Production Company(ies)
Brooksfilms
 
Distributor
A24
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexual material and language
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Holiday
 
Keyword(s)
starring Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer, Steven Yeun, Jayne Houdyshell, Beanie Feldstein, June Squibb, directed by Stephen Karam, written by Stephen Karam, Holiday, dysfunctional family, Thanksgiving, lower Manhattan, family drama, Tony Award-winning play, A24, R-rated, Stephen Karam as producer, Louise Lovegrove as producer, $1-5 million budget, reviewed by Kevin Maher, Wendy Ide, Tara Brady, Peter Bradshaw, Alex Godfrey, Leslie Felperin, Dan Bayer, Bill Chambers, Louisa Moore, Matthew Turner, David Gonzalez, horror, body horror, decay, building, characters, box office performance, limited release, streaming release, English language
 

Cast & Crew

Richard Jenkins

Amy Schumer

Steven Yeun

Jayne Houdyshell

Beanie Feldstein

Erik Blake

Aimee

Richard

Deirdre Blake

Brigid

Richard Jenkins – Erik Blake
Amy Schumer – Aimee
Steven Yeun – Richard
Jayne Houdyshell – Deirdre Blake
Beanie Feldstein – Brigid
June Squibb – Momo
Stephen Karam – Producer, Writer, Director
Louise Lovegrove – Producer

 

Stephen Karam

Stephen Karam

Stephen Karam

Louise Lovegrove

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Stephen Karam
 
Writer(s)
Stephen Karam
 
Producer(s)
Stephen Karam, Louise Lovegrove

 

Film Festivals
Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 5 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Kevin Maher

Wendy Ide

Tara Brady

Peter Bradshaw

Alex Godfrey

Times

Observer

Irish Times

Guardian

Empire Magazine

THE HUMANS
 All Critics (129) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (119) | Rotten (10)
 This is more than just a nihilistic revamp of Home for the Holidays. It’s bleaker than that, more forensic in its analysis of innate human hopelessness.
 
 January 2, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Kevin Maher
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 The casting is… first-rate, with Richard Jenkins and a wounded, garrulous Jayne Houdyshell the standouts.
 
 January 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Wendy Ide
 Observer (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 The ensemble remains electrifying against the damp.
 
 December 31, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Tara Brady
 Irish Times
 TOP CRITIC
 The result is like an expressionist horror by Polanski.
 
 December 30, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Peter Bradshaw
 Guardian
 TOP CRITIC
 There’s palpable dread throughout this stagey but nevertheless evocative whirlwind of dysfunction.
 
 December 30, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Alex Godfrey
 Empire Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 [Writer-director Stephen Karam’s] dialogue — overlapping, percussive, ultimately musical — is as exquisitely observed as it is immaculately performed by this cracking cast. It’s as if Samuel Beckett had written a sitcom.
 
 December 30, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Leslie Felperin
 Financial Times
 TOP CRITIC
 Far braver and more effective than most films even try to be, and for something that looks on its face to be a conventional family drama, that is cause for celebration.
 
 May 10, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
 Dan Bayer
 Next Best Picture
 Tempting to say it’s elevated horror so lofty you’ll need a telescope–which is almost literally true of The Humans itself.
 
 March 3, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Bill Chambers
 Film Freak Central
 Its the subtext here thats so complex, especially as each individual person navigates the unspoken tension and validates their place in the familial social structure.
 
 March 2, 2022
 
 Louisa Moore
 Screen Zealots
 Ostensibly an emotionally engaging family-gathering-for-the-holidays drama, complete with the traditional secrets and lies, but the script, setting and sound design make it more chilling than any recent horror movie.
 
 February 25, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
 Matthew Turner
 VODzilla.co
 In an era where horror films tend to leave folks unsatisfied, The Humans follows in The Fathers footsteps in creating an atmospheric feel that will leave viewers unsettled and haunted.
 
 February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 David Gonzalez
 Reel Talk Inc.
 While there are various undeniable good ideas and Jayne Houdyshell truly is stunning, it is a film that lacks the craft or thought to do these ideas or efforts justice.
 
 February 15, 2022 | Rating: B
 
 Carson Timar
 ButteredPopcorn…

 

Plot
A family gathers for Thanksgiving in their daughter’s Manhattan apartment, but as darkness falls and strange things start to happen, their deepest fears are revealed in the piercingly funny and haunting drama, The Humans.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The ensemble cast of The Humans is described as “electrifying” by one critic.
 

 
Stephen-Karam.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Horizon Pictures,
 
Distributor
Oscilloscope Laboratories
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Country Kitchen, Highland Park, Illinois, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Kelly O’Sullivan, William Drain, Laura T Fisher, Mary Beth Fisher, Meighan Gerachis, Francis Guinan, directed by Alex Thompson, written by Kelly O’Sullivan, Comedy, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Will Gompertz, Michael Phillips, Clarisse Loughrey, Tim Robey, Donald Clarke, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Ayeen Forootan, Olly Richards, Charlotte Harrison, Katherine McLaughlin, Robert Roten, produced by James Choi, MPAA rating, abortion, deadbeat nanny, friendship, 6-year-old, Chicago, female-centric, menstruation, nonjudgmental, Ramona Edith Williams, weighty issues, empathy, humor, grace, tremendous talent
 

Cast & Crew

Kelly O’Sullivan

William Drain

Laura T. Fisher

Mary Beth Fisher

Meighan Gerachis

Maya

Librarian

Donna

Carol

Nurse tech

Kelly O’Sullivan – Maya
William Drain – Librarian
Laura T. Fisher – Donna
Mary Beth Fisher – Carol
Meighan Gerachis – Nurse tech
Francis Guinan – Dennis

 

Alex Thompson

Kelly O’Sullivan

James Choi

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Alex Thompson
 
Writer(s)
Kelly O’Sullivan
 
Producer(s)
James Choi

 

Film Festivals
South by Southwest
 
Awards & Nominations
11 wins & 17 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Will Gompertz

Michael Phillips

Clarisse Loughrey

Tim Robey

Donald Clarke

BBC.com

Chicago Tribune

Independent (UK)

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Irish Times

SAINT FRANCES
 All Critics (102) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (101) | Rotten (1)
 Saint Frances is smart and original and anti-sensationalist. It is also a very good film, which speaks to you but never shouts.
 
