Another Year (2010)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
23 wins & 57 nominations total
Characterized by strong performances and the director’s trademark feel for the nuances of everyday life, Another Year marks another solid entry in Mike Leigh’s career of kitchen-sink English drama
Another Year is like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but instead of screaming in terror, you’ll be laughing and crying at the same time. It’s a beautiful portrayal of a marriage that will make you appreciate the little things in life, like a warm hug or a cup of tea. And if you’re feeling a bit down, this movie will remind you that you’re not alone in your struggles. So grab some tissues and get ready for a heartwarming and heartbreaking journey.
Production Company(ies)
Red Envelope Entertainment, Representational Pictures,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Derby, Derbyshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some language
Year of Release
2011
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 9m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2011
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville, Oliver Maltman, Peter Wight, David Bradley, directed by Mike Leigh, written by Mike Leigh, comedy, drama, PG-13, box office gross $3.2M, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Jennie Yabroff, Dave Calhoun, Rafer Guzman, Joe Williams, Tom Long, Richard Propes, Felicia Feaster, David Harris, Amie Simon, character-driven, kitchen-sink English drama, mature love, loneliness, failed relationships, everyday life, human psychology, emotional explosions, catharsis, friendship, pain, loss, new-found love, Buddha, living in the moment, awareness, human condition, simple life, tea, garden, family, friends
Worldwide gross: $19,722,766
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $25,964,980
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,610
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,831,514
US/Canada gross: $3,205,706
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,220,305
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,853
US/Canada opening weekend: $111,869
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $147,275
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,788
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $8,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,531,983
Production budget ranking: 1,648
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,671,473
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,761,524
ROI to date (est.): 60%
ROI ranking: 1,099
Ruth Sheen – Gerri
Lesley Manville – Mary
Oliver Maltman – Joe
Peter Wight – Ken
David Bradley – Ronnie
Director(s)
Mike Leigh
Writer(s)
Mike Leigh
Producer(s)
Georgina Lowe
Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
23 wins & 57 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (173) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (160) | Rotten (13)
It is beautifully played, free of the usual tics and twitches and palsies that so often afflict Leigh characters, and Manville, in particular, gives everything she has, which turns out to be an awesome amount.
August 30, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
There is something radical in the way Leigh creates such an intimate, closely observed portrait of a marriage and then essentially takes it for granted, looking elsewhere for the drama to propel the narrative.
February 8, 2018
Jennie Yabroff
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
See it at your own risk — but don’t miss it.
February 12, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/4
Rafer Guzman
Newsday
TOP CRITIC
This humane movie is an ode to joy, albeit of the mature sort.
February 4, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Desperation and fulfillment, anxiety and warmth, pain and contentment — all come together in the darkly splendid Another Year.
February 4, 2011 | Rating: B+
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
There is little doubt that Another Year will be a film that will stay with you long after the closing credits.
September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Another Year is a life-affirming portrait of a harmonious marriage and the emotional salve it offers in a cruel world.
January 21, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
Another Year, though not an important piece of Leigh’s oeuvre, is still a highly enjoyable one.
November 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.7/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Another year, another 100 things to celebrate and mourn-and another film that makes me appreciate how good cinema can make me feel.
March 7, 2019
Amie Simon
Three Imaginary Girls
Although caring, cheerful and kind individuals feature prominently, with much to laugh about, Another Year is really about the emotionally bruised amongst us, about regret, about envy, and the fact that life is often cruel.
November 6, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Lucy Popescu
CineVue
With its slow movement and at times painful portrayal of human wretchedness, it would be hard to imagine a less fun time at the movies than Another Year, but it would also be hard to imagine a more worthwhile one.
August 30, 2018
Megan Basham
WORLD…
Plot
Tom and Gerri, a happily married couple, try to help their friend Mary find love, but are surprised when she becomes interested in their much younger son instead. Another Year is a character-driven drama that explores the complexities of relationships and the struggles of loneliness.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Lesley Manville’s performance as Mary is described as having “raw neediness” that is almost painful to watch.
Mike-Leigh.jpg
85%
Four Lions (2010)
85%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 24 nominations total
Its premise suggests brazenly tasteless humor, but Four Lions is actually a smart, pitch-black comedy that carries the unmistakable ring of truth
Four Lions is a hilarious satire that takes on the serious topic of terrorism with a comedic twist. The film follows a group of bumbling terrorists as they attempt to carry out their mission, but their incompetence and lack of direction make for some truly laugh-out-loud moments. While some may find the subject matter controversial, the film manages to strike a balance between humor and sensitivity, making it a must-watch for anyone looking for a fresh take on the genre. So grab some popcorn and get ready to root for the underdogs in Four Lions!
Production Company(ies)
Asghar Farhadi Productions, Dreamlab Films, MPAAPSA Academy Film Fund,
Distributor
Alamo Drafthouse Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Almería, Andalucía, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout, including some sexual references
Year of Release
2010
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):English, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 5, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 8, 2011
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Riz Ahmed, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay, Kayvan Novak, Adeel Akhtar, Benedict Cumberbatch, directed by Christopher Morris, written by Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Christopher Morris, Comedy, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Stephen Cole, Peter Howell, Tom Long, Rene Rodriguez, Lisa Kennedy, Ali Khoei, Stuart McGurk, Dennis Harvey, David Lamble, MPAA rating R, Sheffield, Muslim, jihad, suicide bombers, Pakistan training camp, birds carrying bombs, London Marathon, terrorism, satire, slapstick, farce, working-class British slang, governmental incompetence, mass media manipulation, anti-consumerist imperialism
Worldwide gross: $6,149,356
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,359,352
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,025
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 911,598
US/Canada gross: $304,616
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $414,091
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,372
US/Canada opening weekend: $41,512
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $56,431
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,155
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
Arsher Ali – Hassan
Nigel Lindsay – Barry
Kayvan Novak – Waj
Adeel Akhtar – Faisal
Benedict Cumberbatch – Ed
Christopher Morris – Director
Jesse Armstrong – Writer
Sam Bain – Writer
Director(s)
Christopher Morris
Writer(s)
Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Christopher Morris
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 24 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (138) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (114) | Rotten (24)
It feels like a missed opportunity all the same… As far as slapstick and farce and knockabout buffoonery go, this is as good as anything but my point, I think, is that this could be about any group.
