Production Company(ies)
Tri Star Pictures, Freddie Fields Productions,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Just outside Northern Meadows community, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity
 
Year of Release
2017
 

 
Genre(s)

 
Keyword(s)
starring Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Barbara Crampton, David Gale, Robert Sampson, Gerry Black, directed by Stuart Gordon, written by Stuart Gordon, William Norris, Dennis Paoli, horror, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Paul Attanasio, Kevin Thomas, Gene Siskel, Dave Kehr, Mark Dinning, directed by Charles Band, Brian Yuzna, MPAA rating, Herbert West, Megan Halsey, Dr Carl Hill, Mace, Dean Alan Halsey, produced by Charles Band, Brian Yuzna, H.P Lovecraft, gory, dark humor, mad scientist, practical effects, cult classic, 80s horror, grotesque, over-the-top, Jeffrey Combs steals the show, David Gale steals the show, tongue-in-cheek, parody, Herbert West-Reanimator, science gone too far, Frankenstein mentality, horror-comedy, B-movie, splatter effects, campy, hammy acting, dark sense of humor, outrageous, insane, entertaining, horror nerd, Netflix, DVD, streaming, horror movies, horror-comedy, sci-fi, thriller, cult film, classic horror, horror genre, horror fans, horror lovers, horror flick, horror cinema, horror film, horror movie night, horror movie marathon, horror movie binge, horror movie collection, horror movie classics, horror movie icons, horror movie villains, horror movie monsters, horror movie creatures, horror movie gore, horror movie violence, horror movie scares, horror movie suspense, horror movie thrills, horror movie chills, horror movie atmosphere, horror movie soundtrack, horror movie cinematography, horror movie special effects, horror movie makeup, horror movie costumes, horror movie sets, horror movie props, horror movie quotes, horror movie lines, horror movie scenes, horror movie moments, horror movie twists, horror movie endings
 

Cast & Crew

Jeffrey Combs

Bruce Abbott

Barbara Crampton

David Gale

Robert Sampson

Herbert West

Daniel “Dan” Cain

Megan Halsey

Dr. Carl Hill

Dean Alan Halsey

Jeffrey Combs – Herbert West
Bruce Abbott – Daniel “Dan” Cain
Barbara Crampton – Megan Halsey
David Gale – Dr. Carl Hill
Robert Sampson – Dean Alan Halsey
Gerry Black – Mace

 

Stuart Gordon

Stuart Gordon

Charles Band

Brian Yuzna

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Stuart Gordon
 
Writer(s)
Stuart Gordon, William Norris, Dennis Paoli
 
Producer(s)
Charles Band, Brian Yuzna

 

Film Festivals
Berlin
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
28 wins & 80 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Matthew Rozsa

Kristen Lopez

Jordan Hoffman

K. Austin Collins

Peter Travers

Salon.com

Culturess

Thrillist

The Ringer

Rolling Stone

CRITIC REVIEWS FOR LOGAN
All Critics (430) | Top Critics (81) | Fresh (403) | Rotten (27)
The ending of “Logan”… works in a bold and poignant way, providing the kind of closure that any story could be proud of.

November 8, 2019 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
Critic profile image
Matthew Rozsa
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
Logan is a melancholic paen to the Western with enough blood and gore to redefine what a comic book movie can and should be.

November 20, 2017 | Full Review…
Critic profile image
Kristen Lopez
Culturess
TOP CRITIC
The superhero movie is a major American genre, and one that is malleable for the silly and the profound. And Logan is the most profound one yet.

September 11, 2017 | Full Review…
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Jordan Hoffman
Thrillist
TOP CRITIC
Logan ventures to all the places superhero movies have tended not to go.

August 10, 2017 | Full Review…
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K. Austin Collins
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
Make no mistake, Logan earns its tears. If Jackman and Stewart are serious about this being their mutual X-Men swan song, they could not have crafted a more heartfelt valedictory.

March 9, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Critic profile image
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Jackman and Stewart are why Logan works-why the film doesn’t feel like a cheap exercise in bloody violence, and its subversion of typical superhero-movie tropes feels organic.

March 8, 2017 | Full Review…
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David Sims
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
I love how the film transcended the superhero genre to become a tragic western. The most emotional superhero film ever made.

