Sugar (2008)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Sugar is an exceptionally-crafted film — part sports flick, part immigrant tale — with touching and poignant drama highlighted by splendid performances
Sugar is a movie that hits it out of the park! It’s not just a baseball movie, it’s an immigrant story that will tug at your heartstrings. The filmmakers did an amazing job of capturing the struggles and triumphs of a Dominican ballplayer trying to make it in America. The acting is superb, and the story is both uplifting and heartwarming. Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ll find yourself rooting for Sugar. This movie is a must-see for anyone who loves a good underdog story.
Production Company(ies)
AOI Promotion Fuji Television, Network GAGA.
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 58m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2009
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Algenis Perez Soto, Rayniel Rufino, André Holland, Michael Gaston, Jaime Tirelli, Jose Rijo, directed by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, written by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Matt Singer, Nicole Armour, David Parkinson, Ryan Gilbey, John Anderson, Lisa Kennedy, Joanne Laurier, Debbie Lynn Elias, David Harris, Sarah Manvel, Dan DiNicola, producer Paul Mezey, Jamie Patricof, Jeremy Kipp Walker, MPAA rating R, baseball, immigrant tale, Dominican Republic, American Dream, culture shock, racism, Iowa, small town, injury, tragedy, adaptation, opportunity, New York
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
Rayniel Rufino – Jorge Ramirez
André Holland – Brad
Michael Gaston – Stu
Jaime Tirelli – Osvaldo
Jose Rijo – Alvarez
Director(s)
Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Writer(s)
Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Producer(s)
Paul Mezey, Jamie Patricof, Jeremy Kipp Walker
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (138) | Top Critics (55) | Fresh (127) | Rotten (11)
Sugar is worth seeing not because it invalidates baseball’s meritocracy, or because it makes us feel guilty for enjoying the national pastime, but because it shows us with empathy and insight how baseball players are more than what they do on the field.
September 18, 2017
Matt Singer
The Rumpus
TOP CRITIC
Sugar’s personal achievement is uplifting-and it’s also cause for celebration when artists create just for the love of the game.
October 20, 2014
Nicole Armour
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This captures many moving moments and atmospheres in the diverse settings, bu the narrative arc isn’t quite as engaging as it could be.
May 9, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Just as Hoop Dreams had the urgency of great storytelling, Sugar exhibits the patience of the most penetrating documentary.
May 9, 2014
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Sugar, a baseball movie, an immigrant parable and a thoroughly entertaining drama that accomplishes the seemingly impossible task of putting a fresh face on the fractured American Dream.
March 20, 2013
John Anderson
Newsday
TOP CRITIC
Not only have director-writers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck crafted a poignant immigrant tale, they’ve made a sports saga rife with rare truths.
March 20, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
Sugar is a bittersweet commentary about the cutthroat path to the American leagues for Dominican ballplayers.
March 5, 2021
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
A hopeful story, a heartwarming story, an entertaining story…
November 15, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
Writer-directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck could have created a cliché-ridden film…But the pair (who also made the teacher drama Half Nelson), are more concerned with humanism than proving that dreams do come true.
October 9, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
By refusing to “win one for the Gipper” or any of the other boring sporty standards, the directors have a lot to be proud of. By being a little bit bolder, however, they really could have hit it out of the park.
August 9, 2018
Sarah Manvel
Critic’s Notebook
Sugar is one smart, beautiful movie, and from where I stand, it is an instant classic with the guts and integrity to remain focused on a winning story about a flowering American-immigrant soul.
February 3, 2018
Dan DiNicola
The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
A raw and insightful film that will appeal to viewers who may or may not be sports fans.
January 8, 2016 | Rating: A-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…
Plot
A young Dominican baseball player named Miguel “Sugar” Santos dreams of playing in America, but faces culture shock, racism, and other challenges when he finally gets his chance to play on a single-A team in Iowa.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The lead actor, Algenis Perez Soto, was a former baseball player himself and had never acted before being cast in the film.
Anna-Boden.jpg
87%
American Gangster (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
12 wins & 38 nominations total
American Gangster is a gritty and entertaining throwback to classic gangster films, with its lead performers firing on all cylinders
American Gangster is like a fancy steak dinner – it’s good, but you’ve had it before. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are the A1 sauce that makes it worth the price, but the story itself doesn’t quite stand out from the crowd. Still, it’s a solid choice for a movie night in with some friends and a bottle of red.
