Kohn, Bruce Diones, David Rooney, Jake Wilson, Christopher Kelly, Kristy Strouse, Taylor Baker, Jason Adams, Richard Propes, Brent McKnight, Fiona Underhill, meta, parody, slasher, monster, horror comedy, backwoods zombies, scientists, manipulation, gore, drug use, strong horror violence, language, some sexuality/nudity, strong bloody violence, English, Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital, Joss Whedon as producer
Worldwide gross: $70,055,998
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $90,317,904
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,069
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 9,849,281
US/Canada gross: $42,073,277
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $54,241,896
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,035
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,743,614
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $19,007,827
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 685
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $30,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38,676,733
Production budget ranking: 982
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,827,421
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $30,813,750
ROI to date (est.): 52%
ROI ranking: 1,138
Chris Hemsworth – Curt
Anna Hutchison – Jules
Fran Kranz – Marty
Jesse Williams – Holden
Richard Jenkins – Sitterson
Bradley Whitford – Hadley
Drew Goddard – Director
Joss Whedon – Producer, Writer
Director(s)
Drew Goddard
Writer(s)
Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard
Producer(s)
Joss Whedon
Film Festivals
South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
20 wins & 34 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (289) | Top Critics (73) | Fresh (265) | Rotten (24)
This is, I know, a self-aware film: its clichés are parodies of horror clichés generally, but to subvert a form, it should, first and foremost, work as an entertainment, and it most surely does not.
August 31, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Ranks among one of the most wryly self-aware works of American pop culture entertainment in years.
September 27, 2015 | Rating: B+
Eric Kohn
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
The filmmakers are less interested in providing a slow buildup to their frights than in splattering the clichés of the form in funny, spirited ways.
October 6, 2014
Bruce Diones
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
In order to subvert any popular form, entertainment first has to work on its own terms. Goddard and Whedon are too busy geeking out to bother with those requirements.
October 6, 2014
David Rooney
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
It sounds like the oldest horror story in the book but from the first scene of The Cabin in the Woods it’s clear that the director, Drew Goddard, and his co-writer, Joss Whedon, are bent on turning the formula upside down.
October 6, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jake Wilson
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The setup is intriguing but the balance feels off. Goddard and Whedon overplay the winking postmodernism.
October 6, 2014 | Rating: 2/5
Christopher Kelly
Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
TOP CRITIC
While being “like” so many others, it’s unlike anything you’ll see. It’s weird, hilarious, and actually scary- The Cabin in the Woods has it all.
October 14, 2021
Kristy Strouse
Wonderfully Weird and Horrifying
Episode 12: Away We Go
September 1, 2021 | Rating: 86/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Could I possibly be fair and balanced talking about this movie when it was created in a lab by awesome scientists (that is, scientists of awesomeness) out of everything I love most to be The Perfect Movie For Me? I cannot.
July 6, 2021
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
The cast is far stronger than one usually finds in this type of film.
September 4, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
It functions as horror, comedy, and as a deconstructionist essay on genre filmmaking. Remarkably clever, more hilarious than I expected, and gory enough to sate horror fanatics of all varieties,
July 12, 2020 | Rating: A
Brent McKnight
The Last Thing I See
It features a fantastic cast, a witty and clever script and is very well structured. This film is one of THE best horror movies and should definitely be included in your annual Halloween viewing line-up.
July 12, 2020
Fiona Underhill
JumpCut Online…
Plot
Five teenagers head off for a weekend at a secluded cabin in the woods. They arrive to find they are quite isolated with no means of communicating with the outside world. When the cellar door flings itself open, they of course go down to investigate. They find an odd assortment of relics and curios, but when one of the women, Dana, reads from a book, she awakens a family of deadly zombie killers. However, there’s far more going on than meets the eye.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of The Cabin in the Woods includes Chris Hemsworth, who would go on to become a major star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thor.
Drew-Goddard.jpg
85%
Tabu (2012)
85%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 20 wins & 46 nominations
Tabu is a film that is as enigmatic as it is mesmerizing. Miguel Gomes’ direction is a masterclass in storytelling, weaving together a tale of love, betrayal, and colonialism that spans both time and continents. The film’s use of black and white cinematography is nothing short of breathtaking, and the recurring crocodile serves as a haunting reminder of the film’s underlying themes. Tabu is a film that will frustrate some audiences and fascinate others, but for those willing to take the plunge, it is a cinematic experience unlike any other.