 February 5, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Will Gompertz
 BBC.com
 TOP CRITIC
 I do wish “Saint Frances” indulged in or two fewer getting-to-know-you montages. But I say that about most every movie that comes along, even the good ones.
 
 February 5, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Michael Phillips
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 [Kelly] O’Sullivan’s screenplay, much like her performance, is sweet without ever turning sickly. Alex Thompson’s direction, in turn, carefully matches her tone.
 
 December 9, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Clarisse Loughrey
 Independent (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 Like all the best films about fumbling your way through to deeper self-understanding, Saint Frances doesn’t feel too programmed, and leaves a lot of mess on the table.
 
 November 22, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Tim Robey
 Daily Telegraph (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 Loosely structured, but satisfactory in its narrative shape, the picture deftly escorts us through the embarrassments and dilemmas of everyday life in a hipper part of Chicago.
 
 August 14, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Donald Clarke
 Irish Times
 TOP CRITIC
 You could also describe it as the missing link between Bridesmaids and Roma.
 
 July 27, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Charlotte O’Sullivan
 London Evening Standard
 TOP CRITIC
 Thompson’s filmmaking sticks to the safe and familiar territory of a lo-fi indie, never pushing its aesthetic to places that might challenge the viewer like its subject matter does.
 
 June 5, 2021
 
 Ayeen Forootan
 In Review Online
 2020’s best coming of age drama.
 
 April 29, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Olly Richards
 NME
 An unlikely friendship forms between Bridget and Frances, and it’s such a joy to follow. An immensely likeable and utterly charming watch.
 
 April 3, 2021
 
 Charlotte Harrison
 Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
 This funny, heart-wrenching and gorgeously shot tale of a 30-something woman finding herself exudes warmth, kindness and humour.
 
 March 13, 2021 | Rating: 10/10
 
 Katherine McLaughlin
 VODzilla.co
 I don’t recall the last time I saw so many strong female characters in a film who all shared so many emotionally powerful scenes together.
 
 March 8, 2021 | Rating: B
 
 Robert Roten
 Laramie Movie Scope
 Talking about awkward things without shame is what this film endorses – and does well.
 
 February 5, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Markie Robson-Scott
 The Arts Desk…

 

Plot
After an abortion, a struggling nanny forms an unlikely bond with the 6-year-old girl she’s hired to watch in the comedy-drama film “Saint Frances.”
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels database.
 

 
Alex-Thompson.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Horror
 
Keyword(s)
starring Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, Matt Smith, Cornell John, Emily Taaffe, Bradley Banton, directed by Remi Weekes, written by Remi Weekes, horror, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Meagan Navarro, Tim Grierson, Robert Daniels, Adam Nayman, Roxana Hadadi, Valerie Complex, Josh Parham, Fernanda Solórzano, Jason Shawhan, DarkSkyLady, Nicolás Delgadillo, MPAA rating, producer Aidan Elliott, refugee experience, haunted house, specters, evil lurking, war-torn South Sudan, English town, grief, guilt, assimilation, refugee crisis, nerve-jangler, fresh voice, hard-earned ambivalence, unnerving tension, socio-political commentary, character study, visual frights
 

Cast & Crew

Wunmi Mosaku

Sope Dirisu

Matt Smith

Cornell John

Emily Taaffe

Rial

Bol

Mark

The Witch

Dr. Hayes

Wunmi Mosaku – Rial
Sope Dirisu – Bol
Matt Smith – Mark
Cornell John – The Witch
Emily Taaffe – Dr. Hayes
Bradley Banton – Phillip

 

Remi Weekes

Remi Weekes

Aidan Elliott

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Remi Weekes
 
Writer(s)
Remi Weekes
 
Producer(s)
Aidan Elliott

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 BAFTA Award
8 wins & 37 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Meagan Navarro

Tim Grierson

Robert Daniels

Adam Nayman

Roxana Hadadi

Bloody Disgusting

Screen International

Polygon

The Ringer

Pajiba

HIS HOUSE
 All Critics (120) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (120)
 It’s a strong debut by Weekes and nails the essential part of a horror movie: the horror.
 
 February 2, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Meagan Navarro
 Bloody Disgusting
 TOP CRITIC
 The film has much to say about grief, guilt, assimilation and the on-going refugee crisis. And on top of all that, it’s also a nifty nerve-jangler.
 
 February 2, 2021
 
 Tim Grierson
 Screen International
 TOP CRITIC
 His House is a terrifying debut that breathes a fresh voice into the haunted-house subgenre.
 
 February 2, 2021
 
 Robert Daniels
 Polygon
 TOP CRITIC
 The twist, when it comes, feels simultaneously inevitable and devastating, while the coda accesses a hard-earned ambivalence about what it means to make a house a home…
 
 January 27, 2021
 
 Adam Nayman
 The Ringer
 TOP CRITIC
 “Your life is not yours. You stole it,” whispers one of the figures tormenting the pair, and that self-doubt is perhaps the most unsettling aspect of all. His House is top-tier horror.
 
 December 7, 2020
 
 Roxana Hadadi
 Pajiba
 TOP CRITIC
 The third act stifles the narrative ever so slightly, which prevents this good movie from becoming a great one.
 
 November 25, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Valerie Complex
 Den of Geek
 TOP CRITIC
 There’s no doubt that director Remi Weekes has a talent for effectively building unnerving tension, and the suspense is naturally crafted through the general atmosphere and tone.
 
