Into Great Silence (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Into Great Silence is a cinematic masterpiece that takes the viewer on a journey of introspection and contemplation. The film’s slow pace and lack of dialogue may be challenging for some, but for those willing to immerse themselves in the world of the Grande Chartreuse monastery, it is a deeply rewarding experience. Director Philip Gröning’s attention to detail and his ability to capture the beauty of the natural world and the austere life of the monks is truly remarkable. The film is a meditation on faith, devotion, and the search for meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and overwhelming. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of spirituality and cinema, and a testament to the power of silence and stillness in a noisy and frenetic world.
Into Great Silence is a movie that will leave you speechless, literally. It’s so quiet that you can hear a pin drop, or in this case, a monk’s robe rustling. But don’t let the lack of sound fool you, this documentary is a masterpiece. It takes you inside the Grande Chartreuse monastery and shows you the daily life of the Carthusian monks. You’ll witness their devotion, their routines, and their silence. It’s a unique experience that will make you appreciate the power of stillness. Just make sure you don’t watch it when you’re feeling sleepy, or you might end up taking a nap with the monks.
Production Company(ies)
The Directors Company, Saticoy Productions, Paramount Pictures,
Distributor
Zeitgeist
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Grande Chartreuse, Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, Isère, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 44m
-
Language(s):French, Latin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 28, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 3, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, French Alps, monastery, Carthusian monks, Philip Gröning, directed by Philip Gröning, written by Philip Gröning, produced by Philip Gröning, Elda Guidinetti, Andres Pfäffli, Michael Weber, genre, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nick Schager, J.R Jones, Steven Rea, Marc Savlov, Noel Murray, MPAA rating, Philip Gröning starring, Jörg Schulze starring, Michael Stricker starring, documentary dream, Los Angeles Plays Itself, Iron Island, The Devil’s Miner, Our Daily Bread, Man Push Cart, critic reviews, audience score, runtime, Dolby SRD, Zeitgeist, distributor, sound mix, 16 years, initial request, rituals, prayers, tasks, ascetic, limited release, streaming release, gross USA, photos, cast and crew, critic consensus, transcendental, pulse-slowing rhythms, peace, eerie, picaresque, evocative, alien, daring, breathtakingly constructed, deeply intimate, innocent, vulnerable, experience, silence, Before Bach, complexity, passive reflection, creative conception, organic, musical formulation, space between sounds, fascinate, Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze, cynical atheist, convinced, God, envy, resolute commitment, utter faith, secular influences, material comforts, electrical appliance, electric razor, Seoul, initiation ceremony, patterns, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $4,886,163
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,446,431
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,052
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 812,043
US/Canada gross: $790,452
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,204,636
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,145
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,355
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $17,305
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,563
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
Jörg Schulze – Executive Producer
Michael Stricker – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Philip Gröning
Writer(s)
Philip Gröning
Producer(s)
Philip Gröning, Elda Guidinetti, Andres Pfäffli, Michael Weber
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (8)
Something to behold.
January 15, 2008 | Rating: B+
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
This 2005 feature is demanding to say the least, but its pulse-slowing rhythms leave a real sense of peace.
May 4, 2007
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A transcendental piece of filmmaking.
April 27, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
At once eerie, picaresque, evocative, and utterly alien to the reality most viewers inhabit, Into Great Silence is a daring and breathtakingly constructed documentary dream.
April 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
As a place to enter and meditate, Into Great Silence is imminently worthy, but as a documentary, it doesn’t do enough to probe the meaning of the quotation Grning returns to repeatedly: “Oh Lord, you have seduced me, and I was seduced.”
April 5, 2007 | Rating: B
Noel Murray
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
On a philosophical level, Into Great Silence emphasizes the virtues of the ascetic life, returning again and again to the idea of giving away all possessions in order to become a true disciple.
March 30, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
It is among the most deeply intimate, innocent, and vulnerable films ever created.
September 12, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
This is an experience it’s hard to say much about.
October 22, 2018
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
. . .if you’d like no sound at all then enter Into Great Silence, a look inside the beautifully austere monastery of the Grande Chartreuse and simply rest your ears.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
Despite his restrictions, Groning finds light and shade, contrasting the natural – more chaotic world – with the regimented life within the cloister.
June 13, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
The Silence Before Bach: Illuminates a complexity of ideas, including the passive reflection prior to creative conception and organic to musical formulation and the space between sounds, that fascinate the filmmaker, both musically and cinematically.
January 7, 2008
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze
By the final third of the documentary, we evolve to a state of envy – envious at their resolute commitment and their utter faith – and even the most cynical atheist might find himself convinced that if anyone will find God, it is these men.
June 27, 2007 | Rating: 4/4
Steven Snyder
Zertinet Movies…
Plot
An examination of life inside the Grande Chartreuse, the head monastery of the reclusive Carthusian Order in France.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about Into Great Silence, but one critic did describe it as “a nearly wordless documentary about the Grande Chartreuse Monastery in France (Instead of talking heads, there are silent heads.)”
Philip-Gröning.jpg
87%
Iraq in Fragments (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
12 wins & 8 nominations total
Iraq in Fragments is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the essence of a country torn apart by war and political turmoil. Director James Longley’s technique of using observation and revealing juxtapositions instead of interviews and voiceover commentary is a breath of fresh air in the documentary genre. The film is both gritty and lyrical, showcasing the chaos of Baghdad streets and the quiet beauty of the Kurdish countryside. Longley’s use of children’s faces to tug at our heartstrings may feel shamelessly staged to some, but it adds a layer of emotional depth to the film. Iraq in Fragments is a well-crafted, thoughtful study of the dueling divisiveness and hope that will define the region long after foreign troops leave.