Tabu is a film that will leave you feeling like you just went on a wild ride through time and space. It’s a jigsaw puzzle of a movie that will frustrate you at times, but ultimately fascinate you with its unique storytelling style. The crocodile that keeps popping up is a recurring character that will have you scratching your head, but in a good way. Miguel Gomes has created a film that is both tragic and uplifting, and will leave you with a sense of wonder and awe. It’s definitely worth seeking out if you’re in the mood for something different and daring.
Production Company(ies)
Hell’s Kitchen Films, Universal Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Lisbon, Portugal
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Portuguese, English, Polish
-
Country of origin:Portugal
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Oct 29, 2013
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Teresa Madruga, Isabel Muñoz Cardoso, Laura Soveral, Ana Moreira, Henrique Espírito Santo, Carloto Cotta, directed by Miguel Gomes, written by Miguel Gomes, Mariana Ricardo, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Michael O’Sullivan, Ty Burr, John Hartl, Betsy Sharkey, Farran Smith Nehme, Ian Buckwalter, Dustin Chang, Jordan M Smith, C.J Prince, Daniel Green, Pat Padua, produced by Maren Ade, Sandro Aguilar, Caio Gullane, Fabiano Gullane, Janine Jackowski, Luís Urbano, Jonas Dornbach, Thomas Ordonneau, MPAA rating, Portuguese (Brazil), Pilar, Santa, Aurora, Ventura, crocodile, lost love, classic cinema, colonialism, repression, social responsibility, cultural mingling, experimental flair, swooning romance, mysterious, visually striking, experimental, jigsaw puzzle, black and white, allegorical aspirations, anti-sentimentalism, tragic, uplifting, daring, minimal aesthetics, Tabu
Worldwide gross: $1,108,473
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,429,070
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,508
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 155,842
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
Laura Soveral – Old Aurora
Ana Moreira – Young Aurora
Henrique Espírito Santo – Old Ventura
Carloto Cotta – Young Ventura
Isabel Muñoz Cardoso – Santa
Director(s)
Miguel Gomes
Writer(s)
Miguel Gomes, Mariana Ricardo
Producer(s)
Maren Ade, Sandro Aguilar, Caio Gullane, Fabiano Gullane, Janine Jackowski, Luís Urbano, Jonas Dornbach, Thomas Ordonneau
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
20 wins & 46 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (60) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (7)
It takes a while to get to the meat of the movie, but it’s well worth the wait.
April 5, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
It almost seems a parody of willfully obscure art-house fare. Yet it has an undertow that sucks you in as often as it strands you back on shore.
February 14, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
A kind of jigsaw puzzle, spiced up with references to “White Mischief,” “Out of Africa” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” that will frustrate some audiences and fascinate others.
February 7, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
The audience is left to imagine much of the story, though it is clear it involves love, betrayal, guilt, regret and a recurring crocodile.
January 24, 2013 | Rating: 2/5
Betsy Sharkey
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Portuguese director Miguel Gomes’ latest film moves through different styles and eras, and proves that shooting in black and white is as versatile as it ever was.
December 28, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Farran Smith Nehme
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
Few films are this smart about subtly couching their allegorical aspirations within more straightforward narratives; fewer still are able to do so with such energetically inventive virtuoso style.
December 27, 2012 | Rating: 9.5/10
Ian Buckwalter
NPR
TOP CRITIC
Gomes’s playing on colonialist past and its taboo contrasting with the make-believe nature of the African part of the film is just brilliant. Tragic yet uplifting, daring in it’s minimal aesthetics, Tabu isn’t anything like I’ve seen out there.
February 28, 2021
Dustin Chang
Floating World
Miguel Gomes has made a liquid film of period romance that delves into social responsibility, cultural mingling and the torturous nature of repression, all the while maintaining a playful anti-sentimentalism that reeks of fresh air.
November 12, 2020
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
A romantic film about lost love and classic cinema, Tabu is definitely worth seeking out.
July 2, 2019 | Rating: 7.5/10
C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie
A beguiling black and white drama that spans both decades and continents, this is mesmeric, conscientious filmmaking at its most ambitious and expansive.
February 2, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Daniel Green
CineVue
The toothy scene-stealers are a Herzoggian reminder of nature and mortality that is part of a well-crafted cinematic reality.
August 30, 2018
Pat Padua
DCist
It fits snugly with recent European films like Chantal Akerman’s “Almayer’s Folly” and Claire Denis’ “White Material,” which have explored the ongoing legacy of colonialism.