August 30, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
[Morris’s] new comedy has a provocative, ticklish premise — five North England Muslims become suicide bombers, but can’t decide who or what to take with them.
February 25, 2011 | Rating: 2/4
Stephen Cole
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
It’s difficult to imagine a movie this boldly provocative about the underworld of violent jihad, much less one that actually inspires laughter.
February 24, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
The first feature, written and directed by satirist Chris Morris, may seem profane to some, but if you’re doomed by watching it, at least you’ll go down laughing.
January 14, 2011 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
The film wisely doesn’t try to explore the roots of religious fanaticism and how it can manifest as murder: Instead, it simply accepts the world as it is and focuses on the ridiculous.
December 29, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Four Lions is more interesting than riotous. Consider it an example – a well-paced, clever and understated compassionate example – of a filmmaker wrestling with fear.
December 17, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
It excels in that it centralises the humour around the feebleness of mind and inadequacies of the characters, rather than being insensitive to the actual shattering consequences of terrorism.
July 21, 2021
Ali Khoei
emel
Chris Morris’ terrorism comedy is a work of satirical brilliance.
May 19, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Stuart McGurk
NME
Four Lions actually did manage to make terrorism seem a viable topic for parody.
October 21, 2020
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
For an American audience, one obstacle to this film is digesting working-class British slang to translate the verbal gags; another is distinguishing the players without a scorecard…clever if at times farfetched…
June 16, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Don’t be like the Four Lions, but go check out their movie if you want a fresh perspective.
April 7, 2020
Ed Travis
Hollywood Jesus
A clever and original comedy that, above all, refuses to let the terrorists win.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row…
Plot
Four Lions is a dark comedy about a group of young Muslim men in Sheffield who decide to become suicide bombers, but their ineptitude and bumbling attempts to disrupt the London Marathon in outlandish costumes make for a hilarious and thought-provoking film.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no specific tidbit about someone in the cast mentioned in the Fresh Kernels description for Four Lions.
Christopher-Morris.jpg
85%
From Up On Poppy Hill (2013)
85%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 11 nominations
Gentle and nostalgic, From Up on Poppy Hill is one of Studio Ghibli’s sweeter efforts — and if it doesn’t push the boundaries of the genre, it remains as engagingly lovely as Ghibli fans have come to expect
From Up On Poppy Hill is a charming and heartwarming film that will make you feel like you’re sinking into a hot spring of emotions. While it may not be the most action-packed or magical of Studio Ghibli’s films, it still manages to capture the essence of growing up and figuring out who you are. Plus, the honky-tonk score will have you tapping your toes and humming along. So, grab some popcorn and settle in for a gentle snooze that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
Production Company(ies)
Shochiku
Distributor
GKIDS
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild thematic elements and some incidental smoking images
Year of Release
2011
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 31m
-
Language(s):Japanese
-
Country of origin:Japan
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 18, 2014
Genre(s)
Drama/Anime
Keyword(s)
From Up on Poppy Hill, PG, Drama, Anime, 1h 31m, Masami Nagasawa, Jun’ichi Okada, Keiko Takeshita, Yuriko Ishida, Rumi Hîragi, Jun Fubuki, directed by Goro Miyazaki, written by Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Tetsurô Sayama, produced by Tetsurô Sayama, Toshio Suzuki, Chizuru Takahashi, reviewed by Guy Lodge, Tara Brady, Mike McCahill, Nigel Andrews, David Jenkins, Robbie Collin, PG rating, $284.7K box office, GKIDS distributor, Yokohama, clubhouse, demolition, 1964 Olympics, Japan, family, loss, hope, romance, Studio Ghibli, animation, hand-drawn, Japanese language, architecture, war memories, parental back-stories, gentle, nostalgic, sweet, engagingly lovely, gentle snooze, bounty of ideas and emotions, perfectly rendered world, personal level, beautifully precise, endearingly warm, genuine intrigue, haunting reverberance, deep currents of emotion, affection, heartwarming, emotional resonance, family-friendly, sweet, charming, incestuous twist, calm atmosphere, slower pace, buildup of characters, attention to background detail, voice work, nice and easy
Worldwide gross: $61,487,846
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $80,948,619
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,123
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,827,548
US/Canada gross: $1,002,895
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,320,309
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,118
US/Canada opening weekend: $57,585
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $75,811
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,048
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $22,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $28,962,953
Production budget ranking: 1,170
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,596,550
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $36,389,115
ROI to date (est.): 82%
ROI ranking: 1,006
Jun’ichi Okada – Shun Kazama (Voice)
Keiko Takeshita – Hana Matsuzaki (Voice)
Yuriko Ishida – Miki Hokuto (Voice)
Rumi Hîragi – Sachiko Hirokôji (Voice)
Jun Fubuki – Yoshiko Matsuzaki (Voice)
Director(s)
Goro Miyazaki
Writer(s)
Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Tetsurô Sayama
Producer(s)
Tetsurô Sayama, Toshio Suzuki, Chizuru Takahashi
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (89) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (77) | Rotten (12)
A gently lyrical diversion for Ghibli die-hards … a gentle snooze for others.
