Friday Night Lights (2004)
87%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: NA
An acute survey of the football-obsessed heartland that succeeds as both a stirring drama and a rousing sports movie
Friday Night Lights is the perfect movie for anyone who loves football, or just loves a good underdog story. With Billy Bob Thornton as the coach, you’ll be cheering on the team even if you don’t know the first thing about the game. And if you’re not a fan of sports movies, don’t worry – this one is so much more than that. It’s a powerful look at the impact of sports on a small town, and the emotional toll it takes on the players. So grab some popcorn and get ready for a heart-pounding ride!
Production Company(ies)
Dream Works Animation, Mad Hatter Entertainment, Vertigo Entertainment,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 57m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 18, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw, directed by Peter Berg, written by Peter Berg, David Aaron Cohen, Buzz Bissinger, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, David Ansen, Andrea Gronvall, Ben Walters, Ian Nathan, Neil Smith, Leigh Paatsch, Eddie Harrison, Lorrie Moore, Megan Basham, PG-13, rough sports action, language, sexual content, some teen drinking, thematic issues, produced by Brian Grazer, Universal Pictures, football, high school, Texas, Boobie Miles, Gary Gaines, Mike Winchell, Charles Billingsley, Brian Chavez, Don Billingsley, Coach Gary Gaines, injured, social problems, self-respect, honor, emotional toll, sports fever, state championship, football sequences, hard-hitting, soundtrack, solid, strong characters, fantastic performances, rousing drama
Worldwide gross: $61,950,770
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $61,255,921
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
Derek Luke – Boobie Miles
Jay Hernandez – Brian Chavez
Lucas Black – Mike Winchell
Garrett Hedlund – Don Billingsley
Tim McGraw – Charles Billingsley
Director(s)
Peter Berg
Writer(s)
Peter Berg, David Aaron Cohen, Buzz Bissinger
Producer(s)
Brian Grazer
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (173) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (141) | Rotten (32)
So much more than a football movie.
December 24, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Few films have shown so powerfully the slashing double edge of sports fever.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
A heart-pounding big-screen treatment that captures all the action of a tumultuous season while showing the emotional toll on the players.
March 26, 2007
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The affecting, gruelling result is less a document of recreational sport than one of obligation and ordeal.
June 24, 2006
Ben Walters
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The best sports movie for years, as it’s not about sport at all. Forget fears of jingoistic grandstanding, this is an un-American all-American tale that deserves attention.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 5/5
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Its script is pure corn, drenched in syrupy sentiment and topped with prize ham in the shape of Billy Bob Thornton’s tub-thumping coach.
May 10, 2005 | Rating: 2/5
Neil Smith
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
The game sequences do stand out, but this refreshingly no-frills affair also finds time to question the value of the win-at-all-costs ethos rife in modern sport.
July 24, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
With Billy Bob Thornton’s garrulous Coach Gary Gaines masterminding every play, you’ll get caught up in the action even if you can’t tell your ‘first-and-down’ from your ‘time-out.’
April 24, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Eddie Harrison
The List
It is reminiscent of a war movie…the football impact scenes are brutal and the sound editors have the volume on high for each wince-inducing hit, underscoring the disposability of the boys…
November 5, 2018
Lorrie Moore
The New York Review of Books
Every performance in Friday Night Lights rings true.
February 6, 2018
Megan Basham
National Review
It succeeds best as a sadly iconic portrayal of America’s love affair with Texas high school football.
June 3, 2016 | Rating: B
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
What Friday Night Lights offers is the perspective that, for the people and young players caught up in this whirlwind, football simultaneously means everything and ultimately nothing.
October 30, 2009 | Rating: 7/10
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies…
Plot
In the small town of Dillon, Texas, one night matters: Friday Night. Eric Taylor has recently been hired as the head football coach for the Dillon High School Panthers, the town’s pride and joy. Friday Night Lights displays the stress that the town gives the high school players to win, and the hope that the team gives to a small town, and how a team has its low points, its high points, and how they come together as a team on their way to victory.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy, funny, or odd comment about the film Friday Night Lights on Fresh Kernels.
Peter-Berg.jpg
87%
Crimson Gold (2004)
87%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 2 nominations
A slow-burning, riveting film about Iranian class differences
Crimson Gold is like a peek behind the curtain of Iranian society, but with more pie-eating. This movie is a must-see for anyone who wants to understand the class structure and mores of Iran, and also for anyone who just really likes pie. It’s a surprisingly tender tale of a frustrated working-class schnook who reaches his breaking point and goes on a heartbreakingly violent rampage. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of pie.
Production Company(ies)
Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion, Bayerischer Rundfunk ARTE
Distributor
Wellspring Cinema
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Tehran, Iran
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):Persian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 6, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Hossain Emadeddin, Kamyar Sheisi, Azita Rayeji, Shahram Vaziri, Pourang Nakhael, Ehsan Amani, directed by Jafar Panahi, written by Jafar Panahi, Abbas Kiarostami, drama, Iranian class differences, box office gross $147.8K, Wellspring Cinema, MPAA rating, reviewed by Richard Brody, Brandon Judell, Nick Schager, Peter Rainer, Anthony Lane, Robert Denerstein, Dennis Harvey, Ray Pride, Kelly Vance, Diane Carson, Daniel Barnes, David Walsh, slow-burning, riveting, Iranian society, pizza delivery man, jewel heist, social inequality, Persian language, surround sound, producer Jafar Panahi
Worldwide gross: $400,768
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $649,594
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,684
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 70,839
US/Canada gross: $148,959
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $241,443
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,508
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,476
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,843
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,485
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
Kamyar Sheisi – Ali
Azita Rayeji – The Bride
Shahram Vaziri – The Jeweller
Pourang Nakhael – The Rich Man
Ehsan Amani – The man in the Tea House
Director(s)
Jafar Panahi
Writer(s)
Jafar Panahi, Abbas Kiarostami
Producer(s)
Jafar Panahi
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (83) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (10)
One man’s breaking point comes off as a stifled cry of collective revolt.