February 21, 2018
Steve Erickson
Gay City News…
Plot
Two elderly women search for the man their recently deceased friend had a passionate affair with in her youth in the visually striking and experimental drama, Tabu.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Tabu stars Teresa Madruga as Pilar and Isabel Muñoz Cardoso as Santa.
Miguel-Gomes.jpg
85%
The Turin Horse (2012)
85%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 15 nominations
Uncompromisingly bold and hauntingly beautiful, Bela Tarr’s bleak parable tells a simple story with weighty conviction
The Turin Horse” is a film that’s been described as a “meditation on death” and a “supreme metaphysical experience.” But let’s be real, it’s also a two-and-a-half-hour movie about a horse. Sure, it’s a really pretty horse, and the black-and-white cinematography is stunning, but if you’re not into slow-paced, artsy films, this one might not be for you. However, if you’re feeling existential and want to ponder the meaning of life while watching a horse and its owner struggle to survive, then go ahead and give “The Turin Horse” a shot.
Production Company(ies)
BRON Studios, Bron Creative MACRO
Distributor
Cinema Guild
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2011
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 26m
-
Language(s):Hungarian, German
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
The Turin Horse, Drama, 2h 26m, directed by Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky, starring János Derzsi, Erika Bok, Mihály Kormos, written by Béla Tarr, produced by Cinema Guild, Hungarian language, parable, windstorm, abused horse, poor farmer, daughter, bleak, hauntingly beautiful, uncompromisingly bold, weighty conviction, critics consensus, Tomatometer, audience score, limited release, streaming, rent/buy, Cinema Guild, reviewed by J Hoberman, Mark Feeney, Kieron Corless, Tara Brady, Peter Bradshaw, Nigel Andrews, Jordan M Smith, Vladan Petkovic, Josh Larsen, Mattie Lucas, Daniel Green, Kelly Jane Torrance, allegorical meditation, death, duration, endurance, Bresson, Bergman, Dreyer, final darkness, metaphysical meditation, human cruelty, simplistic repetition, vexing soundtrack, black-and-white, somber, naturalistic aesthetic, slow-paced, mesmerizing, microcosm, hard life, windstorm, brandy
Worldwide gross: $162,088
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $213,389
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,919
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 23,270
US/Canada gross: $56,391
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $74,239
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,706
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,145
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,039
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,668
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
Erika Bok – Ohlsdorfer’s Daughter
Mihály Kormos – Bernhard
Béla Tarr – Director
Ágnes Hranitzky – Director
Director(s)
Béla Tarr, Ágnes Hranitzky
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 15 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (63) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (7)
This great poem on the end of the world is truly a film for the ages. It can’t really be described, but only lived.
September 18, 2014
J. Hoberman
ARTINFO.com
TOP CRITIC
“The Turin Horse” is a parable, which means it’s both very simple and very weighty. It’s not about event and emotion, but duration and endurance.
June 28, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mark Feeney
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
[Tarr’s] most direct and overtly compassionate film.
June 18, 2012
Kieron Corless
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Don’t miss this two-and-half hour allegorical meditation on death. No, really.
June 2, 2012 | Rating: 5/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
The movie exerts an eerie grip, with echoes of Bresson, Bergman and Dreyer, but is utterly distinctive: a vision of a world going inexorably into a final darkness.
May 31, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Thrilling, beautiful and nearly heart-stopping…
May 31, 2012 | Rating: 5/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Béla Tarr’s supposed career finale is a supreme metaphysical meditation on death and human cruelty that lulls us into a state of despondent surrender with simplistic repetition and a truly vexing soundtrack.
November 19, 2020
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
Perfect framing.
August 11, 2020
Vladan Petkovic
Cineuropa
…austerely captures humanity’s basic struggle, while recognizing in that struggle a certain dignity.
January 16, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
At once elegiac and fiercely relevant. Tarr is not content to go quietly into that good night.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Maligned by some due to its crawling pace and monotonous repetition, there is still something inexplicably mesmerising and entrancing about Tarr’s reputed last film.
January 8, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Daniel Green
CineVue
The Turin Horse is a strikingly beautiful black-and-white film… But then, not much happens in it.
January 4, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner…
Plot
A poor farmer and his daughter face the end of their world as a monumental windstorm and an abused horse’s refusal to work or eat signal their downfall in this hauntingly beautiful and uncompromisingly bold drama.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for “The Turin Horse.”