Iraq in Fragments is a documentary that takes you on a journey through the lives of ordinary Iraqis. The film is both gritty and lyrical, showing how tanks share the Baghdad streets with donkeys as well as the quiet beauty of the Kurdish countryside. It’s like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with moments that tug at your heartstrings and others that leave you feeling hopeful. The director’s flair is impressive, and the film is well-crafted and thoughtful. Overall, it’s a timely and candid look at daily life in a post-invasion Iraq, and definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Horizon Pictures,
Distributor
Typecast Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Najaf, Iraq
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 33m
-
Language(s):Kurdish, Arabic
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 2006 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Iraq in Fragments, documentary, Arabic, James Longley, John Sinno, post-invasion Iraq, hope, religious dissent, ethnic unrest, young boy, abusive employer, Shiite Muslims, religious fundamentalism, Kurdish farmers, occupied post-liberation Iraq, tanks, Baghdad streets, Kurdish countryside, war documentary, kaleidoscopic sense, ordinary Iraqis, stylistically bold, humanist, difficulties, foreign troops, dueling divisiveness, poetic form, extraordinary access, classic war documentary, imaginative editing, colors, stylistically bold, humanist, difficulties, foreign troops, dueling divisiveness, poetic form, extraordinary access, classic war documentary, imaginative editing, colors, reviewed by Stanley Kauffmann, Marrit Ingman, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Geoff Pevere, Liam Lacey, John Monaghan, Tricia Olszewski, Sean P Means, Brian Gibson, Larry Ratliff, directed by James Longley, produced by James Longley, John Sinno, music by James Longley, cinematographer James Longley, film editing by James Longley, starring James Longley
Worldwide gross: $240,888
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $345,088
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,824
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 37,632
US/Canada gross: $204,462
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $292,906
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,466
US/Canada opening weekend: $24,435
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $35,005
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,325
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
John Sinno – Producer
Director(s)
James Longley
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
James Longley, John Sinno
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
12 wins & 8 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (6)
Longley is a film-maker of intelligence and empathy.
February 5, 2018
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
The technique is more expressionistic than naturalistic, but it makes the film far more vivid and emotionally satisfying.
March 17, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film is both gritty and lyrical, showing how tanks share the Baghdad streets with donkeys as well as the quiet beauty of the Kurdish countryside.
March 8, 2007 | Rating: B
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Because [director] Longley uses a technique that forgoes interviews and voiceover commentary in favour of observation and revealing juxtapositions, his movie puts you both in the chaos and just above it.
February 24, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Stands up as a classic war documentary, in its unusual poetic form and by its extraordinary access to the lives of ordinary Iraqis.
February 23, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Iraq in Fragments sometimes feels random, but it is a well-crafted, thoughtful study of the dueling divisiveness and hope that will define the region long after foreign troops leave.
February 23, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Visually, the director’s flair is impressive. But Longley’s clear intention of using children’s faces to better tug at our heartstrings would be more admirable if it didn’t feel as shamelessly staged.
March 6, 2008
Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper
Too bad James Longley couldn’t have broadcast this insightful documentary immediately after he shot it in 2003 and 2004.
April 6, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Sean P. Means
Salt Lake Tribune
Bafflingly, the threats in an occupied country consistently come from within, not without or overhead: what has the effect of the US occupation and Hussein’s vicious rule been on these people? Offers a fragmented, obscuring picture of Iraq.
April 1, 2007
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)
Iraq in Fragments … appears to be asking a simple, but often unmentioned, question: Oh yeah, what about the people of Iraq?
March 30, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Larry Ratliff
San Antonio Express-News
A timely, lyrical and candid look at daily life in a post-invasion Iraq.
March 20, 2007 | Rating: A-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
The film is terrific at providing a kaleidoscopic sense of life unfolding, with imaginative editing and colors that seem to leap off the screen.
March 16, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star…
Plot
Iraq in Fragments is a documentary that presents three separate stories of everyday life for average citizens in post-invasion Iraq, exploring hope, religious dissent, and ethnic unrest.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Iraq in Fragments.
James-Longley.jpg
87%
Sweet Land (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 9 wins & 2 nominations
Finding the right balance between subtle and sentimental, Sweet Land moves beyond other similarly-themed dramas with evocative cinematography that plays an equal role to the talented cast
Sweet Land is a movie that will make you feel like you’re watching a Presidential campaign video, but in a good way. It’s a romantic and nostalgic film that will transport you to rural Minnesota between the wars. The stunning beauty of every frame will leave you in awe, and the love story between the two main characters is both stirring and heartwarming. It’s a visual masterpiece that recalls the artistry of Terrence Malick and the lyricism of Larry McMurtry. If you’re looking for a sweet little treat of a movie, Sweet Land is the perfect choice.