 June 5, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
 
 Josh Parham
 Next Best Picture
 A very interesting and original reworking of this subgenre. [Full review in Spanish]
 
 October 21, 2021
 
 Fernanda Solórzano
 Letras Libres
 Educational, profoundly scary and an experience that delights in taking unexpected routes, this film is one of those debut features that makes you want to keep track of everything a director does from here on out.
 
 September 10, 2021
 
 Jason Shawhan
 Nashville Scene
 It’s a film that shows the horror of being a refugee, with the guilt of the past and the fear of losing oneself when we are forced to assimilate into a new world and culture.
 
 July 2, 2021
 
 DarkSkyLady
 Nightmarish Conjurings
 Well-written, superbly directed and acted, and most of all, pretty damn scary.
 
 June 26, 2021 | Rating: 4 / 5
 
 Nicolás Delgadillo
 Discussing Film
 A multi-layered British-set haunted house film that skillfully weaves socio-political commentary, an engrossing character study, and unnerving visual frights …
 
 June 8, 2021
 
 Mel Valentin
 That Shelf…

 

Plot
A refugee couple struggles to adjust to their new life in an English town after making a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, only to discover an evil lurking beneath the surface in “His House.”
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Matt Smith, who plays Mark in the film, is best known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor in the popular British TV series Doctor Who.
 

 
Remi-Weekes.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Lama Films, United King Films, Rabinovich Film Fund, Cinema Project
 
Distributor
Annapurna Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking – all involving teens
 
Year of Release
2019
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Lgbtq+
 
Keyword(s)
starring Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Jason Sudeikis, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, directed by Olivia Wilde, written by Katie Silberman, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, comedy, LGBTQ+, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Aline Dolinh, Rachel Vorona Cote, Kevin Maher, Robert Daniels, Christy Lemire, Wenlei Ma, Brian Eggert, David Gonzalez, Matt Neal, Lonita Cook, Nicholas Oon, produced by Megan Ellison, Jessica Elbaum, Katie Silberman, Chelsea Barnard, David Distenfeld, R rating, high school, graduation, coming-of-age, friendship, party, first sexual encounter, academic overachievers, missed opportunities, chaotic adventure, book smarts, special moments, teenage years, determined, cramming, fun, fast-paced, funny, fresh, smart new spin
 

Cast & Crew

Kaitlyn Dever

Beanie Feldstein

Jessica Williams

Jason Sudeikis

Lisa Kudrow

Amy

Molly

Miss Fine

Principal Brown

Charmaine

Kaitlyn Dever – Amy
Beanie Feldstein – Molly
Jessica Williams – Miss Fine
Jason Sudeikis – Principal Brown
Lisa Kudrow – Charmaine
Will Forte – Doug
Megan Ellison – Producer
Jessica Elbaum – Producer
Katie Silberman – Producer, Writer
Chelsea Barnard – Producer
David Distenfeld – Producer
Olivia Wilde – Director
Katie Silberman – Writer
Emily Halpern – Writer
Sarah Haskins – Writer
Susanna Fogel – Writer

 

Olivia Wilde

Katie Silberman

Megan Ellison

Jessica Elbaum

Katie Silberman

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Olivia Wilde
 
Writer(s)
Katie Silberman, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel
 
Producer(s)
Megan Ellison, Jessica Elbaum, Katie Silberman, Chelsea Barnard, David Distenfeld

 

Film Festivals
South by Southwest
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
29 wins & 61 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Aline Dolinh

Rachel Vorona Cote

Kevin Maher

Robert Daniels

Christy Lemire

Bitch Media

Times (UK)

812filmreviews

FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)

News.com.au

BOOKSMART
 All Critics (380) | Top Critics (85) | Fresh (366) | Rotten (14)
 Though it really shouldn’t be at this point in time, it’s exhilarating to see a film centered on teenage girls… Yet to champion the film as a universal reflection of teenage girldom rather than a highly specific fantasy also does it a disservice.
 
 March 13, 2021
 
 Aline Dolinh
 Bitch Media
 TOP CRITIC
 With elegant clarity, Booksmart demonstrates how certain experiences can feel colossal and of walloping import even when we know we’re waiting for something else-something we can’t possibly fathom.
 
 March 12, 2021
 
 Rachel Vorona Cote
 Bitch Media
 TOP CRITIC
 …witty, raucous, perfectly played and eventually packs an emotional wallop.
 
 December 16, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Kevin Maher
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 Booksmart is a loving and endearing piece of filmmaking – wickedly funny and adventurous – and a jaw dropping directorial debut from Wilde.
 
 December 16, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Robert Daniels
 812filmreviews
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s raunchy and kind of gross at times, but there is such heart, sweetness, and honesty about high school.
 
 September 30, 2019
 
 Christy Lemire
 FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
 TOP CRITIC
 It sounds like such a cliche but you will literally laugh and cry, and flash back to your own teenage days with fondness, not horror.
 
 August 6, 2019 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
 Wenlei Ma
 News.com.au
 TOP CRITIC
 Although Booksmart doesn’t break new ground or redefine the genre of teen comedies, its treatment of the material resonates enough that Generation Z will undoubtedly cling to the movie for years to come.
 
 March 3, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Brian Eggert
 Deep Focus Review
 Along with great directorial choices, the films two great performances provide tons of chemistry and a lot of laughs and should be the start of cinephiles gaining anticipation for any film directed by Olivia Wilde.
 
 February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 David Gonzalez
 Reel Talk Inc.
 Wilde’s taken a classic coming-of-age chassis, updated it, chucked on a few mod-cons, and given it a very fresh paint job, and the resulting ride is fast and fun.
 
 February 1, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Matt Neal
 ABC Radio (Australia)
 It’s a lot more meaty and soulful than you’d anticipate.
 