June 28, 2021
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
The movie, an acute study of Iran’s class structure and mores, will reveal it all to you in a series of episodes where Hussein often ends up eating the pie. A must-see.
June 5, 2021
Brandon Judell
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
An incisive portrait of one man’s quiet rage at, and heartbreakingly violent response to, social inequality.
May 3, 2005 | Rating: A-
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
I’m glad I saw Crimson Gold. Watching it is like getting a peek behind the curtain.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Panahi’s movie, unsurprisingly, has been outlawed in Iran. Nobody likes a prophet.
August 1, 2004
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
July 3, 2004 | Rating: B+
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
En route, we see how few indignities are spared him, as well as how extravagant the hidden lives of this society’s wealthiest are-their excesses alternately ignored and censured by authorities who can never be argued with, no matter how arbitrary…
July 6, 2021
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
Crimson Gold demonstrated a craftiness and a canniness mingled with scruffiness that simmers, then sears. May Iran allow Panahi to someday make more such movies, the sooner, the better.
July 2, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Ray Pride
Newcity
[A] surprisingly tender tale of a frustrated working-class schnook.
June 24, 2021
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express
Never preachy, Crimson Gold reveals Hussein’s life through his perspective and delivers a deeply upsetting, solid impact.
June 24, 2021
Diane Carson
KDHX (St. Louis)
Crimson Gold opens with a single-shot jewel heist gone wrong, then circles back to the origin story of the misguided thieves. It may bear the trappings of a Tarantino knockoff, but Crimson Gold possesses an incisive naturalism that is pure Panahi.
June 24, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Daniel Barnes
Dare Daniel
The film recounts the fate of a poor man in Tehran, a pizza delivery man, driven over the edge by official double standards, sadism and injustice.
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site…
Plot
A pizza delivery man in Iran finds a purse filled with expensive receipts and becomes desperate for wealth, leading him to make a violent bid for it in the slow-burning drama, Crimson Gold.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Crimson Gold.
Jafar-Panahi.jpg
87%
Shattered Glass (2003)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 11 wins & 28 nominations
A compelling look at Stephen Glass’ fall from grace
Shattered Glass is a film that will make you question everything you thought you knew about journalism. With a cast of talented actors, including a career-best performance from Hayden Christensen, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat. And if you’re like Jessica Winter, you might even watch it twice in a row and listen to the DVD commentary instead of doing anything else with your life. But be warned, this film is not for the faint of heart. As Todd McCarthy notes, it’s best for older teens. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to have your mind blown.
Production Company(ies)
Tokuma Japan Communications, Studio Ghibli, Nibariki
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Montréal, Québec, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for language, sexual references and brief drug use
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States, Canada
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 14, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Shattered Glass, drama, PG-13, 1h 35m, directed by Billy Ray, written by Billy Ray, produced by Craig Baumgarten, Adam Merims, Gaye Hirsch, Tove Christensen, starring Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Melanie Lynskey, Steve Zahn, reviewed by Joshua Rothkopf, Antonia Quirke, Todd McCarthy, Nell Minow, David Ansen, Jessica Winter,
Worldwide gross: $2,944,752
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,773,065
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,190
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 520,509
US/Canada gross: $2,220,008
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,598,348
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,897
US/Canada opening weekend: $77,540
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $125,682
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,852
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $6,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $9,725,230
Production budget ranking: 1,688
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,237,037
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$10,189,202
ROI to date (est.): -68%
ROI ranking: 1,794
Peter Sarsgaard – Chuck Lane
Chloë Sevigny – Caitlin Avey
Rosario Dawson – Andie Fox
Melanie Lynskey – Amy Brand
Steve Zahn – Adam Penenberg
Director(s)
Billy Ray
Writer(s)
Billy Ray
Producer(s)
Craig Baumgarten, Adam Merims, Gaye Hirsch, Tove Christensen
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
11 wins & 28 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (167) | Top Critics (54) | Fresh (154) | Rotten (13)
What Billy Ray’s confident debut lacks in situational dramatics…it more than makes up for in the central performance of young Hayden Christensen…
March 16, 2020
Joshua Rothkopf
In These Times
TOP CRITIC
Being a film about fibs, it is desperate not to tell any. Big mistake.
December 14, 2017
Antonia Quirke
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Ray propels the lamentable tale along at a brisk clip, is clear in his storytelling and mercifully avoids moralizing or self-congratulation.
April 27, 2011
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Journalistic scandal story best for older teens.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Writer-director Ray has a no-fuss style that is quietly, thoroughly gripping.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
[An] adept, often incisively funny recounting of the Glass debacle…
February 9, 2006
Jessica Winter
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
I did watch it at least twice in a row and then listen to the dvd commentary instead of doing literally anything else with my life…
November 10, 2020
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
Hayden Christensen and Peter Sarsgaard in the two main roles turn in career-best performances as their respective characters’ descent/ascent is so cleverly played out.
June 3, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Just as I was starting to wonder not only if I did really like Steve that much but also if it were possible that I was not even meant to, a story of his is challenged.
February 1, 2018
Mark Amory
The Spectator
It’s intriguing stuff that’s heightened by the efforts of a seriously impressive supporting cast…
November 27, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Using unexpectedly suspenseful character drama, “Shattered Glass” elevates itself to the upper echelon of journalism films. Unless there’s ever a 24 famous enough to warrant biopic treatment, this will likely be Christensen’s only great performance.
October 1, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
Perhaps the best exploration of American journalism this past decade has seen.