Production Company(ies)
Studio Ghibli, Dentsu Hakuhodo D Y Media, Partners
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Montevideo, Minnesota, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for brief partial nudity and mild language
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, German, Norwegian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Elizabeth Reaser, Tim Guinee, Alan Cumming, Lois Smith, Ned Beatty, John Heard, directed by Ali Selim, written by Ali Selim, drama, romance, PG, box office, budget, reviewed by Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Anthony Quinn, Martin Hoyle, Mike McCahill, Peter Bradshaw, James Christopher, Al Alexander, Brian Orndorf, Jennie Kermode, David Edwards, Daniel Etherington, Matthew Turner, evocative cinematography, immigrant, rural Minnesota, Norwegian farmer, German woman, arranged marriage, community, hardship, love story, subtle, sentimental, flashback structure, humanist-socialist parable, gentle, Capra moment, pie, cornfields, family, baseball, Terrence Malick, Larry McMurtry, Western lyricism, stunning beauty, picture postcard, modest, demonstrative, intelligent, sensitive, sweet
Worldwide gross: $1,843,537
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,539,402
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,349
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 276,925
US/Canada gross: $1,706,325
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,350,397
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,994
US/Canada opening weekend: $41,860
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $57,661
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,147
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,377,462
Production budget ranking: 2,063
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $741,763
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $420,177
ROI to date (est.): 20%
ROI ranking: 1,293
Tim Guinee – Olaf
Alan Cumming – Frandsen
Lois Smith – Old Inge
Ned Beatty – Harmo
John Heard – Rev. Sorrensen
Ali Selim – Director/Producer/Writer
Alan Cumming – Producer
Director(s)
Ali Selim
Writer(s)
Ali Selim
Producer(s)
Ali Selim, Alan Cumming
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
9 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (73) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (11)
The flashback structure adds nothing but length to an already awkward mix of humanist-socialist parable and gently halting love story that’s been sat on a shelf since 2005. But even so, it’s a surprisingly sweet little treat.
September 5, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)
TOP CRITIC
At once epic and intimate, Sweet Land offers a stirring account of love and hardship which, aside from a muffed Capra moment towards the end, hardly puts a foot wrong.
September 5, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Nostalgic, gentle, loving: the elegiac mood set against endless rural space inevitably suggests Malick’s Days of Heaven. What next from this considerable talent?
September 5, 2008
Martin Hoyle
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Pleasant surprise of the week, a US indie so unashamedly romantic about pie, cornfields, family and baseball you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a Presidential campaign video.
September 5, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mike McCahill
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Here is a nicely photographed, but bland, insipid and weirdly passive-aggressive little film.
September 5, 2008 | Rating: 2/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Minnesota between the wars is a bone yard for dreams, yet, like Babette’s Feast, the film plucks a tiny miracle from stony ground.
September 5, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
James Christopher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Ali Selim’s visual masterpiece recalls the stark artistry of Terrence Malick and Western lyricism of Larry McMurtry, as it turns every frame into a picture postcard of stunning beauty.
May 25, 2013 | Rating: A-
Al Alexander
The Patriot Ledger
Exceptionally photographed and remarkably performed by actors Tim Guinee and Elizabeth Reaser, Sweet Land is modest, but demonstrative, eager to detail a love story that sustains for a lifetime.
December 28, 2009 | Rating: A
Brian Orndorf
BrianOrndorf.com
September 15, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film
Our movie of the week – which isn’t saying much – arrives in the shape of this atmospheric slice of Americana about an arranged marriage deep in the heart of rural Minnesota.
September 5, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
David Edwards
Daily Mirror (UK)
Sweet Land could have been mawkish and overly sentimental, but Selim has a light touch and the film is intelligent, sensitive and sweet.
September 5, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5
Daniel Etherington
Film4
September 4, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon…
Plot
As Inge buries her husband Olaf on their Minnesota farm in 1968, we relive her life story as she tells her grown grandson about how she arrived from Germany in 1920 as Olaf’s postal bride and of the obstacles they overcame in order to marry…
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Sweet Land.
Ali-Selim.jpg
87%
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Won 2 Oscars
33 wins & 11 nominations total
This candid, powerful and informative documentary illuminates some of the myths surrounding its dual subjects: global warming and Al Gore
An Inconvenient Truth is like a horror movie, but instead of a monster, it’s about climate change. Al Gore is the hero we didn’t know we needed, and he’s here to save the planet. The film is a wake-up call to everyone who thinks they can ignore the problem. It’s a must-see for anyone who cares about the future of our planet, and even for those who don’t, because let’s face it, we all live here. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready to be scared straight.
Production Company(ies)
The Mirisch Company, Alpha
Distributor
Paramount Classics, Participant Productions, Lawrence Bender Productions, Actual Reality Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild thematic elements
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 24, 2006 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2006
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, global warming, Al Gore, directed by Davis Guggenheim, produced by Laurie Lennard, Lawrence Bender, reviewed by Nigel Andrews, Peter Travers, Peter Rainer, Amy Taubin, Paul Arendt, Dave Calhoun, Richard Propes, David Lamble, Debbie Lynn Elias, Mattie Lucas, Jim Hansen, PG, box office $23.8M, budget unknown, environmentalism, climate change, science, politics, activism, education, truth, facts, data, lecture circuit, myth-busting, call to action, inconvenient truths, sustainability, renewable energy, carbon footprint, greenhouse gases, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, natural disasters, human impact, personal responsibility, Earth’s future
Worldwide gross: $49,782,012
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $73,411,396
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,172
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,005,605
US/Canada gross: $24,146,161
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $35,607,307
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,214
US/Canada opening weekend: $281,330
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $414,865
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,442
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,211,986
Production budget ranking: 2,017
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,191,154
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $70,008,256
ROI to date (est.): 2,057%
ROI ranking: 48
Billy West – Voice
Davis Guggenheim – Director
Laurie Lennard – Producer
Lawrence Bender – Producer
Jeff Skoll – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Davis Guggenheim
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Laurie Lennard, Lawrence Bender
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
33 wins & 11 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Best Documentary Feature Winners, Oscar Original Song Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (165) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (153) | Rotten (12)
A Tantalus glimpse of what America might have been with a president who cared about the planet, its people and its peace.