August 12, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Guy Lodge
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Beautifully precise architectural sketches, endearingly warm nostalgia, gentle teen romance and genuine intrigue.
August 2, 2013 | Rating: 5/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
It … arrives with the vast reserves of patience, optimism and artistry we’ve come to expect from this studio.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Mike McCahill
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The incest-scare subplot never trips up the movie’s charm. And there’s a haunting reverberance, very Hayao Miyazaki, to the war memories that empower the parental back-stories.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Not up there with the Ghibli masterworks of yore, but still a bounty of ideas and emotions.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
You don’t watch a Studio Ghibli film so much as sink into it like a hot spring, with groans of delight.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Poppy Hill” is beautiful, but more dull than expected. It would be nice to see Goro Miyazaki engage in stories that actually resonate with him, rather than to follow his father’s script (or footsteps).
May 25, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Grace Han
Asian Movie Pulse
It might not be one of the most well-regarded or well-produced of the studio’s films, but it’s a high point in Gorō’s career and one of the final brushstrokes in his father’s, and that’s more than enough to justify a visit to Poppy Hill.
July 17, 2021
Clement Tyler Obropta
Film Inquiry
Though From Up On Poppy Hill lacks the magic or pure emotion of some of Ghibli’s finest work, Goro’s sophomore feature still stands as a testament to why hand drawn animation should never perish in the face of digital wizardry.
November 12, 2020
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
It’s a sweet, simple movie about likable people growing up and figuring out who they are.
March 13, 2019 | Rating: B+
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
Accompanied by a joyous, honky-tonk score from Satoshi Takebe and earnestly voiced by its leads, this is a perfectly rendered world that quietly throbs with sadness and thrums with modern progress.
February 27, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Ivan Radford
CineVue
This 1960s-set melodrama carries such deep currents of emotion and so much affection for its sweet-natured characters, that by the end I was pretty sure it would rank among my two or three favorites from the studio.
July 2, 2018
Charles Webb
MTV…
Plot
From Up on Poppy Hill follows a group of Yokohama teens as they try to save their school’s clubhouse from being demolished, while also navigating their own personal relationships and struggles.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for From Up on Poppy Hill.
Goro-Miyazaki.jpg
85%
Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 (Mesrine: L’ennemi public no. 1) (2010)
85%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 16 nominations
Vincent Cassel is mesmerizing in the lead role. Even if it’s less focused than its predecessor, it’s more fun
Public Enemy #1 is a wild ride through the life of Jacques Mesrine, a notorious French gangster. Critics seem to be divided on whether the film is a masterpiece or a meandering mess, but one thing is for sure: Vincent Cassel’s performance as Mesrine is phenomenal. The film is filled with rousing set pieces and slick escapes, but it also leaves you feeling sad for a world in which such a creature could exist. Overall, if you’re in the mood for a gritty gangster flick, Public Enemy #1 is definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for bloody brutal violence, a scene of sexuality, nudity and pervasive language
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):French, English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Mar 29, 2011
Genre(s)
Action/Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Vincent Cassel, Ludivine Sagnier, Mathieu Amalric, Gérard Lanvin, Samuel Le Bihan, Olivier Gourmet, directed by Jean-François Richet, written by Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet, action, biography, R rating, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Tom Long, Rene Rodriguez, Simon Abrams, Michael O’Sullivan, Brian Tallerico, Kenneth Turan, Jason Best, David Harris, Kaleem Aftab, Matt Joseph, Al Alexander, Jacques Mesrine, France’s most-wanted criminal, Mesrine: Part 1 – Death Instinct, Transsiberian, Yip Man 2, Lebanon, 13 Assassins, Thomas Langmann, Maxime Rémillard, Andre Rouleau, English, Bloody Brutal Violence, A Scene of Sexuality, Nudity, Pervasive Language
Worldwide gross: $321,353
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $442,651
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,765
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 48,272
US/Canada gross: $275,387
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $379,335
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,399
US/Canada opening weekend: $74,449
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $102,551
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,923
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 21166000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $29,155,356
Production budget ranking: 1,168
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,700,159
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$44,412,864
ROI to date (est.): -99%
ROI ranking: 2,019
Ludivine Sagnier – Sylvie Jeanjacquot
Mathieu Amalric – François Besse
Gérard Lanvin – Charly Bauer
Samuel Le Bihan – Michel Ardouin
Olivier Gourmet – Le commissaire Broussard
Director(s)
Jean-François Richet
Writer(s)
Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet
Producer(s)
Thomas Langmann, Maxime Rémillard, Andre Rouleau
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 16 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (90) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (17)
Yes, he was a bad guy; but what a great story.
January 21, 2011 | Rating: B+
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
His violent, pathetic end makes you sad not for the man but for a world in which such a creature could exist — and thrive.
October 20, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
According to this lofty mandate, the film shouldn’t be judged as a historically meretricious account.
September 6, 2010 | Rating: 1.5/4
Simon Abrams
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Director Jean-Francois Richet and screenwriter Abdel Raouf Dafri’s movie generates much heat, but little light.
September 3, 2010 | Rating: 2/4
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Public Enemy #1 proves the theory that a film must be more than the sum of its parts. These movies both have some great parts but the sum is less than a masterpiece.
September 2, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5
Brian Tallerico
HollywoodChicago.com
TOP CRITIC
Jacques Mesrine’s end may be inevitable, but he certainly doesn’t bore us along the way.
September 2, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
He’s paunchier than when we last saw him (Cassel put on 40lbs for the film), but no less adept at wriggling free of the law’s clutches and even slicker at getting on the front pages of newspapers and magazines.