Production Company(ies)
Twentieth Century Fox,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Chiang Mai, Thailand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS DTS Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 37m
-
Language(s):English, Thai, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2007 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 10, 2006
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin, Ted Levine, directed by Ridley Scott, written by Steven Zaillian, biography, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Bob Mondello, Alonso Duralde, David Stratton, Amy Nicholson, Paul Byrnes, Anthony Quinn, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Micheal Compton, Nando Salvá, Mattie Lucas, producer Brian Grazer, MPAA rating R, crime, gangster, New York City, Harlem, drug lord, police, corruption, true story, 1970s, 1980s, organized crime, inner city, power struggle, crime boss, veteran cop, justice, chauffeur, mobster, gritty, entertaining, classic, firing on all cylinders, true crime, drug trade, heroin, smuggling, Frank Lucas, Richie Roberts, Lou Toback, Huey Lucas, Nicky Barnes, Detective Trupo
Worldwide gross: $269,755,430
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $386,442,970
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 396
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 42,142,091
US/Canada gross: $130,164,645
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $186,469,692
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 395
US/Canada opening weekend: $43,565,135
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $62,410,014
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 162
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $100,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $143,256,790
Production budget ranking: 237
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $77,143,781
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $166,042,399
ROI to date (est.): 75%
ROI ranking: 1,032
Russell Crowe – Richie Roberts
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Huey Lucas
Cuba Gooding Jr. – Nicky Barnes
Josh Brolin – Detective Trupo
Ted Levine – Lou Toback
Brian Grazer – Producer
Ridley Scott – Director, Producer
Steven Zaillian – Writer
Director(s)
Ridley Scott
Writer(s)
Steven Zaillian
Producer(s)
Brian Grazer, Ridley Scott
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
12 wins & 38 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (215) | Top Critics (64) | Fresh (173) | Rotten (42)
Ridley Scott’s gangster flick aims high and mostly measures up.
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello
NPR.org
TOP CRITIC
Telling a true story doesn’t excuse a filmmaker from making his movie stand out from the many others that have traversed similar ground.
May 1, 2008 | Rating: 2/5
Alonso Duralde
MSNBC
TOP CRITIC
Best of all, there are top-flight performances from both Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe who create interesting, rounded characters out of potential clichés.
February 12, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Scott’s not interested in fireworks but small implosions of the soul and ego.
February 3, 2008 | Rating: B
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
One of the most intelligent gangster movies in years.
January 4, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Ridley Scott’s American Gangster offers both belated history-lesson and demented hero-worship, and seems to be intended as a kind of gift to black America. One hopes that black America will have nothing to do with it.
November 16, 2007 | Rating: 1/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe deliver unbeatable performances with keen character development and a detailed screenplay.
November 24, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
American Gangster is a modestly flawed yet consistently entertaining crime drama.
September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
A highly entertaining crime epic that may feel a little familiar, but succeeds thanks to the star power of its two leads.
October 29, 2019 | Rating: B+
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
[Denzel Washington] is all charisma. [Full review in Spanish]
July 17, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Nando Salvá
Cinemanía (Spain)
Something akin to a time warp, stepping back into a time of higher filmmaking integrity and more personal visions.
June 5, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)
Though it’s certainly admirable to aim high, it’s like Frank Lucas himself says: “Either you’re somebody, or you ain’t nobody.” Unfortunately for American Gangster, it ends up somewhere between the two.
November 3, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Ali Gray
TheShiznit.co.uk…
Plot
Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. As a result, his product is superior to what is currently available on the street and his prices are lower. His alliance with the New York Mafia ensures his position. It is also the story of a dedicated and honest policeman, Richie Roberts, who heads up a joint narcotics task force with the Federal government. Based on a true story.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises the “top-flight performances” of Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in American Gangster.
Ridley-Scott.jpg
87%
The Orphanage (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 32 wins & 43 nominations
Deeply unnerving and surprisingly poignant, The Orphanage is an atmospheric, beautifully crafted haunted house horror film that earns scares with a minimum of blood
The Orphanage is the kind of movie that will make you want to sleep with the lights on for a week. It’s a spine-tingling ghost story that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The film is a masterclass in suspense, with director J.A. Bayona expertly building tension through artful technique and a laconic script. The performances are discreet and understated, adding to the film’s power and emotional pitch. If you’re a fan of horror movies, The Orphanage is a must-see. Just don’t watch it alone!
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Malpaso Productions,
Distributor
Picturehouse
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Llanes, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some disturbing content
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 45m
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States, Germany, Spain
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 11, 2008 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 22, 2008
Genre(s)
Horror/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Geraldine Chaplin, Montserrat Carulla, Mabel Rivera, Andrés Gertrúdix, Roger Príncep, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, written by Sergio G Sánchez, horror, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Tasha Robinson, Katey Rich, Eric Kohn, Peter Travers, Maria M Delgado, Peter Bradshaw, Matt Brunson, Dann Gire, Kaleem Aftab, Hannah Ryan, Laura Hiros, produced by Mar Targarona, Joaquín Padro, Álvaro Augustin, R MPAA rating, haunted house, ghosts, orphanage, missing child, emotional journey, Spanish language, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS, Picturehouse
Worldwide gross: $78,638,987
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $108,322,200
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 975
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 11,812,672
US/Canada gross: $7,161,284
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $9,864,395
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,618
US/Canada opening weekend: $233,323
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $321,394
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,518
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 3400000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $4,683,370
Production budget ranking: 1,923
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,521,995
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $101,116,835
ROI to date (est.): 1,403%
ROI ranking: 76
Fernando Cayo – Carlos
Geraldine Chaplin – Aurora
Montserrat Carulla – Benigna
Mabel Rivera – Pilar
Andrés Gertrúdix – Andrés
Director – Juan Antonio Bayona
Producer – Mar Targarona, Joaquín Padro, Álvaro Augustin
Writer – Sergio G. Sánchez
Director(s)
Juan Antonio Bayona
Writer(s)
Sergio G. Sánchez
Producer(s)
Mar Targarona, Joaquín Padro, Álvaro Augustin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
32 wins & 43 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (179) | Top Critics (55) | Fresh (156) | Rotten (23)
A skillfully made heartbreaker.