May 15, 2015
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
It grabs you like a thriller with an ending that will haunt your dreams.
November 24, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Just because truths are inconvenient is no reason to suppose they are not real.
October 14, 2006 | Rating: A-
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
TOP CRITIC
An eco-horror movie that is anything but escapist entertainment…
September 28, 2006
Amy Taubin
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
t’s an enduring irony of movies that one guy talking can be more compelling than a million dollars in locations, extras and effects.
September 23, 2006
Paul Arendt
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
It is utterly convincing, it’s emotionally powerful and it makes Gore look more charming than he ever did as a presidential candidate.
September 23, 2006
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Gore’s film is basically preaching to the choir.
September 12, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
An Inconvenient Truth gives a platform to Al Gore’s prophetic sermon on climate change.
May 7, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Disarmingly and alarmingly sincere in both its message and presentation … a truth that has to be seen.
November 8, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
May be the most important film you will ever see.
June 5, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)
Gore has put together a coherent account of a complex topic that Americans desperately need to understand.
August 21, 2018
Jim Hansen
The New York Review of Books
Director Davis Guggenheim tries hard to keep things moving, but there is an unctuous “Hollywood wives at work” tone, where the rich and the fabulous suddenly appear to realize that their lifestyle may actually be in jeopardy.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)…
Plot
A documentary on the threat that climate change poses to the Earth – it’s causes, effects and history and potential solutions to it. Presented by Al Gore through a lecture that he has given to audiences across the globe, plus through more introspective moments.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Davis-Guggenheim.jpg
87%
The Road To Guantanamo (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
4 wins & 6 nominations total
The Road to Guantánamo is a film that will leave you feeling as though you’ve been through the wringer, but in the best possible way. Winterbottom’s decision to use re-enactments instead of a traditional documentary format allows for a more visceral and emotional experience, while still managing to make a powerful political statement. The film is a damning indictment of the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and the sly insights into the Bush administration’s “long war” are both timely and incisive. While not without its flaws, The Road to Guantánamo is a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of politics and human rights.
The Road to Guantánamo is a film that will make you want to pull your hair out, but in a good way. It’s not your typical documentary, but it still manages to get its point across. The re-enactments are so convincing that you forget you’re not watching the real thing. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good indictment of the way prisoners are treated at Guantanamo? It’s a grueling watch, but it’s worth it to see the sly insights into Bush’s “long war.” Plus, if we ever felt like the soldiers and interrogators seen here were in any way human, Winterbottom and Whitecross’ indictment of their behavior would hit twice as hard.
Production Company(ies)
Ferndale Films, Granada Television, Hell’s Kitchen Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Iran
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and disturbing violent content
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Urdu
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama/War
Keyword(s)
directed by Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross, written by Michael Winterbottom, produced by Andrew Eaton, Melissa Parmenter, starring Riz Ahmed, Farhad Harun, Waqar Siddiqui, Afran Usman, Shahid Iqbal, Mark Holden, drama, war, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Paul Arthur, Andrew O’Hehir, John Hartl, Carrie Rickey, Robert Denerstein, Lisa Kennedy, Alberto Abuín, Jonathan Raban, Emanuel Levy, Fernando F Croce, Cole Smithey, MPAA rating R, torture, Guantanamo, Muslim friends, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Taliban, U.S military justice, documentary, agitprop, character study, political documentary, national humiliation, Geneva Convention, legal protocol, soldiers, interrogators
Worldwide gross: $1,513,033
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,231,205
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,384
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 243,316
US/Canada gross: $326,876
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $482,030
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,333
US/Canada opening weekend: $61,138
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $90,158
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,974
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): £1,500,000
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
Farhad Harun – Ruhel
Waqar Siddiqui – Monir
Afran Usman – Asif
Shahid Iqbal – Zahid
Mark Holden – Kandahar Interrogator
Michael Winterbottom – Director
Mat Whitecross – Director
Andrew Eaton – Producer
Melissa Parmenter – Producer
Director(s)
Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Andrew Eaton, Melissa Parmenter
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
4 wins & 6 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (97) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (83) | Rotten (14)
Winterbottom sidesteps obligations associated with documentary filmmaking in favor of blazing agitprop.
March 28, 2018
Paul Arthur
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The Road to Guantánamo will drive you crazy, if you aren’t crazy yet.
October 7, 2006
Andrew O’Hehir
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
It makes its point in a way that a straight documentary could not.
July 7, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
While not an altogether convincing character study of the three detainees, Guantanamo is a nonetheless chilling indictment.
July 7, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Offers a gripping rebuke of the way prisoners are treated at Guantanamo, even though it never entirely settles important questions about what the Tipton Three might have been up to.
July 7, 2006 | Rating: B
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
Winterbottom’s re-enactors do a persuasive job of depicting young men whose ad hoc decision to travel from Pakistan to Afghanistan put them solidly in the wrong-place/wrong-time category.
July 7, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
A very good movie that was initially made for television. [Full Review in Spanish]
June 28, 2019
Alberto Abuín
Espinof
Grueling as it is to watch, and it’s the most protracted ninety-minute movie I’ve ever seen, it is packed with sly insights into Bush’s “long war,” hitherto known as the global war on terror.
August 21, 2018
Jonathan Raban
The New York Review of Books
Timely political documentary that resolves one set of issues while rsiaing others.
July 13, 2011 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
The director’s slovenliness is a torture device of its own, but the grueling point is well taken
August 30, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
Director Michael Winterbottom brings us face-to-face with the national humiliation of Guantanamo prison where the Geneva Convention and legal protocol have been disposed of like the now-filthy rivers of our country.