November 22, 2020
Jason Best
Movie Talk
Public Enemy #1 is filled with some rousing set pieces, but does nothing to help us understand the man French police gunned down in cold blood on November 2, 1979.
October 28, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
The film simply meanders towards its inevitable conclusion.
May 15, 2018
Kaleem Aftab
The National (UAE)
Once again Casell is phenomenal in the role and turns the film into a compelling and gripping ending to an epic gangster flick.
November 9, 2013 | Rating: 9/10
Matt Joseph
We Got This Covered
Part 1 remains marginally compelling, if for no other reason than that it sets the table for the vastly superior Part 2.
May 26, 2013 | Rating: B-
Al Alexander
The Patriot Ledger
The only recent gangster film this one falls short of is “Killer Instinct,” the first half of the epic.
January 16, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Moore
Tribune News Service…
Plot
Mesrine: Part II – Public Enemy 1 follows the life of Jacques Mesrine, who becomes France’s most-wanted criminal, as he continues his violent and criminal activities, leading to his inevitable end.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Vincent Cassel’s performance as Jacques Mesrine is described as “mesmerizing” by Fresh Kernels.
Jean-François-Richet.jpg
85%
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
85%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 4 Oscars
29 wins & 133 nominations total
Worthwhile as both a well-acted ensemble piece and as a smart, warm statement on family values, The Kids Are All Right is remarkable
The Kids Are All Right” is like a warm hug from your favorite aunt, if your favorite aunt was a well-written story with incredible female characters. The performances are spot-on and the film balances humor and heart in all the right places. It’s the kind of movie that makes you wish there were more like it, but also makes you grateful for the gem that it is. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Kudos with chocolate chips?
Production Company(ies)
Animal Kingdom, Traction Media,
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use
Year of Release
2010
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 44m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 30, 2010 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2010
Genre(s)
Lgbtq+
Keyword(s)
starring Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Kunal Sharma, directed by Lisa Cholodenko, written by Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg, LGBTQ+, family values, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Julie and Brandy, Candice Frederick, Rene Rodriguez, Nick Schager, Sophie Mayer, David Sexton, Don Shanahan, Federico Furzan, Brian D Johnson, Michael Compton, R rating, nudity, language, strong sexual content, teen drug and alcohol use, produced by Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, Celine Rattray, Jordan Horowitz, Daniela Taplin Lundberg
Worldwide gross: $34,758,951
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,250,849
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,359
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,152,764
US/Canada gross: $20,811,365
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $28,290,689
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,292
US/Canada opening weekend: $491,971
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $668,779
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,334
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $4,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,437,546
Production budget ranking: 1,862
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,928,119
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $38,885,185
ROI to date (est.): 465%
ROI ranking: 275
Annette Bening – Nic
Mark Ruffalo – Paul
Mia Wasikowska – Joni
Josh Hutcherson – Laser
Kunal Sharma – Jai
Director – Lisa Cholodenko
Producers – Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, Celine Rattray, Jordan Horowitz, Daniela Taplin Lundberg
Writers – Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
Director(s)
Lisa Cholodenko
Writer(s)
Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
Producer(s)
Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, Celine Rattray, Jordan Horowitz, Daniela Taplin Lundberg
Film Festivals
Sundance, Berlin
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Oscars
29 wins & 133 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (226) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (208) | Rotten (18)
Say what you will about Lisa Cholodenko, but she and co-writer Stuart Blumberg deserve some major Kudos (the good kind with the chocolate chips) for writing these incredible female characters.
June 9, 2021
Julie and Brandy
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
Together the performances mark the perfect recipe in a beautifully written story is both funny in the most surprising parts and touching when it needs to be.
September 9, 2017 | Rating: A
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
Its emotional pull remains consistent to the end.
January 31, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
A long-form sitcom overly pleased with its own progressiveness.
November 26, 2010 | Rating: C-
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
The film joyfully allows us to embrace, rather than escape, the wonderful, awkward embarrassment of familial love.
November 2, 2010
Sophie Mayer
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
This is a much better made, more persuasive film than The Switch or The Back-Up Plan but just as much about wish fulfilment, and no more honest about conflicts that can leave the kids far from all right.
October 29, 2010
David Sexton
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
“The Kids Are All Right” has no soapboxes, agendas, arguments, stereotypes, or side-choosing politics. It just tells a story of what the politicians forget is at the underlying heart of the issue: family and love.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Don Shanahan
Every Movie Has a Lesson
It is a wonderful example of what happens when you blend a near perfect cast with stellar direction and a story worth telling.
September 13, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
I can’t understand the value of such a movie. It’s definitely bland and worthless. [Full review in Spanish].
June 2, 2020 | Rating: 1.5/4
Federico Furzan
Cinelipsis
This is the kind of movie that had me wishing, moments after I’d left the theatre, that there were more movies like it-sly, sexy grown-up dramas driven by characters who are as fallible as they are likable.
July 24, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
I’m not sure there are many recent releases that understand and explore the family dynamic better than “Kids.” That alone makes the film worth a look.
May 9, 2019 | Rating: B
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
Filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko gives so much depth and realism to this modern-day-family dramedy, you can feel the love pouring out of her for each one of these unconventionally authentic characters.