March 1, 2023 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…
Critic profile image
Joseph Garcia
Dynamic Duel Podcast
There are no punchy jokes or one-liners. There are no colorful, larger than life characters. Mangold’s tone remains intensely serious and his characters are broken and struggling.

August 23, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
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Keith Garlington
Keith & the Movies
An uncommon comic book film that transcends its label, Logan engages through its harmony of post-modernism and serious treatment of complex characters.

April 5, 2022 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
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Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
This is the film fans have been waiting for, the antidote to the noisy, messy superhero films of (the previous) year. Its the perfect goodbye to a beloved character.

February 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
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Victoria Luxford
City AM
Jackman delivers a career performance as Logan.

February 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
Critic profile image
David Gonzalez
The Cinematic Reel
A fantastic evolution of where these kinds of stories and characters can go.

December 29, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Critic profile image
Drew Dietsch
FANDOM
View All Critic Reviews (430)

 

Plot
In 2029 the mutant population has shrunken significantly due to genetically modified plants designed to reduce mutant powers and the X-Men have disbanded. Logan, whose power to self-heal is dwindling, has surrendered himself to alcohol and now earns a living as a chauffeur. He takes care of the ailing old Professor X whom he keeps hidden away. One day, a female stranger asks Logan to drive a girl named Laura to the Canadian border. At first he refuses, but the Professor has been waiting for a long time for her to appear. Laura possesses an extraordinary fighting prowess and is in many ways like Wolverine. She is pursued by sinister figures working for a powerful corporation; this is because they made her, with Logan’s DNA. A decrepit Logan is forced to ask himself if he can or even wants to put his remaining powers to good use. It would appear that in the near-future, the times in which they were able put the world to rights with razor sharp claws and telepathic powers are now over.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Jeffrey Combs delivers a standout performance as the mad scientist Herbert West.
 

 
Stuart-Gordon.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Focus Features, Tohokushinsha Film Corporation, American Zoetrope
 
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for rude humor and some action
 
Year of Release
2017
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
 
Keyword(s)

Cast & Crew

Will Arnett

Michael Cera

Rosario Dawson

Ralph Fiennes

Siri

Batman

Bruce Wayne

Robin

Dick Grayson

Batgirl

CAST & CREW

Will Arnett
Batman, Bruce Wayne
Voice

Michael Cera
Robin, Dick Grayson
Voice

Rosario Dawson
Batgirl, Barbara Gordon
Voice

Ralph Fiennes
Alfred Pennyworth
Voice

Siri
‘Puter
Voice

Zach Galifianakis
Joker
Voice
Show all Cast & Crew

 

Chris McKay

Seth Grahame-Smith

Dan Lin

Phil Lord

Chris Miller

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Chris McKay
 
Writer(s)
Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern, John Whittington
 
Producer(s)
Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Roy Lee

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
13 wins & 68 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Michael Sragow

Stephen Romei

Sandra Hall

Wenlei Ma

Jake Wilson

Film Comment Magazine

The Australian

Sydney Morning Herald

News.com.au

The Age (Australia)

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE
 All Critics (316) | Top Critics (77) | Fresh (283) | Rotten (33)
 The Lego Batman Movie mostly proves that this franchise has already descended into a disappointing formula. These movies flash a subversive hook, then straighten it out as they streak along.
 
 March 8, 2018
 
 Michael Sragow
 Film Comment Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 The result is an ideal movie for the school holidays, one that children of all ages will rock along with (Batman fancies his own singing) and adults will laugh at.
 
 April 7, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Stephen Romei
 The Australian
 TOP CRITIC
 Emotion can reside in the unlikeliest packages. But there’s not a lot of it on show here. The animation, however, is terrific and fans of the original should love it.
 
 April 5, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Sandra Hall
 Sydney Morning Herald
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s a bit over-the-top and a little too pleased with its own cleverness, but there is a lot of genuine, inoffensive fun in The Lego Batman Movie.
 
 March 30, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Wenlei Ma
 News.com.au
 TOP CRITIC
 What’s missing is any trace of 1980s-style punk cynicism to underpin the pop playfulness; instead, there’s a complacency which is death to humour.
 