October 20, 2021
Tasha Robinson
Polygon
TOP CRITIC
Though The Orphanage sticks fairly closely to a genre fomat, and the plot twists become a little predictable, the film packs surprises all the way to the end.
October 14, 2014
Katey Rich
CinemaBlend
TOP CRITIC
Let the anticipation of Bayona’s next move begin.
October 14, 2014
Eric Kohn
New York Press
TOP CRITIC
A frightening movie that earns its scares the hard way, generating unbearable tension through artful technique instead of computer.
October 7, 2013
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
This is a movie whose power and emotional pitch lie in the understated: the discreet performances, the lack of special effects, the laconic script.
July 6, 2010
Maria M. Delgado
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
[A] pungent and scary film.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
A deeply absorbing and heavily atmospheric yarn that offers several noteworthy plot spins.
November 8, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Easily the greatest ghost movie of the 21st century so far.
November 2, 2021
Dann Gire
Chicago Daily Herald
It’s only March but you’re unlikely to see a better ghost story at the cinema this year than The Orphanage.
November 4, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Kaleem Aftab
The List
El Orfanato is as haunting and it is haunted. Somehow the horror movie clichés ( a medium, a seance, night vision, the subverting of childhood games into something sinister) come across as natural instead of contrived.
August 24, 2018
Hannah Ryan
Screen Queens
… an intelligent combination of small details, coincidences and scenes of chilling realism. [Full review in Spanish]
March 19, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Laura Hiros
Rincón de cine
Bayona never resorts to gore and prefers an approach based on the carefully built up suspense found in classic Hitchcock films; and much like Hitchcock, the story is based on a very viable Freudian premise.
February 29, 2016
Emine Yildirim
Today’s Zaman (Turkey)…
Plot
Laura, a former orphan, raises her adopted son Simón together with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. While at the orphanage Simón tells Laura that he has five invisible friends which she believes are a product of his active imagination. Laura decides to reopen the orphanage to cater for disabled children and throws a party. During the party Simón tries to persuade Laura to go and take a look at his friends cabin but she’s too busy. Later on she sees a mysterious masked boy and realizes that Simón has also disappeared. Laura feels the presence of other people in the house and months later Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Orphanage.
Juan-Antonio-Bayona.jpg
87%
Shotgun Stories (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 5 nominations
Shotgun Stories is a film that transcends the typical tropes of rural family feuds and instead injects a mythic quality into its characters and setting. Director Jeff Nichols masterfully simmers the story in a stew-pot seasoned with the beats of a rural family comedy, resulting in a gripping tragedy that manages to be both lyrical and gritty at the same time. The naturalistic performances, led by the now ubiquitous Michael Shannon, elevate the film above the fray of Green derivatives and unflattering categorizations. Nichols’ original take on classic themes of vengeance and retribution is dropped into a world of real people struggling with the real problems of making a living, taking responsibility for families, and dealing with the betrayals of the past. The slow pacing and occasionally artificial-sounding dialogue may not be for everyone, but for those willing to immerse themselves in this world, Shotgun Stories is a cumulatively forceful and precisely modulated gem of a film.
Shotgun Stories” is like a spicy gumbo of rural family drama and mythic storytelling. The slow burn of the plot might not be for everyone, but the naturalistic performances and Jeff Nichols’ direction keep you hooked. Plus, Michael Shannon is everywhere these days, and he’s just as intense and captivating as ever. It’s like watching a modern western without all the shootouts, but you can still feel the tension and violence simmering beneath the surface. Just don’t expect a lot of action or you might be disappointed.
Production Company(ies)
Universum Film
Distributor
International Film Circuit [us]
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Keo Fish Farms, Keo, Arkansas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for violence, thematic elements and brief strong language
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 32m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Michael Shannon, Douglas Ligon, Barlow Jacobs, Natalie Canerday, Glenda Pannell, directed by Jeff Nichols, written by Jeff Nichols, drama, PG-13, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Derek Adams, Ben Kenigsberg, Leo Goldsmith, Steve Rose, Eddie Cockrell, Maureen M Hart, Eve Tushnet, David Lamble, Mattie Lucas, Annie Wagner, Sean Axmaker, Alberto Abuín, family feud, violence, revenge, cycle of violence, rural Arkansas, naturalistic performances, mythic quality, vengeance, retribution, Take Shelter, Midnight Special, Blue Ruin
Worldwide gross: $185,699
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $255,793
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,882
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 27,895
US/Canada gross: $46,026
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $63,399
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,727
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,553
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,272
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,783
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
Douglas Ligon – Boy Hayes
Barlow Jacobs – Kid Hayes
Natalie Canerday – Nicole
Glenda Pannell – Annie
Jeff Nichols – Director
David Gordon Green – Producer
Lisa Muskat – Producer
Jeff Nichols – Writer
Director(s)
Jeff Nichols
Writer(s)
Jeff Nichols
Producer(s)
David Gordon Green, Lisa Muskat, Jeff Nichols
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (6)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
There is much to “Shotgun Stories” that elevates it above the fray of Green derivatives and unflattering categorizations, bolstered by a roster of naturalistic, fully assimilated performances, led by “Bug”‘s now ubiquitous Michael Shannon.