September 7, 2010 | Rating: A
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)…
Plot
This film tells the true story of fraudulent Washington, D.C. journalist Stephen Glass (Christensen), who rose to meteoric heights as a young writer in his 20s, becoming a staff writer at “The New Republic” for three years (1995-1998), where 27 of his 41 published stories were either partially or completely made up. Looking for a short cut to fame, Glass concocted sources, quotes and even entire stories, but his deception did not go unnoticed forever, and eventually, his world came crumbling down…
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a young Hayden Christensen in the lead role, before his infamous turn as Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels.
Billy-Ray.jpg
87%
Lost in La Mancha (2003)
87%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
2 wins & 11 nominations total
A remarkable behind-the-scenes look at a movie that wasn’t, Lost in La Mancha is an incisive, entertaining document of the difficulties inherent in the moviemaking process
Lost in La Mancha is a documentary that shows the behind-the-scenes of a movie gone wrong, and it’s a must-watch for anyone who thinks making movies is easy. Terry Gilliam, the director, never once took off his microphone or asked the filmmakers to stop rolling, which is impressive considering everything that went wrong. From nature to human failings to just plain bad luck, everything seemed to conspire against the filmmaker. But hey, at least we got a fascinating study in the cinematic arts and a gem for all those that love the movies, even the ones that don’t get made. Plus, it’s worth watching just to catch glimpses of the Gilliam works and to be strangely reassured that disasters and misfortune happen even to the best artists.
Production Company(ies)
B S B C I P Lorimar Film Entertainment,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Bardenas Reales, Navarra, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 32m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 31, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 24, 2003
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Lost in La Mancha, Terry Gilliam, Don Quixote, Johnny Depp, documentary, Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe, Lucy Darwin, film financing, film insurance, flash floods, cast no-shows, serious injuries, setbacks, R rating, $731.6K box office, Jeff Bridges, Miriam Cutler, film editing, reviewed by Kevin Maher, Peter Bradshaw, David Ansen, Roger Moore, Rene Rodriguez, Bill Muller, Allen Almachar, Joe Lozito, Jason Gorber, Jeffrey Overstreet, Jacob Bricca, Miriam Cutler, Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman, Songs From the Second Floor, Born Into Brothels, Deliver Us From Evil, In This World, directed by Keith Fulton, directed by Louis Pepe, produced by Lucy Darwin, reviewed by Times (UK), Guardian, Newsweek, Orlando Sentinel, Miami Herald, Arizona Republic, The MacGuffin, Big Picture Big Sound, Looking Closer, Los Angeles Alternative, Don Quixote adaptation, film production, film financing, film insurance, film setbacks, film crew, film cast, film director, film producer, film editing, film music, film critic reviews, film audience reviews, film box office performance, film budget, film genre, film MPAA rating
Worldwide gross: $1,407,019
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,333,629
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,372
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 254,485
US/Canada gross: $732,393
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,214,720
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,141
US/Canada opening weekend: $63,303
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $104,992
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,915
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
Keith Fulton – Director
Louis Pepe – Director
Lucy Darwin – Producer
Jacob Bricca – Film Editing
Miriam Cutler – Original Music
Director(s)
Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Lucy Darwin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
2 wins & 11 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (103) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (97) | Rotten (6)
Gilliam compels throughout…
April 15, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A documentary that should be shown in all film schools.
April 13, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Anyone who thinks making movies is easy needs to see this hilariously painful cautionary tale. It’s a tribute to Gilliam that he never once took off his mike or asked the filmmakers to stop rolling.
March 9, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Wondrous document of a film gone wrong and an artist who inspires fans, cast and crew, even as he terrifies financiers, insurers and anyone more firmly footed in filmmaking reality.
May 23, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating record of how the movie fell apart, piece by piece, with everything short of a natural disaster conspiring against the filmmaker.
May 2, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating study in the cinematic arts, as we watch a talented director and a committed crew and cast thwarted by nature, human failings and just plain bad luck.
May 1, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
A gem … for all those that love the movies, even the ones that don’t get made.
August 14, 2020
Allen Almachar
The MacGuffin
December 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
In the end, I’m left with an immeasurable appreciation for how bloody hard 1st A.D.’s work on set, and the crap they’ve got to deal with.
June 21, 2007 | Rating: A
Jason Gorber
Film Scouts
It’s worth watching to catch glimpses of the Gilliam works, and to be strangely reassured that disasters and misfortune happen even to the best artists.
January 15, 2005 | Rating: B+
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
entertaining without always being compelling
September 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Antani
Los Angeles Alternative
I’d pay to watch Terry Gilliam take out his trash, but there’s nothing in Lost in La Mancha much more exciting than that.
July 7, 2004
Martin Scribbs
Low IQ Canadian…
Plot
Director Terry Gilliam is the latest filmmaker to try and bring Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra’s “Don Quixote de la Mancha” to the big screen, the movie to be called The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Before filming even begins, Gilliam, who has moved from Hollywood studio to European financing, will have to scale back his vision as his budget has been slashed from $40 million to $32 million, still astronomical by European standards. But Gilliam is a dreamer, much like his title character, and his vision for the movie is uncompromising, meaning with the reduced budget that there is no margin for error and that some of his department heads may have to achieve miracles with their allotted moneys. During pre-production and actual filming, what Gilliam does not foresee is contractual and health issues with his actors, and the effects of Mother Nature. The question is does Gilliam have a Plan B if/when things go wrong.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Lost in La Mancha on Fresh Kernels.
Keith-Fulton.jpg
87%
Russian Ark (2002)
87%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 10 wins & 15 nominations
Russian Ark is a cinematic masterpiece that takes the viewer on a mesmerizing journey through the Hermitage Museum, exploring the rich history of Russia in a single, uninterrupted shot. Sokurov’s direction is nothing short of brilliant, as he weaves together a tapestry of art, culture, and politics that is both haunting and beautiful. The film’s immersive quality is unparalleled, transporting the audience to another time and place, and leaving them with a sense of wonder and awe. This is a must-see for anyone who loves cinema, history, or art, and a testament to the power of film to capture the essence of a nation and its people.