April 23, 2009 | Rating: A
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
If we ever felt like the soldiers and interrogators seen here were in any way human, Winterbottom and Whitecross’ indictment of their behavior would hit twice as hard.
February 1, 2008 | Rating: 6.5/10
Karina Longworth
Cinematical…
Plot
A group of British Muslim friends attend a wedding in Pakistan, but end up mistakenly in a Taliban stronghold and are captured and sent to a U.S. military base in Cuba where they endure torture in “The Road to Guantanamo.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Road to Guantanamo.
Michael-Winterbottom.jpg
87%
The Illusionist (L’illusionniste) (2010)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
11 wins & 12 nominations total
An engrossing love letter to fans of adult animation, The Illusionist offers a fine antidote to garish mainstream fare
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel like you’re in a dream, The Illusionist is the perfect pick. The animation is stunning and the story is both heartwarming and bittersweet. It’s like watching a beautiful painting come to life, with a touch of magic thrown in. Plus, who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned tale of a struggling artist trying to make it in the world? This movie is a must-see for anyone who appreciates art, storytelling, and a little bit of whimsy.
Production Company(ies)
C J Entertainment, Barunson E& A
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Konopiste Palace, Benesov, Czech Republic
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom, France
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 10, 2011
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin, Duncan MacNeil, Raymond Mearns, James T Muir, Tom Urie, directed by Sylvain Chomet, written by Sylvain Chomet, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Deb Jannerson, Nicolas Rapold, Jim Schembri, Marc Savlov, Rene Rodriguez, Amy Biancolli, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Felicia Feaster, Sarah Knight Adamson, Amie Simon, PG rating, adult animation, Sally Chomet, Bob Last, Sony Pictures Classics, magic tricks, rock ‘n’ roll, 1950s, French illusionist, Scotland, pubs, run-down restaurants, Alice, financial ruin, gifts, smoking, English, limited release, Sony Pictures Classics
Worldwide gross: $87,892,388
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $129,611,131
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 899
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 14,134,256
US/Canada gross: $39,868,642
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,792,575
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,000
US/Canada opening weekend: $927,956
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,368,417
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,247
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $16,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $24,331,842
Production budget ranking: 1,264
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,102,697
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $92,176,593
ROI to date (est.): 246%
ROI ranking: 539
Eilidh Rankin – Alice (Voice)
Duncan MacNeil – (Voice)
Raymond Mearns – (Voice)
James T. Muir – (Voice)
Tom Urie – (Voice)
Director(s)
Sylvain Chomet
Writer(s)
Sylvain Chomet
Producer(s)
Sally Chomet, Bob Last
Film Festivals
Telluride
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
11 wins & 12 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (134) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (121) | Rotten (13)
While I’ve heard nothing yet about Chomet’s next film, I can wholeheartedly say L’illusionniste had made my interest disappear.
January 7, 2021
Deb Jannerson
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
There’s plenty of crack-a-smile humor, but the underlying mood recalls the diminuendo stretches in a Jacques Tati film.
July 1, 2013
Nicolas Rapold
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Director Sylvain Chomet manages to rouse a lot of smirks and smiles through the small nuance and inferences that were Tati’s signature.
October 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Jim Schembri
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
The Illusionist is absolutely mandatory viewing for aspiring animators and filmmakers. (In terms of pacing, scoring, editing, and narrative, it’s a film school unto itself.) For the rest of us, however, it’s simply magic.
February 11, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film ends on a note of graceful, heartbreaking beauty that Tati would have admired for its lack of sentimentality. A lot of what precedes that ending, though, is precious and slight and a little too fanciful.
February 10, 2011 | Rating: 2.5/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
This is a remarkable movie: lovely, slow-paced and almost silent, rich with pathos and deft comic gestures.
February 4, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/4
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Perfectly combines the unique visual style of Oscar-nominated animator Sylvain Chomet with the melancholy, simple, and poignant storytelling approach of Jacques Tati.
November 30, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
The Illusionist changed me in ways big and small and I am better for having seen it.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Sweet but with a melancholic edge, if it is occasionally too slight, too circumscribed, or too molasses-paced for its own good, it’s a minor quibble next to The Illusionist’s overarching charm.
January 21, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
The film’s animation tells the story, in the manner of a beautifully-illustrated children’s storybook.
January 16, 2020 | Rating: 4/4
Sarah Knight Adamson
Sarah’s Backstage Pass
You’re basically just watching each day of this guy’s life, and yet, it’s totally magical. Tati’s script is full of beauty, humor and sadness, with a very European ending that will leave the viewer a little misty eyed.
March 7, 2019
Amie Simon
Three Imaginary Girls
Chomet has delivered yet another fantastically assured film, one which even transcends the brilliance of his first feature.
November 5, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Stephen Leach
CineVue…
Plot
In late nineteenth century Vienna, renowned illusionist Eisenheim is reunited with the Duchess von Teschen when she is volunteered from the audience to participate in an illusion during one of his performances. Despite having not seen each other in fifteen years when they were teenagers, they almost immediately recognize each other as Eduard Abramovich and Sophie von Teschen, they who had a doomed romance at that time due to their class differences. The Duchess is soon to be wed to the Crown Prince Leopold in what would be for him a marriage solely in pursuit of power: overthrowing his father, the Emperor Leopold, as well as overtaking the Hungarian side of the empire. The Crown Prince is known to use violence against women if it suits his needs or purposes. As such, the Duchess, who realizes that she still loves Eisenheim and he her, can never leave the Crown Prince without it jeopardizing her life. After Eisenheim humiliates the Crown Prince at a private show which results in an incident between the Crown Prince and the Duchess, the battle between Eisenheim and the Crown Prince moves into the public performance realm, which many believe demonstrates Eisenheim’s supernatural powers. Much of the work for the Crown Prince in the battle with Eisenheim is conducted by Chief Inspector Uhl, who would become the Chief of Police under the Crown Prince’s reign. As such, Uhl may have ulterior motives in turning a blind eye to any unlawful act of the Crown Prince against Eisenheim or the Duchess.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for The Illusionist.