December 31, 2018 | Rating: A-
Kiko Martinez
San Antonio Current…
Plot
Nic and Jules are in a long term, committed, loving but by no means perfect same-sex relationship. Nic, a physician, needs to wield what she believes is control, whereas Jules, under that control, is less self-assured. During their relationship, Jules has floundered in her “nine to five” life, sometimes trying to start a business – always unsuccessfully – or being the stay-at-home mom. She is currently trying to start a landscape design business. They have two teen-aged children, Joni (conceived by Nic) and Laser (by Jules). Although not exact replicas, each offspring does more closely resemble his/her biological mother in temperament. Joni and Laser are also half-siblings, having the same unknown sperm donor father. Shortly after Joni’s eighteenth birthday and shortly before she plans to leave the house and head off to college, Laser, only fifteen and underage to do so, pleads with her to try and contact their sperm donor father. Somewhat reluctantly, she does. He is late thirty-something Paul, a co-op farmer and restaurateur. Despite his seemingly successful businesses, Paul has always shirked responsibility, most specifically in his personal life. After Joni and Laser meet with Paul, Nic and Jules learn what their children have done and, although they don’t want Paul infiltrating their lives, want to meet him – especially as Joni and Laser seem to want to maintain some sort of relationship with him. As Paul’s relationship with the entire family grows (which includes his hiring Jules to design and construct his backyard), they have an effect on what he wants in life. In turn, he affects their family dynamic as well as each person’s relationships outside of it.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels database.
Lisa-Cholodenko.jpg
85%
The Father of My Children (Le pere de mes enfants) (2010)
85%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 4 nominations
A tragedy gracefully lifted by tender empathy and moments of joy, Father of My Children is a quiet triumph for writer-director Mia Hansen-Love
The Father of My Children is a movie that will make you feel all the emotions. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s worth it. The director, Mia Hansen-Love, handles the subject matter with tenderness and grace. The film follows a family dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy, and it’s heartbreaking to watch. But it’s also a fable about life and legacy, and it’s full of insights into the human condition. If you’re looking for a movie that will make you think and feel, this is the one for you. Just make sure you have some tissues handy.
Production Company(ies)
Pathé Renn Productions, France 3 Cinéma
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Orléans, Loiret, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2009
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):French
-
Country of origin:France
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 29, 2011
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Chiara Caselli, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Alice De Lencquesaing, Michaël Abiteboul, Manelle Driss, Sandrine Dumas, directed by Mia Hansen-Løve, written by Mia Hansen-Løve, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ryan Gilbey, Lisa Rosman, Andrea Gronvall, Nick Schager, Stephen Cole, Paul Byrnes, Liz Braun, Norman Wilner, Julie Rigg, Leigh Paatsch, Craig Mathieson, Margaret Pomeranz, producer Oliver Damian, Philippe Martin, David Thion, MPAA rating, family, tragedy, independent film company, career, secrets, grief, personal life, professional life, suicide, debt, film company, Paris, film production, human side, storytelling, French (Canada), limited release, IFC Films
Worldwide gross: $480,834
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $664,566
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,678
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 72,472
US/Canada gross: $144,022
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $199,054
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,549
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,414
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,393
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,613
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 2100000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,902,433
Production budget ranking: 1,983
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,562,960
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$3,800,827
ROI to date (est.): -85%
ROI ranking: 1,925
Louis-Do de Lencquesaing – Grégoire Canvel
Alice De Lencquesaing – Clémence Canvel
Michaël Abiteboul – Le banquier
Manelle Driss – Billie Canvel
Sandrine Dumas – Valérie
Director(s)
Mia Hansen-Løve
Writer(s)
Mia Hansen-Løve, Mia Hansen-Løve
Producer(s)
Oliver Damian, Philippe Martin, David Thion
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (58) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (6)
In muting the warning signs, or allowing them to be absorbed into the bustle of life, Hansen-Lve secures for her film its slow-burning emotional impact.
July 10, 2018
Ryan Gilbey
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
This is not an easy movie. It tackles big stuff- the biggest, really… But it breathes, nonetheless, and encourages us to do so too even in the wake of the grief it inspires us to recall in our lives.
November 7, 2016
Lisa Rosman
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Andrea Gronvall
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Draws one in both empathetically and suspensefully.
December 17, 2010 | Rating: B
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
The film is achieved with a rare tenderness and grace by 29-year-old French actress-filmmaker Mia Hanson-Love.
November 5, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Stephen Cole
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
There’s a lot of intelligence and humanity in the script and it follows its own path. [Hansen-Lve’s] direction shows rare confidence and poise, a willingness to build characters slowly, with a natural flow of time.
August 27, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
A heartbreaking fable about life, legacy and the way men define themselves through their work.
November 5, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5
Liz Braun
Jam! Movies
It’s quiet, unshowy and devastating.
November 5, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Norman Wilner
NOW Toronto
It’s a very intelligent film this, and one I think which is not just revealing about film-making but has insights into the dilemmas of many others who see the businesses — or indeed family farms — they have built up over a lifetime going under.
August 27, 2010
Julie Rigg
MovieTime, ABC Radio National
French drama Father of My Children addresses an extremely confronting subject with both an unblinking gaze and an open mind.
August 26, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Inception celebrates the manufactured reality, Father of My Children the true one.
August 26, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5
Craig Mathieson
sbs.com.au
What makes it a wonderful film is that for those of us inside this crazy dream factory, and we’re only on the edges, it depicts the relentless nature of the beast, the roller-coaster ride, the unstoppable nature of a film in production.
August 25, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)…
Plot
In the first half, Gregoire, a movie producer of great charm, owner of Moon Films, plays with his younger daughters, talks with his wife and his eldest daughter, and keeps his studio going while one project hemorrhages money and creditors circle. In the second half, Sylvia, his Italian wife, tries to hold the family together as she looks fully into Moon Films’ troubles. She meets with a banker, a temperamental Swede, Russian TV magnates, a film lab exec, and Moon’s lawyer. Clémence, the oldest daughter, goes on her own search. Debt can crush; how does a family pick up the pieces?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Louis-Do de Lencquesaing as Grégoire Canvel, a man torn between his family and his career.