 September 29, 2021
 
 Lonita Cook
 KCTV5 News at 9
 While being an excellent example of the power of friendship, Booksmart is also a warning to viewers that labels are dangerous.
 
 September 5, 2021
 
 Nicholas Oon
 Maximum Hype (YouTube)
 There’s something innately hilarious about watching the “good kids” losing themselves in bad behaviour.
 
 September 1, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Ben Turner
 The Pink Lens…

 

Plot
On the eve of their high-school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Booksmart.
 

 
Olivia-Wilde.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., 5000 Broadway Productions, Likely Story
 
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Castello Aragonese, Ischia, Naples, Italy
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material.
 
Year of Release
2019
 

 
Genre(s)
Action/Comedy
 
Keyword(s)

Cast & Crew

Tommy Lee Jones

Will Smith

Linda Fiorentino

Vincent D’Onofrio

Rip Torn

MiB Agent K

Officer James Darrel Edwards III

MiB Agent J

Deputy Medical Examiner Laurel Weaver

M.D.

Tommy Lee Jones – MiB Agent K (Kay)
Will Smith – Officer James Darrel Edwards III, MiB Agent J (Jay)
Linda Fiorentino – Deputy Medical Examiner Laurel Weaver, M.D., MiB Agent L (Elle)
Vincent D’Onofrio – Edgar, Edgar Bug
Rip Torn – MiB Chief Z (Zed)
Tony Shalhoub – Jeebs

 

Barry Sonnenfeld

Lowell Cunningham

Laurie MacDonald

Walter F. Parkes

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Barry Sonnenfeld
 
Writer(s)
Lowell Cunningham, Ed Solomon
 
Producer(s)
Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
9 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Hunter

Paul Tatara

Stephen Thompson

Dave Kehr

John Hartl

Hollywood Reporter

CNN.com

AV Club

New York Daily News

Seattle Times

MEN IN BLACK
 All Critics (91) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (7)
 A terrifically entertaining combination of alien conspiracy fears played for laughs and French Connection-meets-Ghostbusters thrills… Men in Black is so much fun one is actually mildly disappointed when it ends after an economically short 98 minutes.
 
 July 2, 2019
 
 David Hunter
 Hollywood Reporter
 TOP CRITIC
 Men in Black is the wryest, sharpest, most entertaining special effects film in recent memory, a simultaneous participant and mocking parody of the more-bang-for-your-buck behemoth genre.
 
 August 12, 2014
 
 Paul Tatara
 CNN.com
 TOP CRITIC
 Men In Black deserves credit for supplementing its special effects with a breezy script and genuinely charismatic performances by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.
 
 August 12, 2014
 
 Stephen Thompson
 AV Club
 TOP CRITIC
 Its attitude is poised somewhere between the deadpan ghoulishness of the Coen brothers and a Letterman-like sense of the absurdity of life in New York’s rich ethnic stew.
 
 August 2, 2013
 
 Dave Kehr
 New York Daily News
 TOP CRITIC
 Men in Black is moderately amusing, well-constructed and mercifully short, but it fails to deliver on the zaniness of its first half.
 
 July 31, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 John Hartl
 Seattle Times
 TOP CRITIC
 There’s a playfulness, here, that you don’t often find in a special-effect flick.
 
 April 14, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Jay Boyar
 Orlando Sentinel
 TOP CRITIC
 A sharp, sci-fi crowdpleaser.
 
 April 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
 James Croot
 Stuff.co.nz
 ‘Men in Black’ is just damn fun. The cast is perfect, Rick Bakers alien effects are chefs kiss, and the movie’s runtime makes sure the film doesnt overstay its welcome.
 
 April 8, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Wayne Broadway
 Black Girl Nerds
 Choosing to go the route of puppets and primarily practical effects, the film’s look remains striking, even after years of advancing computer graphics.
 
 September 14, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 The gremlins and the gadgets are the real stars of this show.
 
 May 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Leigh Paatsch
 Herald Sun (Australia)
 In addition to being uniquely and necessarily a creature of the second half of the 1990s, quite possibly the best popcorn movie of that half-decade.
 
 June 27, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Tim Brayton
 Alternate Ending
 Men in Black is the rare breed of a sci-fi blockbuster that film audiences don’t really get the opportunity to see anymore in theaters.
 
 June 11, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Danielle Solzman
 Solzy at the Movies…

 

Plot
After an eye-opening encounter of the third kind, the secret MiB organisation’s newest recruit, Agent M, finds herself under the wing of the heroic Agent H in cosmopolitan London, when a shape-shifting duo of intergalactic assassins executes an alien aristocrat. Now, with a devastating super-weapon of mass destruction hidden somewhere on Earth, the Men in Black will leave no stone unturned to retrieve it. However, heavy clouds of mistrust and a scent of betrayal envelop the once-incorruptible agency. Is there a well-placed mole in their midst?
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Men in Black on Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Barry-Sonnenfeld.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Sony Pictures, Classics Radical Media, Sen Art Films,
 
Distributor
Mark Stewart Productions
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout, violence and some sexuality/nudity
 
Year of Release
2019
 

 
Genre(s)

 
Keyword(s)
documentary, adventure, biography, Eugene Cernan, Thomas P Stafford, Alan Bean, Martha Chaffee, Charles Duke, Richard Gordon, directed by Mark Craig, written by Eugene Cernan and Mark Craig, produced by Gareth Dodds and Patrick Mark, reviewed by David Jenkins, Kevin Maher, Henry Barnes, Andrew Lowry, Tom Huddleston, Dylan Kickham, Josh Goller, David Brake, Morgan Rojas, Richard Edwards, Amber Wilkinson, Renee Schonfeld, box office gross of $30.9K, MPAA rating, American space exploration, astronaut, moon mission, spaceflight, history, human costs, Apollo era, Gemini 9 mission, Apollo 10 crew, sacrifices, last man on the moon, unexplored chapter, astronaut’s lives, space exploration, space travel, space race, NASA, space program, space documentary, space adventure, space biography, space history, space mission, space technology, space science, space engineering, spaceflight history, spaceflight technology, spaceflight engineering, spaceflight science, spaceflight documentary, spaceflight adventure, spaceflight biography, spaceflight mission, spaceflight program, spaceflight race, spaceflight NASA, spaceflight exploration, spaceflight astronaut, spaceflight moon mission, spaceflight human costs, spaceflight sacrifices, spaceflight last man on the moon
 