Sylvain-Chomet.jpg
87%
V for Vendetta (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 29 nominations
Visually stunning and thought-provoking, V For Vendetta’s political pronouncements may rile some, but its story and impressive set pieces will nevertheless entertain
V for Vendetta is like a political thriller on steroids, with a dash of teenage rebellion thrown in for good measure. It’s a wild ride that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about government and society. Natalie Portman shines as the unlikely hero, and the explosive action scenes will have you on the edge of your seat. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Guy Fawkes mask? It’s the perfect accessory for any revolution.
Production Company(ies)
CNN Films, Statement Pictures,
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Holborn, London, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence and some language
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 12m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom, Germany
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 17, 2006 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2006
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, John Hurt, Rupert Graves, Stephen Fry, directed by James McTeigue, written by Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Action, R, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Zadie Smith, Victoria Segal, Joe Morgenstern, Rick Groen, Claudia Puig, MPAA rating, produced by Joel Silver, Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Warner Bros., SDDS, DTS, Dolby SRD, Scope (2.35:1), police state, fascist government, vigilante, terrorist tactics, oppression, young woman, secret police, ally, rebellion, totalitarian dictatorship, freedom fighter, Guy Fawkes, anarchist, bombings, left-wing politics, allegorical, satirical, anti-hero, martial arts, media cover-ups, secret police, genocide, torture, destruction, lesbian/gay subplot, Nazi acts, henchmen, masked avenger, operatic
Worldwide gross: $132,511,035
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $195,408,335
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 706
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 21,309,524
US/Canada gross: $70,511,035
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $103,979,596
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 723
US/Canada opening weekend: $25,642,340
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $37,813,658
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 338
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $54,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $79,631,482
Production budget ranking: 527
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $42,881,553
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $72,895,300
ROI to date (est.): 60%
ROI ranking: 1,104
Hugo Weaving – V
Stephen Rea – Finch
John Hurt – Sutler
Rupert Graves – Dominic
Stephen Fry – Gordon Dietrich
Director(s)
James McTeigue
Writer(s)
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Producer(s)
Joel Silver, Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 29 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (255) | Top Critics (64) | Fresh (186) | Rotten (69)
A bizarre, farcical, political allegory-cum-thriller.
January 10, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
In the face of this film something adolescent in me surged to the surface and I mean that as a great compliment: adolescence is a state I hold in high regard.
January 16, 2018
Zadie Smith
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
By leaping into fantasy and heading for its own version of a happy ending with all guns blazing, however, it blows the competition – not to mention the Houses of Parliament – out of the water.
September 26, 2017
Victoria Segal
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Speaking of love, things go blooey instead of gooey whenever heroine and hero come close enough to touch; far from being sensual, let alone erotic, the movie proves to be not much fun at all.
April 14, 2013
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
This is just darkness played bright, a disposable object but hardly objectionable.
April 14, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
The dark and stylized V for Vendetta is visually exhilarating, provocative and disturbing.
April 14, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Claudia Puig
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
Natalie Portman’s best film
April 6, 2021
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
Ordinary people are portrayed as zombies, glued to their television sets, who need to be galvanized by bombings.
February 14, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
The explosive adventure, the riveting visuals, Portman’s powerful performance, and the striking finale combine for a thoroughly entertaining masterwork.
November 21, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Its import rests in the muddy waters it navigates and the difficult questions it ponders.
November 6, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Portman was an excellent choice to portray the vulnerable Evey who possesses an inner strength she never knew existed before she met V.
November 2, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Allison Rose
FlickDirect
Release date frustration aside, V for Vendetta remains just as thought-provoking as ever and stands out as a highlight to the Wachowski’s ability to write scenes that delight, thrill, and frighten almost all at once.
November 1, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Douglas Davidson
Elements of Madness…
Plot
In the distant future, Evey Hammond is an average citizen of the United Kingdom, which is under the rule of the fascist and tyrannical Norsefire Party. She is an employee of the state-run British Television Network, but soon, she becomes the number one enemy of the state together with an enigmatic and larger-than-life freedom fighter known only by the letter “V”. V informs Evey that she must hide in his underground lair for at least one year, and while she is reluctant to the idea at first, a bond soon forms between the two individuals. In the meanwhile, the mysterious past of V is gradually revealed to the police inspector tasked with capturing him, Eric Finch, and it is not long until he starts questioning everything his government stands for.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Hugo Weaving’s performance as V is described as “smooth charismatic tones” that give the character an “endearing Errol Flynn like persona.”
James-McTeigue.jpg
87%
Independent Lens (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Black Gold is a documentary that delves into the coffee industry and the struggles of coffee farmers in Ethiopia. While the film highlights the admirable initiatives of Tadesse Meskela and the fair trade movement, it fails to provide a comprehensive solution to the systemic issues that plague the industry. Despite this, the Francis brothers maintain a lively pace and a satirical mood that keeps the audience engaged. The film is attractively shot, thoughtfully edited, and provocatively argued, making it a worthy look at an exploitation that really shouldn’t exist in this day and age. Black Gold will hopefully shock audiences into looking for the Fairtrade symbol next time they’re in the supermarket, or at the very least, make them think twice before downing their next cup of joe.