August 8, 2009
Leo Goldsmith
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
Set in rural Arkansas, Jeff Nichols’ relaxed, distinctive debut revels in the milieu of its redneck characters, but injects their rural half-blood feud with an almost mythic quality.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Steve Rose
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
A precisely modulated yet cumulatively forceful story of a rural family feud turned deadly.
October 18, 2008
Eddie Cockrell
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Director Jeff Nichols lets the action unfold slowly following an impromptu insult, but the escalation of hatred and pain feels natural.
July 9, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Maureen M. Hart
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
There’s not much here beyond the mythologically-rich setup. Once the plot is in motion, it goes through its paces and that’s all.
May 23, 2022
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
Nichols simmers his gripping tragedy in a stew-pot seasoned with the beats of a rural family comedy…
June 18, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Paints an engagingly naturalistic portrait of its characters and the lives they lead that manages to be both lyrical and gritty at the same time.
July 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Slowness drags the score into repetitive motifs that never seem to speed or slow and locks the dialogue into an occasionally artificial-sounding gravity.
August 21, 2017
Annie Wagner
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
Nichols’ original take on classic themes of vengeance and retribution is dropped into a world of real people struggling with the real problems of making a living, taking responsibility for families and dealing with the betrayals of the past.
March 9, 2017
Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com
A kind of modern and direct western where violence isn’t seen but you can feel it. [Full review in Spanish]
January 23, 2017
Alberto Abuín
Espinof…
Plot
After spitting on their father’s grave, Son and his brothers engage in a deadly feud with their half-brothers, leading to tragedy and a potential end to the violence in Shotgun Stories.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Michael Shannon’s lead performance in Shotgun Stories as “brilliant.”
Jeff-Nichols.jpg
87%
Times and Winds (Bes vakit) (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Lilting and meditative, Reha Erdem’s story of three adolescents in rural Turkey captivates with intimate details and long takes of the endless countryside
Times and Winds” is a movie that takes its time, but it’s worth the wait. Critics have called it “painfully slow” and “too surreal,” but I call it “a dream-wander through the physical and emotional awakenings of three young teenagers.” The film is set in a remote Anatolian village, where time seems to stand still. But as the children grow up and face the harsh realities of life, they begin to understand the cyclical nature of violence and the eternal return of human progress. It’s a beautiful, poetic, and ultimately enriching film that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Just make sure you have some coffee on hand to stay awake during the slow parts!
Production Company(ies)
Miramax, Shooting Gallery
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Assos, Ayvacik, Çanakkale, Turkey
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Turkish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 15, 2008
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Times and Winds, drama, Turkish, Reha Erdem, directed by Reha Erdem, written by Reha Erdem, Ozkan Ozen, Ali Bey Kayali, Elit Iscan, Taner Birsel, Omer Atay, box office gross $6.2K, reviewed by Ben Kenigsberg, Joe Morgenstern, Maureen M Hart, Derek Malcolm, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Anthony Quinn, Jeffrey Overstreet, MaryAnn Johanson, Anton Bitel, Rich Cline, Sam Wigley, Rob Daniel, 88% Tomatometer, 81% audience score, rural Turkey, adolescents, poverty, mountain village, father-son conflict, secret infatuation, housework, prayer sessions, intimate details, long takes, endless countryside
Worldwide gross: $387,396
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $533,623
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,723
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 58,192
US/Canada gross: $6,176
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,507
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,824
US/Canada opening weekend: $1,338
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,843
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,853
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
Ali Bey Kayali – Yakup
Elit Iscan – Yildiz
Taner Birsel – Imam
Reha Erdem – Director, Screenwriter
Director(s)
Reha Erdem
Writer(s)
Reha Erdem
Producer(s)
Omer Atay
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (5)
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s a work of singular beauty.
August 27, 2010
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
Erdem’s script and his young cast do a fine job of recalling the years between carefree childhood (embodied by Omer’s brother, the precocious and adorable Ali) and adult power and duties.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Maureen M. Hart
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Though painfully slow to ignite and poetically portentous on occasions, Reha Erdem’s film about three children growing up in a remote Anatolian village, isolated by high mountains, has an impressive edge to it.
August 29, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Light radiates intensely from Reha Erdem’s glowing enigma, a spiritual yet earthy meditation on the passing of time that proves quietly fruitful.
August 29, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The film is concerned with observing the passage of time, the change in the light, the immemorial contours of the landscape, and, in one shot, a very touching pieta of a boy and his new baby sibling. Compelling stuff if you can stay with it.
August 29, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
As Arvo Pärt’s orchestration runs ponderously through the film, so the consequences of cyclical violence weigh heavily on Erdem’s mind. But his vision is not without hope.
June 15, 2012 | Rating: A-
Jeffrey Overstreet
Filmwell
An earthy, cruelly honest dream-wander through the physical and emotional awakenings of three young teenagers whose lives are shaped and constrained by the rural rhythms of their remote mountain village.
October 29, 2008
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
in a film both as banal, and as miraculous, as the endlessly repeating metamorphoses that it portrays, time does not so much heal old wounds as reopen them in new bodies – and the result is a vision that sets human progress against eternal return.
September 3, 2008
Anton Bitel
Eye for Film
Too surreal and symbolic to fully connect with mainstream cinema audiences, but lovers of challenging festival films will be captivated
August 29, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
We’ve seen this kind of picturesque rural drama before, but director Reha Erdem still hews a rich poetry from the material. The story’s elegantly structured around the five daily calls-to-prayer given from a parapet with stunning views.