Cast & Crew

Eugene Cernan

Thomas P. Stafford

Alan Bean

Martha Chaffee

Charles Duke

Eugene Cernan

Thomas P. Stafford

Alan Bean

Martha Chaffee

Charles Duke

Eugene Cernan – self
Thomas P. Stafford – self
Alan Bean – self
Martha Chaffee – self
Charles Duke – self
Richard Gordon – self
Director – Mark Craig
Producers – Gareth Dodds, Patrick Mark
Writers – Eugene Cernan, Mark Craig

 

Mark Craig

Eugene Cernan

Gareth Dodds

Patrick Mark

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Mark Craig
 
Writer(s)
Eugene Cernan, Mark Craig
 
Producer(s)
Gareth Dodds, Patrick Mark

 

Film Festivals
South by Southwest
 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Jenkins

Kevin Maher

Henry Barnes

Andrew Lowry

Tom Huddleston

Little White Lies

Times (UK)

Guardian

Empire Magazine

Time Out

THE LAST MAN ON THE MOON
 All Critics (47) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (3)
 A biographical tale that captures more than just the story.
 
 April 10, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
 David Jenkins
 Little White Lies
 TOP CRITIC
 The Last Man on the Moon is a compelling, artful and fantastically straight-faced documentary portrait of the now 82-year-old Eugene Cernan.
 
 April 7, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Kevin Maher
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 Craig’s film deals with the fallout of the era – and how the returning heroes kept their feet on the ground – but he can’t help but get swept up in the romance of the effort.
 
 April 7, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Henry Barnes
 Guardian
 TOP CRITIC
 Given the wealth of footage available, you can’t really go wrong with docs on the Apollo era – and yet amongst all that, Cernan is compellingly frank about the human costs of spaceflight.
 
 April 7, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Andrew Lowry
 Empire Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 Tales of remarkable men in extraordinary times.
 
 April 4, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Tom Huddleston
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 Cernan knows how to spin a great yarn, and if you do zone out for a moment, he can quickly reel you back in with the time he nearly died on his Gemini 9 mission or the surprisingly fierce politics behind his being chosen for the Apollo 10 crew.
 
 March 4, 2016
 
 Dylan Kickham
 Entertainment Weekly
 TOP CRITIC
 The Last Man on the Moon covers a lot of ground.
 
 July 20, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Josh Goller
 Spectrum Culture
 You know the history of the Apollo missions, but if a man who’s been on the moon is telling you the story, you listen.
 
 April 4, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 David Brake
 One Room With A View
 [The Last Man on the Moon] is humbling, poignant, hard-hitting, and emotionally charged, on top of being aesthetically rich and visually beautiful.
 
 August 6, 2018
 
 Morgan Rojas
 Cinemacy
 Beyond the history, stunning archive footage and talking heads, the film gets deep into Cernan’s mind to reveal the sacrifices the Apollo guys – and their families – made to ensure they had the right stuff.
 
 January 2, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Richard Edwards
 Total Film
 Funny, thoughtful and self-aware, [Gene Cernan] is a wonderful raconteur with a fabulous turn of phrase.
 
 August 7, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Amber Wilkinson
 Eye for Film
 Awe-inspiring, insightful docu spotlights American astronaut
 
 July 12, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Renee Schonfeld
 Common Sense Media…

 

Plot
Tov Matheson is a war veteran with post traumatic stress disorder who perceives that the end of the world is coming. After establishing a relationship with a dubious Messiah, he leaves his normal life to begin the construction of a shelter underground and trains himself, in an extreme way, at the cost of everything in his life. When he also believes the Messiah, something extraordinary happens.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The Last Man on the Moon features astronaut Eugene Cernan discussing his two missions to the moon and the sacrifices he made to achieve them.
 

 
Mark-Craig.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Scott Rudin Productions,
 
Distributor
Neon
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Kapellskär, Norrtälje, Sweden
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexual content, graphic nudity, a bloody violent image, and language
 
Year of Release
2018
 

 
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Horror
 
Keyword(s)
starring Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Viktor Åkerblom-Nilsson, Matti Boustedt, Jörgen Thorsson, Andreas Kundler, directed by Ali Abbasi, written by Ali Abbasi, Isabella Eklöf, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, R rating, Nina Bisgaard, Peter Gustafsson, Petra Jönsson produced by, $771.9K box office, Dolby Digital sound mix, Scope (2.35:1) aspect ratio, reviewed by Ben Sachs, Wendy Ide, Donald Clarke, Kevin Maher, Peter Bradshaw, Nigel Andrews, Nathan Mattise, Jason Adams, Guillem Martinez Oya, Richard Propes, Gisela Savdie, actor makeup, Swedish language, customs officer, sense of smell, attraction, identity, morality, gender, David Cronenberg, fairytales, myth, sci-fi, surreal, nudity, sexuality, makeup and hairstyling, Academy Awards, fable, Jonathan Glazer, Scarlett Johansson, ERASERHEAD, THE EMERALD FOREST, Manson-esque cult leader, bizarre, shocking, phenomenal, tons of incredible makeup
 