Mia-Hansen-Løve.jpg
85%
Looking for Eric (2010)
85%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 6 nominations
A noteworthy performance by Eric Guirado makes this gently pastoral film a moving coming-of-age story
The Grocer’s Son” is a heartwarming film that will make you want to pack your bags and move to the French countryside. With stunning views of Mont Sainte-Victoire and a cast of charming characters, this movie is a tribute to a simpler way of life. Sure, it may be a little predictable at times, but the exploration of family relationships is done with such pathos and perception that you won’t even mind. Plus, who doesn’t love a good coming-of-age story? So sit back, relax, and let “The Grocer’s Son” transport you to a world where the journey is more important than the destination.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., 5000 Broadway Productions, Likely Story
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2009
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 6, 2008 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2009
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Nicolas Cazalé, Clotilde Hesme, Daniel Duval, Jeanne Goupil, Stéphan Guérin-Tillié, Liliane Rovère, directed by Eric Guirado, written by Eric Guirado, Florence Vignon, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Hank Sartin, Cosmo Landesman, David Parkinson, David Jenkins, Wendy Ide, Peter Bradshaw, Sarah Manvel, Robin Clifford, Philip French, Tom Dawson, Miléna Poylo, Gilles Sacuto, MPAA rating, French (Canada), coming-of-age story, family tensions, rural life, mobile grocery store, elderly customers, beautiful scenery, emotional detachment, empathy, love story, city life, college entrance exams, cinematography, honest, predictable, pleasant experience
Worldwide gross: $11,650,726
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,102,593
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,794
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,756,008
US/Canada gross: $55,804
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $77,127
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,697
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,743
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $9,320
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,718
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): £4,000,000
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
Clotilde Hesme – Claire
Daniel Duval – M. Sforza
Jeanne Goupil – Mme Sforza
Stéphan Guérin-Tillié – François Sforza
Liliane Rovère – Lucienne
Director(s)
Eric Guirado
Writer(s)
Eric Guirado, Florence Vignon
Producer(s)
Miléna Poylo, Gilles Sacuto
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (60) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (6)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Written and directed by a newcomer, Eric Guirado, this is a delightful coming-of-age film that quietly explores the hidden tensions in family life.
April 28, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Cosmo Landesman
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A little predictable in places, but explores family relationships with pathos and perception.
April 24, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It’s a small, well-rounded movie that you’d be hard pressed to find fault with, achieving its modest goals with subtle aplomb while whipping up humour and empathy from Antoine’s rapport with his doddery clientele.
April 24, 2009 | Rating: 3/6
David Jenkins
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
This is a slow-burning charmer of a film that rewards those prepared to settle into its easygoing pace.
April 24, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This is a sweet and engaging little film, and though it becomes more contrived and sugary as the story progresses, there is real charm.
April 24, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
What every single person in this film does is treat the other adults as adults. Seeing it done so consistently emphasizes how rare it is to see this not only on screen, but also in real life.
August 9, 2018
Sarah Manvel
Critic’s Notebook
January 27, 2012 | Rating: B
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
The landscape with Mont Sainte-Victoire regularly in view is seductively beautiful.
April 28, 2009
Philip French
Observer (UK)
A warm-hearted tribute to a disappearing way of life, the unhurried Grocer’s Son is a well acted film where the journey is more important than the final destination.
April 25, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/5
Tom Dawson
Film4
Writer/director Eric Guirado lets events unfold at their own relaxed pace, and has a feel for simmering family resentments, while the wonderful Clotilde Hesme is effortlessly charming in the role of the free-spirited best friend.
April 25, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
Tom Dawson
Total Film
Unfolding amid the dappled sunshine and dusty roads of Provence, this is a film that lifts your spirits.
April 24, 2009
Allan Hunter
Daily Express (UK)…
Plot
Eric Bishop, a middle-aged postman working for the Manchester sorting office, is going through a dreadful crisis. For starters, his second life companion has not resurfaced although she was released from prison a few months ago. He is left alone with two stepsons to look after, which is no bed of roses since the two teens disrespect him and keep disobeying him. To make matters worse, Ryan, the older boy, fascinated by Zac, a dangerous gangster, has accepted to hide his gun in Eric’s house. On the other hand, he is asked by Sam, his student daughter who has a newborn baby, to get back in touch with Lily, his separated wife. Now, Eric left her not long after she gave back to their daughter. As a result Eric panics – Having lost all his bearings, Eric Bishop soliloquizes face to the poster of his idol, another Eric, French footballer Eric Cantona, when the latter appears just like the genie out of Aladdin’s lamp. Through a series of aphorisms peculiar to him, the footballer-philosopher will help remorse-ridden desperate Eric Bishop to get by.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a noteworthy performance by Eric Guirado.
Eric-Guirado.jpg
85%
Casino Jack And The United States Of Money (2010)
85%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Casino Jack’s subject matter is enraging, but in the hands of director Alex Gibney, it’s also well-presented and briskly entertaining
Casino Jack and the United States of Money is a documentary that explores the corrupting effect of money in American politics. While some critics found the film to be a bit scattered and overwhelming with information, others praised it for its hard-hitting approach to exposing the dirty dealings of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Personally, I found the film to be a wild ride that was both informative and entertaining. It’s like a real-life version of House of Cards, but with more golfing and Russian mobsters. Overall, I’d give it two thumbs up and a bag of popcorn.