Black Gold is a documentary that will make you think twice before ordering your next cup of coffee. While it may not be the newest story around, it still manages to be an arresting and thought-provoking film. The Francis brothers maintain a lively pace and a satirical mood, making it an enjoyable watch despite the heavy subject matter. Plus, it might just have you turning its issues over in your mind late into the night – or is that just the effect of so much coffee? Either way, it’s a worthy look at an exploitation that really shouldn’t exist in this day and age.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures,
Distributor
California Newsreel
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Stereo
-
Aspect ratio:1.33 : 116:9 HD
-
Runtime:1h 17m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 2006 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 9, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Black Gold, documentary, coffee trade, Ethiopia, fair trade, Tadesse Meskela, Marc Francis, Nick Francis, Jen Kaczor, Sally Jo Fifer, Christopher Hird, English, California Newsreel, box office, budget, critic reviews, producer names, MPAA rating, foreign exports, farmers, coffee roasters, poverty, negotiation, exploitation, middleman, multinationals, Kraft, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Sara Lee, World Trade Organization, education, baristas, Seattle, harvest, brewing, drinking, talking heads, narrative, tangents, argument, production, comparison
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
Marc Francis – Director, Writer
Nick Francis – Director
Jen Kaczor – Producer
Sally Jo Fifer – Executive Producer
Christopher Hird – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Marc Francis, Nick Francis
Writer(s)
Marc Francis
Producer(s)
Jen Kaczor, Nick Francis, Marc Francis
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (8)
While the film is quick to posit fair trade as a solution, it fails to answer why, even with Meskela’s admirable initiatives, his coffee farmers still struggle to buy shoes.
June 8, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
If you don’t buy Fair Trade coffee after this you never will.
June 8, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
True, fair trade coffee is not the newest story around, but Black Gold still makes for arresting viewing.
June 8, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
David Mattin
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
While it may prompt some to think again next time they’re in Starbucks, this astute insight into the coffee business is better at lauding the good guys than taking the multinationals to task for the iniquities of the global economy.
June 8, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
If that $2 cup of Starbucks didn’t jolt you awake, this documentary by Marc and Nick Francis might do the trick.
January 12, 2007
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Black Gold moves at an inexorable pace, painstakingly building a case until suddenly it looms very large and casts an even longer shadow.
January 11, 2007 | Rating: 4.5/5
Carina Chocano
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
February 23, 2012 | Rating: 2/5
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
December 7, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film
It is attractively shot, thoughtfully edited, provocatively argued, and might just have you turning its issues over in your mind late into the night – or is that just the effect of so much coffee?
June 12, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Anton Bitel
musicOMH.com
A worthy look at an exploitation that really shouldn’t exist in this day and age, Black Gold will hopefully shock audiences into looking for the Fairtrade symbol next time they’re in the supermarket.
June 8, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Laura Bushell
Film4
The Francis brothers maintain a lively pace and a satirical mood.
March 1, 2007
Maria Garcia
Film Journal International
An important and timely film that may make you think twice before downing your next cup of joe.
January 13, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Timothy Knight
Reel.com…
Plot
Black Gold is a documentary about the struggles of coffee farmers in Ethiopia and their fight for fair wages in the global coffee trade.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Black Gold.
Marc-Francis.jpg
87%
Brick (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: NA
This entertaining homage to noirs past has been slickly and compellingly updated to a contemporary high school setting
Brick is like if Veronica Mars and The Maltese Falcon had a baby, and that baby was a high school student. It’s a neo-noir mystery that’s both clever and cryptic, with dialogue that’s so stylized it’s practically its own language. Joseph Gordon-Levitt shines as the lead, and the supporting cast is full of familiar faces. It’s a damn fine gimmick, and it works. If you’re a fan of film noir or teen dramas, you’ll definitely want to check out Brick.
Production Company(ies)
Hand Made Films, Python Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 8, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetner, Emilie de Ravin, Noah Fleiss, Matt O’Leary, Noah Segan, directed by Rian Johnson, written by Rian Johnson, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Victoria Segal, Roger Moore, Ben Walters, Tim Cogshell, Stella Papamichael, Peter Bradshaw, James Croot, David Lamble, Matt Brunson, David Nusair, Jeffrey M Anderson, Nick Rogers, R MPAA rating, high school, murder mystery, drug dealer, neo-noir, femme fatale, criminal underworld, classic noir language, syntax, high school setting, thriller, captivating visual aesthetic, strong casting, engaging, clever, unique, compelling
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
Lukas Haas – The Pin
Nora Zehetner – Laura Dannon
Noah Fleiss – Tugger
Matt O’Leary – The Brain
Noah Segan – Dode
Director – Rian Johnson
Producer – Ram Bergman, Mark G. Mathis
Writer – Rian Johnson
Director(s)
Rian Johnson
Writer(s)
Rian Johnson
Producer(s)
Ram Bergman, Mark G. Mathis
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (143) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (114) | Rotten (29)
Brick is quotable, clever and cryptic…
September 26, 2017
Victoria Segal
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
May 13, 2009 | Rating: 5/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The self-consciously mannered rat-a-tat-tat dialogue also mines a neat overlap between teen slang and noir patois, both of which can be indecipherable to non-initiates.
June 24, 2006
Ben Walters
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
While Brick is chock-full of the characters, language and imagery of classic noir, it is in fact set among contemporary teenagers. It’s a gimmick, but it’s a damn fine gimmick.
June 24, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Even with its shortcomings, Brick provides solid thrills for film noir fans.