August 29, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Sam Wigley
Total Film
Difficult, frustrating, but engrossing and ultimately enriching, make time to see it.
August 29, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Rob Daniel
Sky Cinema…
Plot
In a poor, rural mountain village in northern Turkey, three adolescents lead difficult lives and navigate the challenges of youth while dealing with their tough existence and the daily routine of prayer sessions.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Times and Winds.
Reha-Erdem.jpg
87%
My Kid Could Paint That (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 7 nominations
Director Amir Bar-Lev grapples with exposing the authenticity of four-year-old Marla’s paintings at the sake of burdening her publicly shamed family to transfixing results
My Kid Could Paint That is a documentary that explores the story of Marla Olmstead, a four-year-old girl who became an overnight sensation in the art world. Critics have praised the film for its insightful investigation into media frenzy and public perception, as well as its exploration of family dynamics and the nature of nonfigurative art. Some have criticized the film for exploiting Marla and her family, but overall, it’s a fascinating and thought-provoking look at the world of art and the people who inhabit it. Plus, it’s always fun to see a kid show up the so-called “experts”!
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Bill, Phillips
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Binghamton, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for language
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 22m
-
Language(s):English, Mandarin
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 4, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, art world, child prodigy, controversy, authenticity, abstract art, family dynamics, media frenzy, journalism, ethics, art dealing, New York Times, Marla Olmstead, Mark Olmstead, Laura Olmstead, Amir Bar-Lev, directed by Amir Bar-Lev, written by Amir Bar-Lev, produced by Amir Bar-Lev, PG-13, box office gross, $231.3K, limited release, Sony Pictures Classics, Elizabeth Cohen, Jonathan Crosby, Tara Sands, Michael Kimmelman, reviewed by Michael Kimmelman, documentary critic, Hank Sartin, Time Out, Mark Bourne, Film.com, Amy Nicholson, I.E Weekly, Neil Smith, BBC.com, Will Lawrence, Empire Magazine, Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle, Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer, Jennifer Merin, About.com, Jonathan Kiefer, Sacramento News & Review, Rossiter Drake, San Francisco Examiner, PG-13, English
Worldwide gross: $258,316
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $370,055
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,811
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 40,355
US/Canada gross: $231,574
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $331,745
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,427
US/Canada opening weekend: $26,290
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $37,662
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,288
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
Elizabeth Cohen – Voice
Jonathan Crosby – Voice
Tara Sands – Voice
Director(s)
Amir Bar-Lev
Writer(s)
Amir Bar-Lev
Producer(s)
Amir Bar-Lev
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (83) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (78) | Rotten (5)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
New York Times senior art critic Michael Kimmelman offers sharp insights when he mentions how Marla’s painting reflects not just ‘innocence’ and what our psyches project into them, but also ‘the cynicism of the art world.’
March 11, 2008
Mark Bourne
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating exploration of art, creativity, and family dynamics that takes an unexpected right hook.
February 22, 2008 | Rating: A
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
A compelling documentary that leaves you wondering if there is nothing sacred in this stinking world.
December 18, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Neil Smith
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A highly engaging documentary that recounts a remarkable tale.
December 14, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Will Lawrence
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Bar-Lev exploits Marla as much as, if not more than, any other player in his movie.
November 17, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
February 9, 2011 | Rating: 8/10
Jeff Otto
ReelzChannel.com
Questions of authenticity surrounding four year old Marla Olmstead’s paintings occasion filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev’s insightful investigation about media frenzy and public perception, and the very nature of nonfigurative art.
June 16, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Jennifer Merin
About.com
One of art’s richest rewards is its way of teaching us about our assumptions, doubts, and capacity for faith. … My Kid Could Paint That gets people thinking and talking.
November 26, 2008 | Rating: A+
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review
Marla’s story is a sobering illustration of the way children can be exploited by adults who should know better %u2013 journalists, filmmakers and especially their own parents.
June 5, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Rossiter Drake
San Francisco Examiner
Like all good art, this raises difficult questions.
May 19, 2008
Anton Bitel
Eye for Film…
Plot
Four year old Marla Olmstead from Binghamton, New York became the sensation of the art world for her abstract artwork, which have sold for thousands of dollars per piece. The showing of her work started off as a lark, but when the paintings sold without the buyers knowing who the artist was, the media began to run with the story. Through it all, Marla’s parents, Mark Olmstead and Laura Olmstead, want to be grounded in what is best for their daughter while exposing her to whatever positive may come from the experience. But some negative and big name media also surfaces, some questioning whether Marla is the real artist behind the work, and some questioning exposing a four year old to such infamy. Regardless, the fact of this art selling brings up the legitimacy of abstract art being quantified as “quality”, especially if a four year old can produce it but can’t express the emotions or rationale behind its creation. Or is art truly in the eyes of the beholder? Regardless, money, in the art world as is much in life, becomes the great equalizer.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t mention anything goofy or funny about the film, but it does mention that the documentary explores the authenticity of four-year-old Marla’s paintings and the burden it places on her publicly shamed family.