Production Company(ies)
Power Pictures, 2002 Ltd., Bórd Scannán na hÉireann Nederlandse Programma Stichting
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some language
Year of Release
2010
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 14, 2010
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Casino Jack and the United States of Money, documentary, 2h 0m, directed by Alex Gibney, written by Alex Gibney, produced by Zena Barakat and Alison Ellwood, starring Kevin Spacey, reviewed by Peter Travers, Linda Barnard, Gary Thompson, Radheyan Simonpillai, Robert Koehler, Ian Buckwalter, David Harris, Laura Hiros, James Kendrick, Robert Roten, Dennis Schwartz, R-rated, corruption scandal, lobbyist, fraud, conspiracy, George W Bush administration, Jack Abramoff, prison sentence, Magnolia Pictures, box office gross of $174.9K, English, Bill Banowsky, Mark Cuban, David Robbins, executive producers, original music
Worldwide gross: $176,865
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $240,428
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,902
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 26,219
US/Canada gross: $176,865
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $240,428
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,509
US/Canada opening weekend: $28,234
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $38,381
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,281
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 Banowsky – Executive Producer
Zena Barakat – Producer
Mark Cuban – Executive Producer
Alison Ellwood – Producer
David Robbins – Original Music
Director(s)
Alex Gibney
Writer(s)
Alex Gibney
Producer(s)
Zena Barakat, Alison Ellwood
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (12)
February 3, 2011 | Rating: 2.5/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
January 29, 2011 | Rating: 2/4
Linda Barnard
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
January 29, 2011 | Rating: C
Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
January 28, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Radheyan Simonpillai
NOW Toronto
TOP CRITIC
Auds will feel info-glut over the course of the two-hour-plus film, which is hardly the desirable response for a piece of reporting on the vital issue of the corrupting effect of money in American politics.
September 16, 2010
Robert Koehler
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The narrative trots all over the globe, including stops for labor exploitation in the Marianas Islands, dealings with Russian mobsters,ripping off Indian tribes in the desert southwest, and jetting to Scotland to golf with impressionable politicians.
July 18, 2010 | Rating: 7.4/10
Ian Buckwalter
NPR
TOP CRITIC
A little more focus could have done the film good.
October 24, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
A cold, cynical documentary… [Full review in Spanish]
March 16, 2018 | Rating: 2/5
Laura Hiros
Rincón de cine
January 18, 2011 | Rating: 2.5/4
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk
Buying votes in Congress, illegal then, legal now.
December 23, 2010 | Rating: A
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
Dully tells the blood-boiling story of the convicted disgraced conservative superlobbyist Jack Abramoff.
December 22, 2010 | Rating: B
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
A filthy toad of a human being whose every wart is revealed in this hard-hitting documentary.
October 26, 2010
Louis Proyect
rec.arts.movies.reviews…
Plot
A probing investigation into the lies, greed and corruption surrounding D.C. super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his cronies.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels summary.
Alex-Gibney.jpg
85%
Los ojos de Julia (Julia’s Eyes) (2010)
85%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
Smart, suspenseful, and visually distinctive, Julia’s Eyes marks another modern Spanish thriller that quickens the pulse while engaging the mind
If you’re looking for a suspenseful thriller with a touch of the supernatural, Julia’s Eyes is the movie for you. While some of the plot twists may be a bit over-the-top, the stylish visuals and heart-pumping suspense make up for it. Just be prepared to cover your eyes during some of the more intense scenes. Overall, a solid entry into the Spanish thriller genre that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Production Company(ies)
Rita Productions, Blue Spirit Animation Gébéka Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2010
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2011
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
Julia’s Eyes, Horror, Spanish, Guillem Morales, Oriol Paulo, Belén Rueda, Lluís Homar, Pablo Derqui, Francesc Orella, Joan Dalmau, Boris Ruiz, reviewed by Philippa Hawker, Anthony Quinn, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Steve Rose, Marc Lee, Covadonga G Lahera, Jordi Batlle Caminal, Naila Scargill, Stephen Saito, Roe McDermott, produced by Guillermo del Toro, 90% Tomatometer, 68% Audience Score, degenerative eye disease, suspenseful, visually distinctive, modern Spanish thriller, revenge, I Saw the Devil, The Yellow Sea, Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!, rent/buy from $2.99, rent/buy from $3.99, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, smart, engaging the mind
Worldwide gross: $16,934,369
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $23,020,353
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,665
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,510,398
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
Lluís Homar – Isaac
Pablo Derqui – Iván
Francesc Orella – Inspector Dimas
Joan Dalmau – Crespulo
Boris Ruiz – Blasco
Director(s)
Guillem Morales
Writer(s)
Guillem Morales, Oriol Paulo
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (4)
Julia’s Eyes becomes a little incoherent as it plunges towards resolution, but it’s unerringly stylish and whole-heartedly suspenseful along the way.
June 2, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Philippa Hawker
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating, broken-backed picture full of riveting twists and dubious psychology.
May 23, 2011
Philip French
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
May 20, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This cannily uncanny film resonates.
May 20, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
When a few of the more ludicrous twists arrive in the second half, there’s enough goodwill generated by the thoughtful, creepy and effective setup to carry things through to the end.
May 19, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Steve Rose
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Morales overdoes the Grand Guignol until we’re numbed into submission.
May 19, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Marc Lee
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A film with no personality. [Full Review in Spanish]
September 19, 2019 | Rating: 1.5/5
Covadonga G. Lahera
Sensacine
A sharp visual treat. [Full Review in Spanish]
September 19, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Jordi Batlle Caminal
Fotogramas
Several plot twists keep us guessing, however this device is overused and the final of these is bizarre, undoing much of the work accomplished.
February 28, 2019
Naila Scargill
Exquisite Terror
“Julia’s Eyes” doesn’t deviate enough from other Spanish thrillers of late to consider it a breakthrough, but it is a more than solid entry into the genre with some truly extraordinary thrills to be had.