Russian Ark is like a history lesson, a museum tour, and a theme park ride all rolled into one. It’s like being in a dream where you’re floating through time and space, surrounded by the ghosts of the past and the present. The Hermitage Museum is the star of the show, and it’s easy to see why. The palace is magnificent, and the art and artifacts it contains are breathtaking. If you’re a fan of history, art, or just good cinema, you won’t want to miss this one. It’s a trip you won’t soon forget!
Production Company(ies)
Screen Gems Jerry Bruckheimer Films, L Star Capital
Distributor
Wellspring Cinema
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):Russian, Persian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 9, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Russian Ark, drama, 1h 35m, directed by Aleksandr Sokurov, written by Anatoli Nikiforov and Aleksandr Sokurov, starring Sergei Dreiden, produced by Andrey Deryabin, Jens Meuer, Karsten Stoter, reviewed by Joshua Rothkopf, Jesse Cataldo, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Aaron Cutler, Steven D Greydanus, Tom Meek, David Walsh, Jordan M Smith, Dennis Harvey, Guillem Martinez Oya, Lucero Solórzano, box office gross of $37.4K, MPAA rating not specified, French marquis, Sergei Dreiden, labyrinth of corridors, theaters, ballrooms, Persian ambassador, Russian history, uninterrupted, 87-minute take, Wellspring Cinema, surround sound, Dolby SR, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo, flat aspect ratio, Sergei Dontsov, Leonid Mozgovoy, David Giorgobiani, Mariya Kuznetsova, Aleksandr Chaban, Maksim Sergeyev
Worldwide gross: $8,690,168
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $14,085,648
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,847
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,536,058
US/Canada gross: $3,048,997
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,942,033
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,816
US/Canada opening weekend: $29,022
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $47,041
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,234
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
Leonid Mozgovoy – The Spy
David Giorgobiani – Orbeli
Mariya Kuznetsova – Catherine the Great
Aleksandr Chaban – Boris Piotrovsky
Maksim Sergeyev – Peter the Great
Director(s)
Aleksandr Sokurov
Writer(s)
Anatoli Nikiforov, Aleksandr Sokurov
Producer(s)
Andrey Deryabin, Jens Meuer, Karsten Stoter
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 15 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (109) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (97) | Rotten (12)
Perhaps no amount of skillful reasoning could have swayed our gatekeepers from their ignorance. But as Kiarostami himself suggested in his dignified statement to the press, the embarrassment is also his, and by extension our own.
March 16, 2020
Joshua Rothkopf
In These Times
TOP CRITIC
Despite an undeniable attraction to the majestic, Aleksandr Sokurov seems equally adverse to straightforward spectacle, approaching potentially colossal subjects from odd, specific angles.
April 12, 2014 | Rating: 4/4
Jesse Cataldo
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Part pageant and museum tour, part theme-park ride and historical meditation.
October 24, 2013
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This is as immersive-and as Shining-level spooky-as history gets.
September 3, 2013 | Rating: 5/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The movie’s smooth voyage comes to seem like a dream play, suspended painlessly in time.
September 3, 2013
Aaron Cutler
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Awash in nostalgia and dreamlike passiveness, reflecting the lack of a clear way forward for contemporary Russia.
January 30, 2004 | Rating: A-
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
The first non-narrative film captured in a single shot, it chronicles every stage of Russian history, including the reigns of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great.
March 27, 2021
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
The general tone of the piece is cynical, morbid and unpleasantly other-worldly.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Luxuriously gentile and hauntingly lucid in its blending and reconstruction of the history held securely within the Hermitage Museum, the film is at its core a lavishly privileged tour of the magnificent palace.
November 12, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
Russian Ark is enveloping as a kind of cultural-identity summation combining elements of museum tour and live spectacle.
October 14, 2020
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
Meet the ghost of the past, the ghost of the present. How become what we are and why art is our living history. [Full review in Spanish]
December 12, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Guillem Martinez Oya
Cinematismo
A highly recommended documentary. [Full review in Spanish]
June 29, 2016
Lucero Solórzano
Excelsior…
Plot
An unseen man regains consciousness, not knowing who or where he is. No one seems to be able to see him, except the mysterious man dressed in black. He eventually learns through their discussions that this man is a 19th century French aristocrat, who he coins the “European”. This turn of events is unusual as the unseen man has a knowledge of the present day. The two quickly learn that they are in the Winter Palace of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the European who has a comprehensive knowledge of Russian history to his time. As the two travel through the palace and its grounds, they interact with people from various eras of Russian history, either through events that have happened at the palace or through the viewing of artifacts housed in the museum. Ultimately, the unseen man’s desired journey is to move forward, with or without his European companion.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Russian Ark on Fresh Kernels.
Aleksandr-Sokurov.jpg
87%
Chaos (2003)
87%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins
Chaos is a feminist revenge drama/satire that is a deliciously unladylike tale of payback. The film’s two female leads deliver steely performances that are filled with anger, making it a satisfying watch. The mixture of odd pacing and a longish, off-putting flashback may be a bit jarring, but the film’s dexterity and casting hold us through the wonderment. The men in the film are rather obvious targets, but we come to care about the women in their lives beyond any agenda Chaos might have. The film’s great trick is building scenes where the actors can’t stop moving, making the stakes so stupid, so high, and so chaotic. It’s a sort of Hansel and Gretel outing with machetes and chainsaws substituting for the mythic oven, and it’s a lot of fun. Overall, Chaos is a feminist masterpiece that is sure to leave you feeling empowered and entertained.
Chaos is a feminist revenge drama/satire that will leave you feeling empowered and satisfied. The two female leads give steely performances that will make you want to stand up and cheer. The men in the film are obvious targets, but the women in their lives are what make the story truly compelling. The film is a lot of fun and the scene where the actors can’t stop moving is a great trick that makes the stakes so high and chaotic. It’s like a Hansel and Gretel outing with machetes and chainsaws substituting for the mythic oven. Overall, Chaos is a deliciously unladylike tale of payback that you won’t want to miss.