Cast & Crew

Eva Melander

Eero Milonoff

Viktor Åkerblom-Nilsson

Matti Boustedt

Jörgen Thorsson

Tina

Vore

Ulf

Tomas

Roland

Eva Melander – Tina
Eero Milonoff – Vore
Viktor Åkerblom-Nilsson – Ulf
Matti Boustedt – Tomas
Jörgen Thorsson – Roland
Andreas Kundler – Robert
Nina Bisgaard – Producer
Peter Gustafsson – Producer
Petra Jönsson – Producer
Ali Abbasi – Director, Writer
Isabella Eklöf – Writer
John Ajvide Lindqvist – Writer

 

Ali Abbasi

Ali Abbasi

Nina Bisgaard

Peter Gustafsson

Petra Jönsson

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Ali Abbasi
 
Writer(s)
Ali Abbasi, Isabella Eklöf, John Ajvide Lindqvist
 
Producer(s)
Nina Bisgaard, Peter Gustafsson, Petra Jönsson

 

Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
19 wins & 30 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Ben Sachs

Wendy Ide

Donald Clarke

Kevin Maher

Peter Bradshaw

Chicago Reader

Observer (UK)

Irish Times

Times (UK)

Guardian

BORDER
 All Critics (129) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (125) | Rotten (4)
 I found this compelling as I watched it, though I don’t feel I gained much from the experience.
 
 February 29, 2020
 
 Ben Sachs
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 Like a mating between the mind of David Cronenberg and something that crawled out of a compost heap.
 
 March 10, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Wendy Ide
 Observer (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 The film huddles closely around a personality whose courage and determination invite great empathy.
 
 March 8, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Donald Clarke
 Irish Times
 TOP CRITIC
 There are bits of everything in here: gender studies, fairytales, myth and sci-fi. It’s profoundly preposterous, but delivered at all times with a deliciously straight face.
 
 March 8, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Kevin Maher
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 The strangeness in this film writhes like bacteria.
 
 March 7, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Peter Bradshaw
 Guardian
 TOP CRITIC
 Here is a story that upturns all the usual questions, never mind the traditional or notional answers.
 
 March 6, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Nigel Andrews
 Financial Times
 TOP CRITIC
 The mysteries of Border reveal themselves slowly from here, but each one ratchets up the film’s stakes in a delightful manner.
 
 July 28, 2021
 
 Nathan Mattise
 Ars Technica
 You ain’t never seen nothing like it, folks. Hell you ain’t never thought anything like it.
 
 July 2, 2021
 
 Jason Adams
 My New Plaid Pants
 A great film with a great script that question if it is necessary the social reproduction of our societies. [Full review in Spanish]
 
 November 9, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Guillem Martinez Oya
 Cinematismo
 Border is without question one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences of 2018 and a film you absolutely, unequivocally will not forget about in the near future.
 
 September 4, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
 
 Richard Propes
 TheIndependentCritic.com
 Unique format, out of the ordinary, and marvelously disturbing [Full Review in Spanish]
 
 September 1, 2020
 
 Gisela Savdie
 El Heraldo
 This is fantasy romance with a snarl of misanthropy and more bite than a vampire school reunion. It needs to be seen.
 
 August 16, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Tom Beasley
 Flickering Myth…

 

Plot
Tina, who has grotesque, almost animal-like physical features, has always felt self-conscious about her looks. Regardless, she has: a live-in boyfriend, Roland, a dog trainer, at her isolated house in the woods, although they have never had sex, and Tina’s father, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, believing he is solely using her; the unconditional love and support of her father; a small group of friends; and the admiration of her bosses and coworkers in her job as a customs agent at the Ferry terminal, as she is literally able to “smell” human emotions, especially guilt and fear. It is using that innate ability that she stops a seemingly straight-laced person entering the country, he who was found to be carrying a memory card containing child pornography. As such, her immediate supervisor, Agneta, places her on a small investigative unit to discover the producers of this material. Tina is surprised when she is found to be incorrect about another person going through customs, Vore, an entomologist who, like her, possesses those similar grotesque, almost animal-like physical features, he who is found not to be carrying anything incriminating. In Vore and Tina’s multiple encounters at customs, the two begin a friendship, Tina, for the first time, believing she having found a kindred spirit. As Tina learns more and more about Vore, the more she learns about herself. As more and more information comes to light, Tina has to decide whether to abandon the life she has known in its entirety for the future that Vore offers her, that future which may go against what she has always believed to be the good about being human.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The makeup department’s work in Border is praised as “great” by an audience reviewer.
 

 
Ali-Abbasi.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some thematic elements and language
 
Year of Release
2018
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
starring Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, Nina Totenberg, Brenda Feigen, Ted Olson, Frank Chi, directed by Betsy West, Julie Cohen, written by Betsy West, Julie Cohen, documentary, PG, Magnolia Pictures, box office gross $14.0M, legal battles, women’s rights, Supreme Court Justice, gym workouts, cancer survivor, Harvard Law School, law review, Kate McKinnon, SNL, fashion sense, workout inspiration, social media, American hero, gender equality, Bill Clinton, Antonin Scalia, landmark cases, paralegal sorority girl, RBG merchandise
 

Cast & Crew

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Gloria Steinem

Nina Totenberg

Brenda Feigen

Ted Olson

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Gloria Steinem

Nina Totenberg

Brenda Feigen

Ted Olson

Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Self
Gloria Steinem – Self
Nina Totenberg – Self
Brenda Feigen – Self
Ted Olson – Self
Frank Chi – Self

 

Betsy West

NA

Betsy West

Julie Cohen

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Betsy West, Julie Cohen
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
Betsy West, Julie Cohen

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
13 wins & 51 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Nell Minow

Brad Newsome

Robbie Collin

Bedatri D. Choudhury

Charlotte O’Sullivan

AWFJ Women on Film

Sydney Morning Herald

Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review

Bitch Media

London Evening Standard

RBG
 All Critics (181) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (168) | Rotten (13)
 Even fans of the tiny, fierce intellectual powerhouse that is Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be surprised by this utterly engaging documentary.
 