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85%
Caesar Must Die (2013)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 16 wins & 21 nominations
The Taviani Brothers’ Caesar Must Die is a cinematic masterpiece that blurs the lines between reality and art, creating a unique and captivating experience for viewers. The film’s innovative approach to Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, combining documentary, theater, and fiction, is a testament to the Taviani Brothers’ creativity and ingenuity. The performances are stunning, particularly Striano’s portrayal of Brutus, which is both intense and emotionally accurate. The film’s lean and hungry look, combined with its brisk 76-minute runtime, ensures that there is barely a wasted moment. Overall, Caesar Must Die is a fascinating and perceptive film that is sure to leave a lasting impression on audiences.
Caesar Must Die is like Shakespeare meets Orange is the New Black, but with a lot less drama and a lot more Italian accents. The Taviani Brothers have created a unique and fascinating film that blurs the lines between reality and art, and gives us a glimpse into the lives of prisoners who are given the opportunity to perform Shakespeare. The performances are intense and emotional, and the lack of female roles is made up for by the sheer talent of the all-male cast. It’s not your typical Shakespeare adaptation, but it’s definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
AMLF The Saul Zaentz Company,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Rebibbia, Rome, Lazio, Italy
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2012
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):Italian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Dec 24, 2013
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Salvatore Striano, Cosimo Rega, Giovanni Arcuri, Antonio Frasca, Juan Dario Bonetti, Vincenzo Gallo, directed by Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani, written by Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by J Hoberman, Stanley Kauffmann, A.A Dowd, Peter Howell, Tom Long, Tara Brady, Geoffrey O’Brien, Patrick Gamble, Steve Erickson, Hannah Brown, Christopher Long, MPAA rating, producer Agnese Fontana, Cecilia Valmarana, Grazia Volpi, Donatella Palermo, Laura Andreini Salerno
Worldwide gross: $1,567,339
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,020,652
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,417
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 220,355
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
Cosimo Rega – Cassio
Giovanni Arcuri – Cesare
Antonio Frasca – Marcantonio
Juan Dario Bonetti – Decio
Vincenzo Gallo – Lucio
Director(s)
Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani
Writer(s)
Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani
Producer(s)
Agnese Fontana, Cecilia Valmarana, Grazia Volpi, Donatella Palermo, Laura Andreini Salerno
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
16 wins & 21 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (4)
Despite its lean and hungry look, the Taviani Brothers’ Caesar Must Die may be the most effectively gimmicked version of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in the 75 years since Orson Welles’s modern-dress, anti-fascist staging.
February 22, 2019
J. Hoberman
ARTINFO.com
TOP CRITIC
It is almost an impertinence to think that we understand the thoughts of these actors and those in the audience who are relatives and friends. But this is the intriguing privilege that the Taviani brothers have given us.
June 17, 2013
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
The problem with the film, which somewhat inexplicably won the Golden Bear at Berlin last year, is that it scarcely transcends the basic novelty of its premise.
March 21, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
A.A. Dowd
Time Out Chicago
TOP CRITIC
There’s barely a wasted moment in the film, which runs a brisk 76 minutes and contains no female roles.
March 14, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
There’s an intensity and emotional accuracy to the performances that’s just stunning, particularly Striano’s Brutus, as he longs for death and release.
March 8, 2013 | Rating: A-
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
The juxtaposition of Shakespearean text and prison cell life is a particularly poignant one.
March 1, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
The determination-at times it seems close to anguish-with which they seize that opportunity reenacts what must have been the astonishing force and challenge launched by the actors who first played Julius Caesar.
March 13, 2019
Geoffrey O’Brien
The New York Review of Books
A fascinatingly perceptive film that blurs the lines between art and reality, Caesar Must Die brings a whole new intensity to this Elizabethan examination of betrayal and duplicity.
February 9, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Patrick Gamble
CineVue
… “Caesar Must Die” combines documentary, theater, and fiction in ways that could hardly be more au courant.
February 21, 2018
Steve Erickson
Gay City News
The most gripping and brilliant Shakespeare production put on film since Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet.
March 21, 2016
Hannah Brown
Jerusalem Post
A double hybrid that occupies a space somewhere between documentary and fiction right along the border of cinema and theater.
January 23, 2014 | Rating: 8/10
Christopher Long
Movie Metropolis
A clever if sometimes mystifying, combination of documentary, invention and post-modernism.
June 6, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Stone
Canada.com…
Plot
Inmates in a high-security prison prepare for a public performance of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” in this drama directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Salvatore Striano, who plays Bruto in the film, is a former inmate who was serving a life sentence for murder before becoming an actor.
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