May 16, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Bizarre and ingenious neo-noir from US writer-director Rian Johnson.
May 13, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Brick is a brilliant, bravura and breathtakingly ingenious debut from writer-director Rian Johnson.
December 13, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
This quirky little film was an audience favorite at Sundance. Fans of teen drama, Heathers division, will enjoy a veteran ensemble: Joseph Gordon-Levitt in his first post-Mysterious Skin appearance, the lovely Lukas Haas…
May 9, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Rian Johnson boldly decided to mash together a high school flick and a neo-noir, and the result is surprisingly good.
January 19, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
…it’s impossible not to wish that the first-time filmmaker hadn’t leaned quite so heavily on the antiquated shenanigans.
October 24, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Smart, stylized teen whodunit with violence and drugs.
March 22, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Common Sense Media
Noir fits “Brick” like a glove, stylishly injecting assured tough talk, vice-grip tension, black humor, striking sound design and gunshots sounding like locker doors slammed on options. A great detective story and, for some, a high-school flashback.
September 25, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap…
Plot
Big Gold Brick recounts the story of fledgling writer Samuel Liston and his experiences with Floyd Deveraux, the enigmatic, middle-aged father of two who enlists Samuel to write his biography. But the circumstances that lead up to this arrangement in the first place are quite astonishing-and efforts to write the biography are quickly stymied by ensuing chaos in this darkly comedic, genre-bending film.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rian Johnson, the writer and director of Brick, made his feature film debut with this neo-noir thriller set in a high school.
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87%
The Prestige (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 92%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
6 wins & 45 nominations total
Full of twists and turns, The Prestige is a dazzling period piece that never stops challenging the audience
The Prestige is like a magic trick that keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s a movie that’s both atmospheric and obsessive, with a non-linear structure that might leave you scratching your head at first. But once you figure out the story-within-a-story-within-a-story, the payoff is well worth it. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the movie throws in some exquisite diversionary tactics that will leave you confounded and delighted at the same time. It’s a small film that feels big, a period drama that looks modern, and a work of creative obsession that will leave you spellbound.
Production Company(ies)
Producers Sales Organization R S L Entertainment, Moviecorp V III
Distributor
Buena Vista
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images
Year of Release
2006
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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:2h 10m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 2006 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 13, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, drama, fantasy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Roger Ebert, Brian Tallerico, Graham Fuller, Bob Mondello, Joshua Rothkopf, Dan Jolin, MPAA rating PG-13, produced by Christopher Nolan, Aaron Ryder, Emma Thomas, magician, illusion, rivalry, revenge, obsession, period piece, twists and turns, challenging, dazzling, dark, disturbing, violent, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $109,676,311
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $53,089,891
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
Christian Bale – Alfred Borden
Michael Caine – Cutter
Scarlett Johansson – Olivia
Piper Perabo – Julia
Rebecca Hall – Sarah Borden
Director(s)
Christopher Nolan
Writer(s)
Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
Producer(s)
Christopher Nolan, Aaron Ryder, Emma Thomas
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
6 wins & 45 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (202) | Top Critics (56) | Fresh (153) | Rotten (49)
Although the film’s stunning reveals make the audience realise it has been duped… there is a protagonist to empathise with each time.
November 2, 2018
Graham Fuller
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
The film is never less than engaging, though considering that the title The Prestige refers to the moment in a magic act that gives it its “wow” factor, it’s kind of a shame that the ultimate “reveal” in the movie is a little too tricky for its own good.
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello
NPR.org
TOP CRITIC
It’s quite a movie — atmospheric, obsessive, almost satanic.
September 7, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
An example of old-fashioned storytelling, the kind of magical movie that could have been made fifty years ago and, consequently, will still be watched fifty years from now.
March 24, 2007
Brian Tallerico
UGO
TOP CRITIC
The who’s-bilking-whom mind games make for compelling fun, but once the presto moment of The Prestige is revealed, you’re left with nothing but shattered illusions.
February 3, 2007 | Rating: 3/6
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Odd, but brilliantly so. It’s a small film that feels big, a period drama that looks modern, defying comparison to anything but Nolan himself.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Dan Jolin
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Some may struggle with its story-within-a-story-within-a- story and non-linear structure, but the payoff is well worth the head-scratching.
August 16, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
Just when viewers think they’ve figured things out, that’s when the exquisite diversionary tactics really kick in.
November 21, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
A leap back to his stellar Memento form, Christopher Nolan’s fifth feature is an incisive work about the nature of creative obsession. The film bursts forth fully formed, richly detailed, and with a keen eye toward Nolan’s usual brushstrokes
September 1, 2020
Siddhant Adlakha
IGN Movies
The Prestige’s magic is real. You just have to be looking for it.
July 2, 2020
Drew Dietsch
Giant Freakin Robot
The Prestige does not impress as a magic act. It is an elaborate contraption that leaves the viewer confounded and confused, but never feeling particularly entertained or delighted by the performance.
February 28, 2020
Kathi Maio
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Prestige does require a slight leap of faith, but the journey is so entertaining, it is a leap well worth taking.
November 20, 2019
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News…
Plot
In the end of the nineteenth century, in London, Robert Angier, his beloved wife Julia McCullough, and Alfred Borden are friends and assistants of a magician. When Julia accidentally dies during a performance, Robert blames Alfred for her death, and they become enemies. Both become famous and rival magicians, sabotaging the performance of the other on the stage. When Alfred performs a successful trick, Robert becomes obsessed trying to disclose the secret of his competitor with tragic consequences.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Prestige.
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