Amir-Bar-Lev.jpg
87%
Into the Wild (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
23 wins & 106 nominations total
With his sturdy cast and confident direction, Sean Penn has turned a complex work of non-fiction like Into the Wild into an accessible and poignant character study
Into the Wild is a film that will make you want to pack your bags and hit the road, but maybe not to the extent that the main character does. Emile Hirsch’s portrayal of Chris McCandless is both captivating and frustrating, as you watch him make questionable decisions that ultimately lead to his demise. The cinematography is stunning, but be warned, there are some hard-to-watch hunting scenes that might make you want to look away. Overall, it’s a worthwhile watch for anyone who has ever dreamed of leaving it all behind and living off the land, but maybe just stick to camping for now.
Production Company(ies)
Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet Corp. Goodmovies Entertainment,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Astoria, Oregon, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some nudity
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 12.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 27m
-
Language(s):English, Danish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2007 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 4, 2008
Genre(s)
Biography/Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $56,675,895
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $81,192,068
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,121
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,854,097
US/Canada gross: $18,354,356
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,293,861
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,316
US/Canada opening weekend: $212,440
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $304,335
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,538
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $21,488,519
Production budget ranking: 1,334
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,571,567
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $48,131,982
ROI to date (est.): 146%
ROI ranking: 779
Marcia Gay Harden – Billie McCandless
William Hurt – Walt McCandless
Jena Malone – Carine McCandless
Catherine Keener – Jan Burres
Brian Dierker – Rainey
Director(s)
Sean Penn
Writer(s)
Sean Penn
Producer(s)
Sean Penn, Art Linson, Bill Pohlad
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
23 wins & 106 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (200) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (165) | Rotten (35)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Even Penn’s more indulgent flourishes seem to enhance the film’s keen feeling.
July 6, 2010
Tim Robey
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
As [Hirsch] struggles with the elements, his increasing frailty and the cinematography’s increasing grandeur mesh in a way that’s at once iconic and wrenching.
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello
NPR.org
TOP CRITIC
Penn’s main idea about going native is making eye contact with a deer.
February 22, 2008 | Rating: C
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The film is about people trying to live good lives and that is ultimately a serious and worthwhile subject. Into The Wild is one of the best films of the year.
February 1, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
In its preoccupation with Mother Nature, free spirits, and the pursuit of new experiences, it forgets to tell a worthwhile story or remain consistently entertaining.
November 26, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Emile Hirsch perfectly highlights [his] untamed character. [Full review in Spanish]
November 3, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Mariló García
Cinemanía (Spain)
Penn and Hirsch test our patience with a time-tripping style of cinema that mixes fiction and nonfiction narrative styles, physical and emotional nudity, facial hair and hard-to-watch hunting scenes.
May 26, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Into the Wild captures the recklessness, the passion, and also the cruelty of youth.
January 28, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
This is a film that is full of life, showing how much living the young man did in his short time on earth, yet it’s laced with the tragic realization that his life was somewhat wasted.
October 29, 2019 | Rating: A
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
A masterpiece; a rapturous, quintessential American odyssey that earns its place in the pantheon of the great “road” films and at the pinnacle of this year’s very best.
June 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)…
Plot
Based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University, Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire savings account to charity, and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Sean-Penn.jpg
87%
Grindhouse (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 10 wins & 22 nominations
Grindhouse delivers exhilarating exploitation fare with wit and panache, improving upon its source material with feral intelligence
Grindhouse is like a wild ride through a haunted house, but instead of ghosts, you’re dodging bullets and exploding pustules. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for a good time and some shocking gore, this movie has got you covered. Plus, the fake trailers are hilarious and worth the price of admission alone. Just make sure you bring a strong stomach and a sense of humor.
Production Company(ies)
AGBO Hotdog Hands Ley Line Entertainment,
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Luling, Texas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality, nudity and drug use
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:3h 11m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States, Canada
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 2007 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 18, 2007
Genre(s)
Action/Horror
Keyword(s)
Grindhouse, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Marley Shelton, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Naveen Andrews, Action, Horror, R, Gore, Drug Use, Strong Graphic Bloody Violence, Nudity, Pervasive Language, Some Sexuality, Elizabeth Avellan, Erica Steinberg, $25.0M, Weinstein Co., Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS, Scope (2.35:1), reviewed by David Fear, Roger Ebert, Joe Morgenstern, Claudia Puig, Mark Rahner, Bruce Newman, directed by Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, written by Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, produced by Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, Elizabeth Avellan, Erica Steinberg, Grindhouse delivers exhilarating exploitation fare with wit and panache, Shaun of the Dead, The Descent, 28 Days Later, The Shining, Dawn of the Dead
Worldwide gross: $25,422,088
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $36,418,867
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,481
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,971,523
US/Canada gross: $25,037,897
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $35,868,488
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,210
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,596,613
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $16,612,936
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 741
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $67,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $95,982,049
Production budget ranking: 432
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $51,686,334
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$111,249,516
ROI to date (est.): -75%
ROI ranking: 1,845
Rose McGowan – Cherry
Freddy Rodríguez – Wray
Marley Shelton – Dakota
Sydney Tamiia Poitier – Jungle Julia
Naveen Andrews – Abby
Quentin Tarantino – Warren the Bartender
Jordan Ladd – Shanna
Mary Elizabeth Winstead – Lee
Rosario Dawson – Abernathy
Tracie Thoms – Kim
Zoë Bell – Herself/Stuntwoman
Vanessa Ferlito – Arlene
Tom Savini – Deputy Tolo
Michael Parks – Earl McGraw
Jeff Fahey – J.T.