January 9, 2019
Stephen Saito
Moveable Fest
At nearly two hours, the film is probably about 15 minutes too long…But the final half hour is an incredible ride, full of surprising twists and the best use of flash photography in a climax since ‘Rear Window.’
May 15, 2018
Shelagh Rowan-Legg
That Shelf
An admirably innovative approach, it does indeed create a sense of helpless frustration, but as Julia’s Eyes continues, the technique feels less creepy than contrived.
March 11, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/5
Roe McDermott
Hot Press…
Plot
After the death of the blind Sara, who hanged herself in the basement of her house, her twin sister Julia suspects that she was actually murdered. Julia has a degenerative problem with her eyes and is losing her sight, and she temporarily moves with her husband Isaac to Sara’s house to arrange her funeral. Julia goes to the Centro Baumann for the blind, which Sara frequented, and she learns from other members that Sara had a boyfriend. Julia is chased by a mysterious man, but police inspector Dimas does not believe her. Julia follows Sara’s last steps trying to find the identity of her secret lover. Julia is surrounded by deaths and weird events while she loses her sight.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Julia’s Eyes.
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85%
The White Ribbon (Das weisse Band) (2009)
85%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
62 wins & 48 nominations total
The White Ribbon effectively utilizes tension and a bleak atmosphere to deliver a thought-provoking examination of nascent fascism
The White Ribbon is like a horror movie, but instead of a monster, it’s just the everyday evil that lurks in small towns. The acting is so good that you’ll feel like you’re watching a documentary, and the cinematography is stunning. It’s not a feel-good movie, but it’s definitely worth watching if you want to be both mesmerized and disturbed. Just don’t watch it before bed, or you’ll have nightmares about creepy children staring at you in black and white.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some disturbing content involving violence and sexuality
Year of Release
2010
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 24m
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Language(s):German, Italian, Polish, Latin
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Country of origin:Austria, Germany
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 30, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 29, 2010
Genre(s)
Drama/War
Keyword(s)
The White Ribbon, Drama, War, German, Michael Haneke, Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka, Margaret Ménégoz, Andrea Occhipinti, Ulrich Tukur, Rainer Bock, Burghart Klaussner, Christian Friedel, directed by Michael Haneke, written by Michael Haneke, produced by Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka, Margaret Ménégoz, Andrea Occhipinti, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Ed Koch, Stanley Kauffmann, Anton Bitel, Jason Best, rated R, $2.2M box office, tension, bleak atmosphere, nascent fascism, social status, harsh punishments, small German village, doctor, pastor, brutal pranks, upper class, local schoolteacher, suspects, disturbing content, sexuality, violence
Worldwide gross: $19,319,671
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,262,900
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,604
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,864,002
US/Canada gross: $2,222,862
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,021,729
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,936
US/Canada opening weekend: $59,848
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $81,357
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,018
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $24,468,957
Production budget ranking: 1,260
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,176,534
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$11,382,591
ROI to date (est.): -30%
ROI ranking: 1,565
Leonie Benesch – Eva
Ulrich Tukur – The Baron
Ursina Lardi – Marie-Louise, the Baroness
Burghart Klaußner – The Pastor
Steffi Kühnert – Anna, the Pastor’s Wife
Director(s)
Michael Haneke
Writer(s)
Michael Haneke
Producer(s)
Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka, Margaret Ménégoz, Andrea Occhipinti
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
62 wins & 48 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (147) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (127) | Rotten (20)
Haneke’s rigorous control of his material is so unerring, and the acting so eerily and chillingly perfect, it works simply as a portrait of this community at this particular time.
August 30, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Suffice it to say that I don’t understand the rave reviews that this picture received, and I was not a happy camper when I left the theater.
January 13, 2018
Ed Koch
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
As for Haneke’s handling of the material, his directing is immaculate. Every moment is the product of a penetrating mind and a steady talent.
September 20, 2012
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Haneke has made a deeply unsettling and gravely beautiful film that tells us very little. But the performances are astonishing, and the faces of the children, caught in long, static close-ups, may haunt you for a long time.
May 10, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5
Evan Williams
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
A tantalising, perhaps slightly frustrating film, but a very impressive one.
May 7, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Far from enjoyable escapism, The White Ribbon is nonetheless utterly compelling and quite beautiful in its unsettling presentation of this prosaic evil.
May 6, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Giles Hardie
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
As an anatomisation of the insular envy, malice and brutality that would lead to the rise of Nazism, The White Ribbon is clinically precise – but also just a little dull.
August 22, 2021
Anton Bitel
Projected Figures
Haneke is typically elusive, but he does create an indelible portrait of a repressed, authoritarian society in which the sins of the fathers are being laid upon the children.
November 25, 2020
Jason Best
Movie Talk
An engrossing, mesmerizing and involving cinematic journey that is unforgettable as a journey that is both intimate and universal.
September 27, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
The White Ribbon is one of the most gorgeous films in recent memory, with one of the blackest condemnations of human nature.
January 23, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
The White Ribbon may present difficult themes and have spiky edges and perhaps could not be described as entertainment but, as a piece of cinema, it is undoubtedly stunning.
October 25, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Nikki Baughan
Roll Credits
Haneke both enthralls and repells us, luring us into a world where all feelings are buried deep beneath the quaint and idyllic surface.
June 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row…
Plot
In a small German village, a series of brutal pranks are directed at the upper class, leading a local schoolteacher to suspect that something sinister is brewing beneath the surface. As tensions rise and fascism begins to take hold, the community is forced to confront the darkness within.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The White Ribbon.
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