 October 12, 2021
 
 Nell Minow
 AWFJ Women on Film
 TOP CRITIC
 An eye-opener on many fronts — not least when it comes to the kind of gym workouts the octogenarian cancer-survivor undertook to keep herself fit for work as a US Supreme Court judge.
 
 September 30, 2020
 
 Brad Newsome
 Sydney Morning Herald
 TOP CRITIC
 A total snooze.
 
 January 16, 2019
 
 Robbie Collin
 Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
 TOP CRITIC
 Feminism is not a fad, and the Notorious RBG continues to be in the fight for the long haul.
 
 January 8, 2019
 
 Bedatri D. Choudhury
 Bitch Media
 TOP CRITIC
 Her determination and self-belief are inspiring. She’s convinced she still has much to offer. Only a cruel fool would disagree.
 
 January 6, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Charlotte O’Sullivan
 London Evening Standard
 TOP CRITIC
 This solid documentary approaches its subject… with much the same calm eloquence that Bader Ginsburg has brought to her judgments over her career.
 
 January 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Wendy Ide
 Observer (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 [A] superb biodoc about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg…
 
 October 12, 2021
 
 Jennifer Merin
 AWFJ Women on Film
 All of these details add up to present a rich, intelligent portrait of a woman whose impact on America will be felt long after her lace collar is retired.
 
 October 12, 2021
 
 Betsy Bozdech
 AWFJ Women on Film
 RBG a hagiography, a puff piece. It’s a well put together one but it’s still nothing more. Ginsburg is an inspiring figure but this movie is only for the already inspired.
 
 December 10, 2020
 
 David Bax
 Battleship Pretension
 I could tell you here all about the amazing work she did, for men and women, and how she blazed the trail for so many people – but I think you should watch this instead and bask in her glory.
 
 October 8, 2020
 
 Charlotte Harrison
 Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
 This doc, by filmmakers Julie Cohen and Betsy West, takes a straight-up approach after an opener of a litany of male bluster tagging Ginsburg as an “evil” and “bad” woman, with one such retort from our sitting prez.
 
 October 3, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Tom Meek
 Cambridge Day
 It’s sort of bland the way co-directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West conduct this presentation…
 
 October 2, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Filipe Freitas
 Always Good Movies…

 

Plot
At the age of 84, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. But without a definitive Ginsburg biography, the unique personal journey of this diminutive, quiet warrior’s rise to the nation’s highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans – until now. RBG is a revelatory documentary exploring Ginsburg’s exceptional life and career from Betsy West and Julie Cohen, and co-produced by Storyville Films and CNN Films.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, Nina Totenberg, Brenda Feigen, Ted Olson, and Frank Chi.
 

 
Betsy-West.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment,
 
Distributor
Variance Films
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
South Korea
 
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
 
Year of Release
2018
 

 
Genre(s)
Action
 
Keyword(s)
starring Louis Koo, Honglei Sun, Huang Yi, Li Jing, Michelle Ye Xuan, Siu-Fai Cheung, directed by Johnnie To, written by Ryker Chan, Ka-Fai Wai, Nai-Hoi Yau, Xi Yu, action, drug war, police, crime, thriller, death penalty, meth lab, drug lord, former associates, intelligence, filmmaking, box office, budget, reviewed by Steve Erickson, Tom Russo, Ben Sachs, G Allen Johnson, Tirdad Derakhshani, Tom Keogh, Grant Watson, Ard Vijn, Mattie Lucas, Nicholas Bell, CJ Prince, Sarah Gopaul, R MPAA rating, produced by Johnnie To, Ka-Fai Wai
 

Cast & Crew

Louis Koo

Timmy Choi Tin-ming

Honglei Sun

Zhang Lei

Huang Yi

Timmy Choi Tin-ming

Zhang Lei

Yang Xiaobei

Junior Dumb

Sal

Louis Koo – Timmy Choi Tin-ming
Honglei Sun – Zhang Lei
Huang Yi – Yang Xiaobei
Li Jing – Junior Dumb
Michelle Ye Xuan – Sal
Siu-Fai Cheung – Su

 

Johnnie To

Ryker Chan

Johnnie To

Ka-Fai Wai

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Johnnie To
 
Writer(s)
Ryker Chan, Ka-Fai Wai, Nai-Hoi Yau, Xi Yu
 
Producer(s)
Johnnie To, Ka-Fai Wai

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 28 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Steve Erickson

Tom Russo

Ben Sachs

G. Allen Johnson

Tirdad Derakhshani

Film Comment Magazine

Boston Globe

Chicago Reader

San Francisco Chronicle

Philadelphia Inquirer

DRUG WAR
 All Critics (54) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (3)
 Not only does the film never question the ethics of a war on drugs in which dealers and manufacturers are subject to the death penalty, it appears to enthusiastically endorse it.
 
 November 4, 2013
 
 Steve Erickson
 Film Comment Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 Another inkling of the style limitations perhaps most responsible for To’s lower visibility stateside compared with, say, his countrymen John Woo and Wong Kar-wai.
 
 October 17, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
 
 Tom Russo
 Boston Globe
 TOP CRITIC
 Few other working filmmakers display this degree of visual sophistication and old-school craftsmanship.
 
 August 15, 2013
 
 Ben Sachs
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 As always, To delivers fantastic set pieces …
 
 August 15, 2013 | Rating: 4/4
 
 G. Allen Johnson
 San Francisco Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Drug War is a deeply intelligent, exhilarating and eminently satisfying adult crime story, one of the best thrillers you’re likely to see this year.
 
 August 15, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Tirdad Derakhshani
 Philadelphia Inquirer
 TOP CRITIC
 An intense and constantly surprising crime story in which destiny seems to fold in on itself …
 
 August 8, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Tom Keogh
 Seattle Times
 TOP CRITIC
 The action is regularly punctuated by moments of messy, inconvenient realism.
 