Michael Bacall – Omar
Monica Staggs – Lanna Frank
Eli Roth – Dov
Omar Doom – Nate
Stacy Ferguson – Tammy
Electra Avellan – Babysitter Twin #1
Elise Avellan – Babysitter Twin #2
Quentin Tarantino – Director (Death Proof)
Robert Rodriguez – Director (Planet Terror)
Quentin Tarantino – Writer (Death Proof)
Robert Rodriguez – Writer (Planet Terror)
Robert Rodriguez – Producer
Quentin Tarantino – Producer
Elizabeth Avellan – Producer
Erica Steinberg – Producer
Director(s)
Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez
Writer(s)
Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez
Producer(s)
Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, Elizabeth Avellan, Erica Steinberg
Film Festivals
Sundance, Cannes
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 22 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (194) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (162) | Rotten (32)
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
David Fear
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Grindhouse is both impressive and disappointing. From a technical and craft point of view it is first-rate; from its standing in the canon of the two directors, it is minor.
October 26, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The whole thing runs a bit over three hours, goes by swiftly, contains countless film references and includes hilarious fake trailers.
April 9, 2007
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
A rowdy jolt of quasi-nostalgic escapism.
April 9, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Claudia Puig
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
Shocking gore. Excessive violence. Gratuitous nudity. Exploding pustules. Hey, maybe your childhood was different than mine.
April 9, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mark Rahner
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
A weaponized adrenaline rush.
April 9, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Bruce Newman
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
An outrageously entertaining, slam-bang double feature
June 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)
The one thing that became evident to me, while watching Tarantino’s homage to sewer cinema, is that even while the flesh is melting and being blown apart with bullets, if the spirit is missing, there simply isn’t much point.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
Not just a movie but an event in its own right, Grindhouse is simply unmissable in its complete form.
October 14, 2012 | Rating: 5/5
Ali Gray
TheShiznit.co.uk
A paean to the exploitation films of the 70s, built more for titillation than story-telling, Grindhouse – especially the Rodriguez sequence – is nearly impossibly silly, not necessarily a bad thing, and is certainly not for everyone.
March 22, 2011 | Rating: 7.5/10
Joshua Starnes
ComingSoon.net
Grindhouse is a great experience, packed with fun, thrills, chills and gore galore.
October 21, 2010 | Rating: 8/10
R.L. Shaffer
IGN DVD
Delivers all the trashy, seat-squirming, eye-covering moments your fiercely racing heart craves. Forget about “guilty pleasures.” Call it a pleasure, and leave it at that.
June 9, 2010 | Rating: 7.5/10
Ian Buckwalter
DCist…
Plot
A double-bill of thrillers that recall both filmmakers’ favorite exploitation films. “Grindhouse” (a downtown movie theater in disrepair since its glory days as a movie palace known for “grinding out” non-stop double-bill programs of B-movies) is presented as one full-length feature comprised of two individual films helmed separately by each director. “Death Proof,” is a rip-roaring slasher flick where the killer pursues his victims with a car rather than a knife, while “Planet Terror” shows us a view of the world in the midst of a zombie outbreak. The films are joined together by clever faux trailers that recall the ’50s exploitation drive-in classics.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Grindhouse.
Quentin-Tarantino.jpg
87%
Brand Upon the Brain! (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 3 nominations
Brand Upon the Brain! is a cinematic fever dream that will leave you questioning your own sanity. Guy Maddin’s unique style of filmmaking is not for the faint of heart, but for those who dare to enter his world, they will be rewarded with a visually and aurally stunning experience. Maddin’s use of flickery symbolism and frenetically edited silent-movie models creates a bizarre bildungsroman cum scare flick that is both preposterous and oddly affecting. Isabella Rossellini’s narration and Jason Staczek’s superb score enhance the intense emotions that feel painful and personal. This Freudian vampire film is not just weird, it’s wonderfully weird, and it’s a must-see for those who like their cinema strange and different.
Brand Upon the Brain! is a wild ride that’s not for the faint of heart. It’s like a fever dream that you can’t quite shake off, but in the best way possible. The visuals and score are stunning, and the story is both preposterous and oddly affecting. It’s definitely not your average movie, but if you’re looking for something strange and different, this is the one for you. Just be prepared to enter the wonderfully weird world of Guy Maddin.
Production Company(ies)
Alexander Nanau Production, Samsa Film, HBO Europe,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Seattle, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Aug 12, 2008
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring David Armo, Isabella Rossellini, Sullivan Brown, Maya Lawson, Katherine E Scharhon, Andrew Loviska, directed by Guy Maddin, written by Guy Maddin, George Toles, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kenneth Turan, John Monaghan, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Ty Burr, Ruthe Stein, Carrie Rickey, David Lamble, Dorothy Woodend, Leonard Klady, Lawrence Levi, Gerald Peary, Amy Jacobson, Gregg Lachow, MPAA rating, lighthouse, orphanage, childhood home, Canadian island, bizarre, heartfelt sincerity, unique cinematic experience, loopiest, inspired, flickery symbolism, painful, personal, Freudian vampire film, bildungsroman, scare flick, German expressionism
Worldwide gross: $298,982
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $411,836
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,786
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 44,911
US/Canada gross: $263,200
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $362,548
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,416
US/Canada opening weekend: $46,412
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $63,931
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,118
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
Isabella Rossellini – Narrator
Sullivan Brown – Young Guy Maddin
Maya Lawson – Sis
Katherine E. Scharhon – Chance Hale/Wendy Hale
Andrew Loviska – Savage Tom
Director(s)
Guy Maddin
Writer(s)
Guy Maddin, George Toles
Producer(s)
Amy Jacobson, Gregg Lachow
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (58) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (5)
The director’s form of genial cinematic dementia is guaranteed not to be to all tastes at all times, but those who are looking for something strange and different will feel right at home.