Production Company(ies)
Tri Star Pictures, Freddie Fields Productions,
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, Québec, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for violence and language
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos DTSIMAX 6-Track Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 52m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 17, 2003 Original
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Catherine Frot, Vincent Lindon, Rachida Brakni, Line Renaud, Aurelien Wiik, Ivan Franek, directed by Coline Serreau, written by Coline Serreau, Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Moira MacDonald, Bill Muller, Stanley Kauffmann, Michael O’Sullivan, Vic Vogler, Marta Barber, Chase Burns, Greg Muskewitz, Brian Mckay, Prairie Miller, Emanuel Levy, Robert W Butler, produced by Alain Sarde, MPAA rating, feminist revenge, Parisian couple, prostitute, coma, racial tensions, feminist satire, knives, chainsaws, Hansel and Gretel, female action, thriller, unpredictable, comic tone, household scenes, women’s rights, responsibility, chance, bourgeoisie, apathy, French (Canada), New Yorker Films, Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Worldwide gross: $26,508,132
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $28,830,423
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,558
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,143,994
US/Canada gross: $13,287,908
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $14,452,018
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,509
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,775,350
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,106,096
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,127
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $125,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $135,950,840
Production budget ranking: 257
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $73,209,527
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$180,329,945
ROI to date (est.): -86%
ROI ranking: 1,932
Vincent Lindon – Paul
Rachida Brakni – Noemie/Malika
Line Renaud – Mamie
Aurelien Wiik – Fabrice
Ivan Franek – Touki
Director – Coline Serreau
Producer – Alain Sarde
Writer – Coline Serreau
Director(s)
Coline Serreau
Writer(s)
Coline Serreau
Producer(s)
Alain Sarde
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (8)
There’s a core of anger running throughout Chaos, particularly in the steely performances by its two female leads, that gives this satisfying feminist revenge drama/satire its soul.
July 25, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Despite some odd pacing and a longish, off-putting flashback, Chaos succeeds more than it fails.
June 19, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
The picture holds us, not only through our wonderment at the mixture but through Serreau’s dexterity and her casting.
May 28, 2003
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
One heck of a tale of deliciously unladylike payback.
May 23, 2003
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The men, filled with brutality and neglect, make for rather obvious targets, yet we come to care about the women in their lives beyond any agenda Chaos might have.
May 23, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Vic Vogler
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
It’s a lot of fun.
May 16, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
They sprint across the screen. It’s a great trick to build a scene where your actors can’t stop moving. It makes the stakes so stupid, so high, so chaotic.
January 20, 2022
Chase Burns
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
October 25, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Greg Muskewitz
eFilmCritic.com
October 25, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
Sort of a Hansel and Gretel outing with machetes and chainsaws substituting for the mythic oven.
April 9, 2007
Prairie Miller
Long Island Press
August 10, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A sort of female action/revenge fantasy whose knives are sheathed in amusement.
February 18, 2005
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star…
Plot
In the not-too-distant future, Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland) discovers Viola (Daisy Ridley), a mysterious girl who crash lands on his planet, where all the women have disappeared and the men are afflicted by “the Noise” – a force that puts all their thoughts on display. In this dangerous landscape, Viola’s life is threatened – and as Todd vows to protect her, he will have to discover his own inner power and unlock the planet’s dark secrets. From the director of The Bourne Identity and Edge of Tomorrow and based on the best-selling novel The Knife of Never Letting Go, Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland star with Mads Mikkelsen, Demián Bichir, Cynthia Erivo, Nick Jonas, Kurt Sutter, and David Oyelowo in Chaos Walking.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Catherine Frot, Vincent Lindon, and Rachida Brakni in the lead roles.
Coline-Serreau.jpg
87%
The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)
87%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 13 nominations
Though not objective by any means, The Kid Stays in the Picture is irresistibly entertaining
If you’re looking for a documentary that’s as colorful as its subject, then The Kid Stays in the Picture is the one for you. This movie is more fun than some of those tall tales that Hollywood calls feature films. Robert Evans is a fascinating figure, even at his most obnoxious. The directors know enough to stay in the background and their one stylistic touch is brilliantly appropriate. It offers a fascinating peek into the (not always glamorous) life of a Hollywood big shot. Full of insight, meaty tidbits, and not without humor, this documentary is one of the best. So, grab some popcorn and get ready to be entertained and brought into a true insider view of Hollywood.
Production Company(ies)
K T C A Minneapolis Kartemquin Films, Sprockets Music
Distributor
USA Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows – 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some brief violent and sexual images
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 33m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Robert Evans, Hollywood producer, rise and fall, autobiography, intimate journey, unusual friendships, tumultuous love life, Nanette Burstein, Brett Morgen, Graydon Carter, R rating, box office, $1.4M, reviewed by Nell Minow, Nev Pierce, Jeff Strickler, Jay Boyar, Rene Rodriguez, Susan Stark, Matt Brunson, Mark Steyn, Austin Kennedy, John A Nesbit, Felix Vasquez Jr., Jeffrey M Anderson, starring Robert Evans, directed by Nanette Burstein, Brett Morgen, written by Robert Evans, Brett Morgen, produced by Nanette Burstein, Graydon Carter, Brett Morgen, MPAA rating, Hollywood, producer, rise and fall, autobiography, love life, friendships, documentary, box office performance, budget, critic reviews, producer names, director names, writer names, genre, Hollywood legend, Hollywood big shot, Hollywood show biz, Hollywood movies, Hollywood mythology, Hollywood PR, Hollywood spin doctoring, Hollywood damage control, Hollywood self-aggrandizement
Worldwide gross: $1,521,593
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,523,657
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,356
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 275,208
US/Canada gross: $1,439,232
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,387,056
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,990
US/Canada opening weekend: $89,087
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $147,756
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,785
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
Nanette Burstein – Director, Producer
Brett Morgen – Director, Writer
Robert Evans – Writer
Director(s)
Nanette Burstein, Brett Morgen
Writer(s)
Robert Evans, Brett Morgen
Producer(s)
Nanette Burstein, Graydon Carter, Brett Morgen
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 13 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (113) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (103) | Rotten (10)
Truly a gripping story, but for mature teens only.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
January 29, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
Nev Pierce
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
If you love flamboyant people, movies or — especially — flamboyant movie people, don’t miss The Kid Stays in the Picture.