 October 13, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
 
 Grant Watson
 Fiction Machine
 Not every last little thing may work in Johnnie To’s new crime thriller, but the vast majority of it clicks together as a damn solid piece of action craftsmanship, anchored by two good leads.
 
 January 13, 2020
 
 Ard Vijn
 ScreenAnarchy
 To is a born storyteller, and his work here is nothing short of astonishing. Drug War is a great film
 
 August 7, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Mattie Lucas
 From the Front Row
 An elegantly paced thriller that effectively avoids dependence on cliché.
 
 July 24, 2019
 
 Nicholas Bell
 IONCINEMA.com
 For fans of To Drug War can’t be missed, and for people new to his style it’s an excellent way to get introduced to a truly great director.
 
 June 29, 2019 | Rating: 7.9/10
 
 C.J. Prince
 Way Too Indie
 Drug War, is yet another feat of fantastic storytelling brought to the screen.
 
 October 26, 2018
 
 Sarah Gopaul
 Digital Journal…

 

Plot
A police detective determined to catch the unseen boss of Asia’s biggest drug cartel joins hands with a revenge-thirsty member of the gang.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Louis Koo delivers a standout performance as the meth manufacturer turned informant in Drug War.
 

 
Johnnie-To.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Soudaine Compagnie Pandora Filmproduktion, Arte France Cinéma
 
Distributor
The Orchard
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Granite Falls, Washington, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
 
Year of Release
2018
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Jay Duplass, Edie Falco, Kaitlyn Dever, Ben Schwartz, directed by Lynn Shelton, written by Lynn Shelton, Jay Duplass, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, J.R Jones, Kimberley Jones, Andrew Whalen, Moira MacDonald, Bob Mondello, Anne Brodie, Cate Marquis, Sandie Angulo Chen, Jennifer Merin, MaryAnn Johanson, Nikki Baughan, ex-convict, small town, high school teacher, private equity, growth strategy, value creation, Stax Chicago, strategy consultant, expanding team, MPAA rating, The Orchard, Mel Eslyn, Lacey Leavitt, producer
 

Cast & Crew

Jay Duplass

Chris

Edie Falco

Carol

Kaitlyn Dever

Chris

Carol

Hildy

Ted

Director

Jay Duplass – Chris
Edie Falco – Carol
Kaitlyn Dever – Hildy
Ben Schwartz – Ted
Lynn Shelton – Director, Screenwriter

 

Lynn Shelton

Lynn Shelton

Mel Eslyn

Lacey Leavitt

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Lynn Shelton
 
Writer(s)
Lynn Shelton, Jay Duplass
 
Producer(s)
Mel Eslyn, Lacey Leavitt

 

Film Festivals
South by Southwest, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 2 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Nell Minow

J. R. Jones

Kimberley Jones

Andrew Whalen

Moira MacDonald

AWFJ Women on Film

Chicago Reader

Austin Chronicle

Newsweek

Seattle Times

OUTSIDE IN
 All Critics (49) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (2)
 Edie Falco gives her most vulnerable and nuanced performance…
 
 November 30, 2021
 
 Nell Minow
 AWFJ Women on Film
 TOP CRITIC
 Lynn Shelton wrote and directed two superior indie comedies, Humpday (2009) and Your Sister’s Sister (2011)… Now she’s back with an engrossing drama about love and circumstance, and there isn’t a false note from start to finish.
 
 March 27, 2020
 
 J. R. Jones
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 What keeps Outside In interesting throughout is the nuanced work of its so very watchable leads – especially Duplass, who spent the first half of his career behind the camera writing, directing, and producing film and TV with his brother Mark.
 
 May 24, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Kimberley Jones
 Austin Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Director Lynn Shelton brings a high empathic bar to Outside In, then dares the audience to clear it.
 
 April 5, 2018
 
 Andrew Whalen
 Newsweek
 TOP CRITIC
 The power of these performances is that you leave thinking that Chris and Carol are out there, somewhere, and you wish them well.
 
 April 4, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Moira MacDonald
 Seattle Times
 TOP CRITIC
 [Lynn Shelton’s] actors are always natural and unaffected, but in [Edie] Falco and [Jay] Duplass, she’s found interpreters who seem to breathe her characters.
 
 April 2, 2018
 
 Bob Mondello
 NPR
 TOP CRITIC
 Lynn Shelton’s sobering look at a young man struggling to survive following twenty years in prison is full of compassion.
 
 November 30, 2021
 
 Anne Brodie
 AWFJ Women on Film
 Edie Falco is outstanding in this film, creating a memorable character of remarkable warmth and solid values.
 
 November 30, 2021
 
 Cate Marquis
 AWFJ Women on Film
 Shelton’s films are usually more comedic, but this one’s bittersweet but hopeful tone works quite beautifully.
 
 November 30, 2021
 
 Sandie Angulo Chen
 AWFJ Women on Film
 Shelton and ensemble capture all the nuances of this unpredictable and sometimes dangerous liaison between two admirable people who are trying their very best to do the right thing.
 
 November 30, 2021
 
 Jennifer Merin
 AWFJ Women on Film
 A transition that many women go through, and one that is even less represented onscreen. And it’s tenderly and wisely handled.
 
 November 30, 2021
 
 MaryAnn Johanson
 AWFJ Women on Film
 Shelton has created a film that finds dramatic power and emotional resonance in the smallest, most seemingly mundane of moments.
 
 November 30, 2021
 
 Nikki Baughan
 AWFJ Women on Film…

 

Plot
An ex-con struggling to readjust to life in his small town forms an intense bond with his former high school teacher.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Edie Falco gives a “vulnerable and nuanced performance” in Outside In, according to Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Lynn-Shelton.jpg