October 17, 2014
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
For me it captures Maddin at his loopiest and most inspired.
July 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Narrated by Isabella Rossellini and enhanced by Jason Staczek’s superb score, this is characteristically intense and, unlike most of Maddin’s silent-movie models, frenetically edited.
July 13, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
No matter how much the director disguises the tale in flickery symbolism, the emotions feel painful and personal.
June 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Brand Upon the Brain! is like no other movie you’re likely to see this year — or any other year. It won’t be to everyone’s taste. But for those who like their cinema weird, it doesn’t get any weirder or more oddly fascinating than this.
June 15, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Ruthe Stein
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
… a feverishly imaginative Freudian vampire film …
June 15, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
One of the best things about Brand Upon the Brain! is that it doesn’t set off that dreaded snooze alarm…
May 21, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
It’s a little spastic, a little dreamy, terribly demented. . .not unlike the director himself. It’s also visually and aurally stunning.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
It is breathlessly preposterous at times but stays clear of arch parody, allowing audiences to be unabashedly part of the antics.
October 17, 2014
Leonard Klady
Screen International
It’s a bizarre bildungsroman cum scare flick, with Mom as the chief villain — Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate by way of Psycho. And like so many of Maddin’s films, it’s oddly and uniquely affecting.
October 17, 2014
Lawrence Levi
Stop Smiling
Pretty darned good.
October 17, 2014
Gerald Peary
Boston Phoenix
[Maddin] taps a rich vein in this highly memorable and frequently disturbing homage to lost innocence and German expressionism.
October 17, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Katherine Monk
Canada.com…
Plot
A man returns to his childhood home on an abandoned Canadian island to paint a lighthouse that his parents used as an orphanage, in the bizarre and unique cinematic experience that is Brand Upon the Brain!
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Isabella Rossellini narrates the film.
Guy-Maddin.jpg
87%
When the Road Bends: Tales of a Gypsy Caravan (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins
A dynamic doc following five Romani bands is a pleasure for the senses thanks to vibrant colors and eclectic music
Gypsy Caravan is a must-see for anyone who loves music and culture. The film takes you on a journey with Roma musicians from all over the world, showcasing their unique styles and personalities. From the Indian group with their bejeweled drag dancer to the oompah-based Romanians, you’ll be tapping your feet and nodding your head to the beat. The poverty contrasts sharply with the excitement of the tour bus, but the music itself is full of joy and sorrow. It’s a reminder that even in the toughest of times, music can bring people together and lift their spirits. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
Piki Films, Defender Films, Curious Film
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jasmine Dellal – Producer
San Fu Maltha – Executive Producer
Wouter Barendrecht – Executive Producer
Michael J. Werner – Executive Producer
Albert Maysles – Cinematographer
Director(s)
Jasmine Dellal
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Jasmine Dellal
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (7)
For its glimpses of various lifestyles and personalities — an ancient but spry fiddler, a young male who performs in drag — it isn’t bad.
January 4, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Gypsy Caravan – When the Road Bends evokes the US tour of Roma musicians whose astonishing diversity ranges from the Indian group with their bejewelled drag dancer to oompah-based Romanians.
September 29, 2007
Martin Hoyle
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
So long seen as ragged leftovers from an older historical epoch, the Roma turn out to be a modern people who have a lot to teach over-developed societies about what it means to be human.
September 28, 2007
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
These extraordinary musicians ought to put an end to any sniffiness about Gypsy music.
September 28, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The poverty contrasts sharply with the excitement of the tour bus and cuts to the heart of the songs themselves, famed for their “joy and sorrow”.
September 28, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
If you have any ear for non-Western music, Gypsy Caravan is a must.
September 6, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
The different musicians come from far-flung locales including Macedonia, Romania, India and Spain, but all of them carry in their hearts the spirit of the travelling, itinerant musician.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
Dellal’s documentary often seems like a cleaned-up, homogenized version of the chaotic Roma world presented by Gatlif, Kusturica, et al. But even toned down and packaged, the music itself has the power to thrill.
April 28, 2011
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review
December 7, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film
The energy is electric, the camerawork crisp and colourful, the editing note-perfect. . . . for the Roma, music sounds the notes of a harsh, maligned cultural history, making them all the more unforgettable while demanding remembrance, even awe.
December 6, 2007
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)
Blessed with a wealth of characters, moving stories and roof-raising performances, Gypsy Caravan is as rich as the music it promotes. Fans of Buena Vista should definitely join the club.
September 28, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Billy Mowbray
Film4…
Plot
This documentary follows five different Romani bands as they tour across America, showcasing their diverse music and cultures while fusing their styles into new hybrids.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any tidbits about the cast of Gypsy Caravan.
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