November 6, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
This movie is more fun than many of those tall tales that Hollywood calls feature films.
September 26, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Even at his most obnoxious, Evans remains a fascinating figure.
August 23, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
For a life lived boldly and productively if imperfectly, Robert Evans deserves this trenchant, revealing, vastly entertaining documentary.
August 23, 2002 | Rating: 4/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
A documentary almost as colorful as its subject.
February 19, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
The directors know enough to stay in the background and their one stylistic touch is brilliantly appropriate.
February 1, 2018
Mark Steyn
The Spectator
It offers a fascinating peek into the (not always glamorous) life of a Hollywood big shot. Full of insight, meaty tidbits, and not without humor, this documentary is one of the best.
April 27, 2013 | Rating: 4/4
Austin Kennedy
Film Geek Central
entertains and brings a true insider view
October 21, 2012 | Rating: B
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
Despite some reservations, this is an interesting and excellent documentary…
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Excellent showbiz documentary.
February 29, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid…
Plot
This documentary captures the life story of legendary Hollywood producer and studio chief Robert Evans. The first actor to ever to run a film studio, Robert Evans’ film career started in 1956, poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel. His good looks, charm and overwhelming confidence captured the eye of screen legend Norma Shearer, who offered him a film role. After a glamorous
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary is about Hollywood producer Robert Evans and features him telling his own story in a highly entertaining manner.
Nanette-Burstein.jpg
87%
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
87%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: Won 4 Oscars
37 wins & 69 nominations total
The well-acted A Beautiful Mind is both a moving love story and a revealing look at mental illness
A Beautiful Mind is a movie that will make you feel like you’re doing math in your head, but without actually having to do any math. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, from staring at the heavens to feeling like you’re in a formulaic biopic. But hey, at least it makes math look sexy, right? And Russell Crowe’s ability to charm and confuse at the same time is perfectly suited for the character of John Nash. Overall, it’s a movie that will leave you feeling inspired to read more about the real John Nash, but also wondering if brainwork really wrecks your health.
Production Company(ies)
FX Sound Industrias Audiovisuales Argentinas S.A.J.Z. & Asociados
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited), Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Princeton, New Jersey, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, sexual content and a scene of violence
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 15m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 4, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 25, 2002
Genre(s)
Biography/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Judd Hirsch, directed by Ron Howard, written by Akiva Goldsman, Sylvia Nasar, biography, drama, mental illness, love story, mathematician, Nobel Prize, box office, budget, reviewed by Jonathan Romney, Philip Kerr, Christy Lemire, Scott Tobias, Alexander Walker, Jami Bernard, Catherine Springer, Catherine Graham, Dominic Bloch, PG-13, produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Universal Pictures, Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Worldwide gross: $316,791,257
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $525,418,125
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 267
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 57,297,505
US/Canada gross: $170,742,341
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $283,186,858
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 215
US/Canada opening weekend: $367,151
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $608,943
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,359
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $58,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $96,196,630
Production budget ranking: 430
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $51,801,885
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $377,419,610
ROI to date (est.): 255%
ROI ranking: 525
Ed Harris – Parcher
Jennifer Connelly – Alicia Nash
Paul Bettany – Charles
Adam Goldberg – Sol
Judd Hirsch – Helinger
Director(s)
Ron Howard
Writer(s)
Akiva Goldsman, Sylvia Nasar
Producer(s)
Brian Grazer, Ron Howard
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 4 Oscars
37 wins & 69 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Directing Winners, Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (213) | Top Critics (55) | Fresh (158) | Rotten (55)
Ultimately the message is banal and rather repellent: brainwork wrecks your health.
February 28, 2018
Jonathan Romney
Independent on Sunday
TOP CRITIC
Crowe is called upon to do not much more than stare solicitously at the heavens, from where inspiration duly arrives, to the accompaniment of some predictably celestial music.
October 21, 2014
Philip Kerr
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
A Beautiful Mind is Howard’s best movie, and easily one of the best movies of the year.
February 4, 2014
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
It’s not a crime for the script to gloss over the thornier aspects of Nash’s story, but the film seems totally unconvincing, squeezing a real life into a formula that’s simultaneously more palatable and less interesting.
February 4, 2014
Scott Tobias
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
A Beautiful Mind is not an insult to the intelligence, not quite. But it makes every effort to celebrate that uncommon faculty and at the same time play it down to the lowest common level.
February 4, 2014
Alexander Walker
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
The result is one of the most successful attempts to make math look sexy, even if the movie strays – gallops, really – from the details of the actual life of Nobel Prize-winner John Forbes Nash Jr.
February 4, 2014
Jami Bernard
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
Nash’s character is perfectly suited to Crowe’s ability to charm and confuse at the same moment.
July 26, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Catherine Springer
CathsFilmForum.com
Its inspirational qualities to read more about the real John Nash (and all the things omitted from this biopic) might be the only lasting effect.
September 25, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Howard’s A Beautiful Mind works because it is not a film about mental illness, but a film about John Nash.
September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Profoundly, exhaustingly mediocre, a fussily overdone bit of mindless prestige filmmaking.
February 24, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
Granted, it’s uplifting to see mental illness portrayed on the screen in a humane fashion and world-class intellectuals elevated to heroic status. But A Beautiful Mind feels contrived from beginning to end, a paint-by-the-numbers biography.
February 21, 2019 | Rating: C-
Catherine Graham
Santa Cruz Sentinel
This is stirring and absorbing stuff.
February 21, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Dominic Bloch
Sky Cinema…
Plot
From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash, Jr. experienced it all. A mathematical genius, he made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery. After many years of struggle, he eventually triumphed over his tragedy, and finally – late in life – received the Nobel Prize.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Russell Crowe’s performance as John Nash is “excellent” according to an audience review.
Ron-Howard.jpg
87%
Metropolis (2002)
87%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 7 nominations
Metropolis is a film that stands the test of time, a true masterpiece of animation that blends together a dizzying array of visual styles and emotional tones. The shimmering Steampunk architecture is a sight to behold, a towering world of tomorrow that is built upon the foundations of yesterday’s cultural influence. While the storyline may be semi-snoozy, the film’s intricate use of sociopolitical allegories and metaphors is a testament to the director’s skill. It’s a thoroughly engaging and satisfying tribute to the noble history of its genre and its form, and a must-see for anyone who appreciates the art of animation.
Metropolis is a visually stunning animated film that takes us on a journey through a futuristic world filled with towering buildings and intricate steampunk architecture. While some critics may find the storyline lacking, the film’s use of diverse visual styles and emotional tones make it a thoroughly engaging and satisfying tribute to the genre. It’s like Fritz Lang for beginners, but with a lot more color and noise. Overall, Metropolis is a must-see for anyone who loves beautiful animation and complex themes.
Production Company(ies)
Red Box Films, Passion Pictures, Canfield Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Berlin, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Silent (original release)
-
Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):German, English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 23, 2002
Genre(s)
Anime
Keyword(s)
Metropolis, anime, PG-13, visually stunning, Fritz Lang, Osamu Tezuka, Japanese detective, dangerous scientist, Tima, humanity’s future, Rintaro, Katsuhiro Ohtomo, Duke Red, Hige-Oyaji, Kenichi, Tima, Rock, Pero, Tarô Ishida, Kousei Tomita, Kei Kobayashi, Yuka Imoto, Kohki Okada, Norio Wakamoto, directed by Rintaro, written by Katsuhiro Ohtomo, produced by Ryohei Tsunoda, Hisanori Hiranuma, Toru Shiobara, Tadamichi Abe, Fumio Nagase, Takayuki Natsutani, Masao Maruyama, Iwao Yamaki, anime genre, box office gross $673.4K, budget, reviewed by Anton Bitel, Tasha Robinson, Derek Elley, Susan Stark, Lisa Alspector, Patrick Peters, Chase Burns, Tim Brayton, Panos Kotzathanasis, Steve Wright, Christopher Machell, Pablo Villaça, PG-13 rating
Worldwide gross: $1,349,711
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $28,775,188
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,559
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,137,970
US/Canada gross: $1,236,166
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,354,463
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,313
US/Canada opening weekend: $19,386
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $413,300
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,443
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): DEM 6,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kousei Tomita – Hige-Oyaji (Voice)
Kei Kobayashi – Kenichi (Voice)
Yuka Imoto – Tima (Voice)
Kohki Okada – Rock (Voice)
Norio Wakamoto – Pero (Voice)
Director(s)
Rintaro
Writer(s)
Katsuhiro Ohtomo
Producer(s)
Ryohei Tsunoda, Hisanori Hiranuma, Toru Shiobara, Tadamichi Abe, Fumio Nagase, Takayuki Natsutani, Masao Maruyama, Iwao Yamaki
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (67) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (9)
we see the director’s towering world of tomorrow being erected on the foundations of yesterday’s cultural influence… a dizzying postmodern edifice, more impressive for its shimmering Steampunk architecture than for the dramas accommodated within
January 16, 2017
Anton Bitel
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
A fairly standard genre exercise, packed with light, detail, color, noise, and motion that add up to relatively little.
July 19, 2010
Tasha Robinson
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Tale of the struggle for personal freedom in a futuristic, tyrannical society is light on action by contempo standards, and pic’s look is uninteresting, apart from occasionally bizarre backgrounds.
October 18, 2008
Derek Elley
Variety
TOP CRITIC
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 4/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
It smoothly blends outrageously diverse visual styles and emotional tones.
April 17, 2007
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
One of the most beautiful animated films ever produced.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 2/5
Patrick Peters
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The storyline is semi-snoozy but the visuals are tremendous.
January 7, 2022
Chase Burns
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
A thoroughly engaging and satisfying tribute to the noble history of its genre and its form.
June 19, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
Rintaro directs an intricate anime, which uses the plethora of its main characters to present a number of sociopolitical allegories and metaphors.
October 6, 2019
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse
Essentially, think of this as Fritz Lang for beginners – which is in no way a bad thing.
March 13, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Steve Wright
SciFiNow
A spectacular if tonally incongruous reworking of Fritz Lang’s 1927 original.
January 16, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Christopher Machell
CineVue
Com uma fabulosa direção de arte, uma animação expressiva e temas complexos, o filme representa um estímulo visual, intelectual e emocional intenso, resultando numa experiência fascinante.
January 23, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena…
Plot
Sometime in the future, the city of Metropolis is home to a Utopian society where its wealthy residents live a carefree life. One of those is Freder Fredersen. One day, he spots a beautiful woman with a group of children, she and the children quickly disappear. Trying to follow her, he is horrified to find an underground world of workers who apparently run the machinery that keeps the Utopian world above ground functioning. One of the few people above ground who knows about the world below is Freder’s father, John Fredersen, who is the founder and master of Metropolis. Freder learns that the woman is called Maria, who espouses the need to join the “hands” – the workers – to the “head” – those in power above – by a mediator who will act as the “heart”. Freder wants to help the plight of the workers in their struggle for a better life. But when John learns of what Maria is advocating and that Freder has joined their cause, with the assistance of an old colleague. an inventor called Rotwang, who turns out to be But their nemesis goes to works towards quashing a proposed uprising, with Maria at the centre of their plan. John, unaware that Rotwang has his own agenda., makes plans that include shutting down the machines, with the prospect of unleashing total anarchy both above and below ground.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Metropolis.
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87%
Mulholland Drive (2001)
87%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
49 wins & 61 nominations total
David Lynch’s dreamlike and mysterious Mulholland Drive is a twisty neo-noir with an unconventional structure that features a mesmirizing performance from Naomi Watts as a woman on the dark fringes of Hollywood
Mulholland Dr. is a wild ride through the twisted and surreal world of Hollywood, where nothing is quite as it seems. With stunning performances from Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, David Lynch’s masterpiece is a must-see for anyone who loves mind-bending cinema. Whether you’re a die-hard Lynch fan or just looking for a trippy and unforgettable movie experience, Mulholland Dr. is sure to leave you spellbound. So buckle up and get ready for a journey into the dark heart of Tinseltown!
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros.,
Distributor
Universal Focus
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Caesar’s Restaurant – 1016 W. El Segundo Boulevard, Gardena, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, language and some strong sexuality
Year of Release
2001
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 26m
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Language(s):English, Spanish, French
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Country of origin:United States, France
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 9, 2002
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Naomi Watts, Laura Elena Harring, Justin Theroux, Ann Miller, Dan Hedaya, Mark Pellegrino, directed by David Lynch, written by David Lynch, produced by Mary Sweeney, Alain Sarde, Neal Edelstein, Michael Polaire, Tony Krantz, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Adam Nayman, Joshua Rothkopf, Amy Taubin, Donald Clarke, Peter Bradshaw, Danny Leigh, Jordi Costa, Brian Eggert, Eddie Harrison, Trace Thurman, MPAA rating R, Hollywood, dream-like, neo-noir, amnesia, Los Angeles, Betty Elms, Rita, Vincenzo Castigliane, Coco, Joe Messing, The Cowboy, blue key, blue box, Club Silencio, dream imagery, psychological duality, innocence, corruption, beauty, depravity, shattered dreams, living nightmares
Worldwide gross: $20,271,129
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $34,162,700
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,504
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,725,485
US/Canada gross: $7,220,243
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,168,192
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,560
US/Canada opening weekend: $587,591
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $990,260
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,282
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $25,279,327
Production budget ranking: 1,242
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,612,917
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$4,729,545
ROI to date (est.): -12%
ROI ranking: 1,461
Naomi Watts – Betty Elms
Laura Harring – Rita
Ann Miller – Coco
Dan Hedaya – Vincenzo Castigliane
Mark Pellegrino – Joe Messing
David Lynch – Director, Writer
Mary Sweeney – Producer
Alain Sarde – Producer
Neal Edelstein – Producer
Michael Polaire – Producer
Tony Krantz – Producer
Director(s)
David Lynch
Writer(s)
David Lynch
Producer(s)
Mary Sweeney, Alain Sarde, Neal Edelstein, Michael Polaire, Tony Krantz
Film Festivals
Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
49 wins & 61 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (186) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (157) | Rotten (29)
David Lynch’s gloriously specific and frustrating masterpiece still stands as an unparalleled, idiosyncratic work of cinema.
October 22, 2021
Adam Nayman
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
With Mulholland Drive, the trance that comes so easily to him is finally charged with the doom of a classic.
March 16, 2020
Joshua Rothkopf
In These Times
TOP CRITIC
David Lynch’s genuinely scary Hollywood horror film…
October 9, 2019
Amy Taubin
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Mulholland Dr is reissued some 15 years after it was released. It was rapidly hailed as the first great US film of the century. None since has been any more powerful.
April 26, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
It is an explosively sexy love story, rocket-fuelled with vanity and cruelty.
April 14, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Mulholland Drive is pure cinema – a gorgeous, noir-narcotic loop of heartbreak in the “dream place” of Los Angeles.
April 12, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A spiral descent towards the hell, disguised as a pseudo-religious mirage, that we call Hollywood. [Full review in Spanish]
June 15, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Jordi Costa
Fotogramas
A film just as much about Hollywood as it is about the viewer trusting their skills as a motion picture dream detective, Mulholland Dr. is a rare kind of masterpiece.
February 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
…a black mirror in which the audience see whatever they want; a noir thriller, a history of Hollywood, a LGBT drama…
December 6, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com
A hypnotic masterpiece.
October 5, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
A beautiful, gripping fever dream. Loaded with haunting imagery and a star making performance by Naomi Watts, this is Lynch at his most accessible…without compromising any of his artistic vision.
September 24, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Joe Lipsett
Horror Queers Podcast
It seems that the 21st century began with Mulholland Drive. [Full review in Spanish]
June 10, 2021
Violeta Kovacsics
Caimán Cuadernos de Cine…
Plot
Still untarnished by the false promises of the rapacious film industry, the wide-eyed actress, Betty, sets foot on bustling, sun-kissed Hollywood. Brimming with hope, and eager to spread her wings and prove her worth, Betty moves in Aunt Ruth’s expensive apartment, unbeknownst to her, however, that fate has other plans in store for her, setting the stage for life-altering experiences with the unexpected, the indecipherable, and the unknown. Now, in the centre of an elaborate labyrinth of half-truths, faded memories, unrequited loves, and dangerous encounters with the city’s ugly face lies a strange key to a mysterious keyhole, an even stranger indigo-blue cube, the young director, Adam, and one cryptic woman: the amnesiac brunette and devilishly seductive car-crash survivor, Rita. But, time flies and Rita’s opaque past demands answers. After all, both women deserve the truth. What is the secret of the serpentine, dream-crushing Mulholland Drive?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a mesmerizing performance from Naomi Watts as a woman on the dark fringes of Hollywood.
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