 March 29, 2017 | Rating: 1.5/5
 
 Jake Wilson
 The Age (Australia)
 TOP CRITIC
 The ‘LEGO Movie’ spin-off spoofs the ethos and aesthetics of the Bat-films so well, it’s hard to imagine taking them seriously again.
 
 February 17, 2017
 
 Jason Bailey
 Flavorwire
 TOP CRITIC
 The sequel is the very definition of too much of a good thing.
 
 April 5, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
 
 Brian Eggert
 Deep Focus Review
 It’s Arnett’s show, taking the egotistical dope who was such a delight in The Lego Movie and making him even more absurd.
 
 February 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
 James Luxford
 City AM
 Despite the films flaw of its rapid pacing of jokes, The LEGO Batman Movie may not be the Batman film we wanted but surely the Batman film we needed.
 
 February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 David Gonzalez
 Reel Talk Inc.
 What initially appears to be a facile (if fun) piece of entertainment actually deepens as it progresses.
 
 November 16, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Matt Brunson
 Film Frenzy
 Zips along at a tremendous pace with in-your-face animation and some jokes but the overwhelming amount of CGI muffles some of the charm of the original, creating a less organic, homemade feel.
 
 March 4, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Richard Crouse
 Richard Crouse
 While the film’s story is a little overlong and complicated for a children’s movie, The LEGO Batman Movie gets to the center of Batman’s pain of losing his parents and his overall need for family.
 
 December 23, 2020
 
 Rudie Obias
 Battleship Pretension…

 

Plot
There are big changes brewing in Gotham City, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
 

 
Chris-McKay.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Armada Productions,
 
Distributor
First Run Features
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
TV-PG
 
Year of Release
2017
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, music, African-American family, Philadelphia, Jonathan Olshefski, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, Nas, James Blakely, Christopher Rainey, Tyrone Moore, Ammo, Joey Buttafuoco, box office, budget, reviewed by J.R Jones, reviewed by Bilge Ebiri, reviewed by Jonathan Romney, reviewed by Barry Hertz, reviewed by G Allen Johnson, reviewed by Sheri Linden, reviewed by Matt Brunson, reviewed by Phil Guie, reviewed by Marisa Carpico, reviewed by Stephen Saito, reviewed by Jared Mobarak, directed by Jonathan Olshefski, produced by Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, rated MPAA, family struggles, modern American life, wide-ranging observations, box office performance, First Run Features, 1h 45m, Neptune Frost, 18 1/2, H.P Lovecraft’s Witch House, Stay Prayed Up, 11th Hour Cleaning, Sh*t Saves the World, Final Caller, Girl in the Picture, Hello, Goodbye, Everything in Between, Confessions from the Hart, The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus, The Sea Beast, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, Incantation, The Road to Galena, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play, Asbury Park: Riot, Redemption, Rock ‘N Roll, Saab Bahadar, The Quiet One, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, Betting on Zero, rent/buy from $3.99
 

Cast & Crew

Nas

James Blakely

Christopher Rainey

Tyrone Moore

Ammo

Nas

James Blakely

Christopher Rainey

Tyrone Moore

Ammo

Nas – Self
James Blakely – Self
Christopher Rainey – Self
Tyrone Moore – Self
Ammo – Self
Joey Buttafuoco – Self

 

Jonathan Olshefski

NA

Sabrina Schmidt Gordon

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Jonathan Olshefski
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
Sabrina Schmidt Gordon

 

Film Festivals
Sundance, Tribeca
 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

J. R. Jones

Bilge Ebiri

Jonathan Romney

Barry Hertz

G. Allen Johnson

Chicago Reader

Spirituality & Health

Film Comment Magazine

Globe and Mail

San Francisco Chronicle

QUEST
 All Critics (60) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (1)
 Tthe family members – Quest; his rock-solid wife, Christine’a; and their teenage daughter P.J., who gains in character and complexity as she grows up before our eyes-are too individualized to represent anything but their own determination and decency.
 
 April 16, 2020
 
 J. R. Jones
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 The filmmakers are content to allow us to spend time with these people; they recognize the power of connection and compassion.
 
 March 23, 2020
 
 Bilge Ebiri
 Spirituality & Health
 TOP CRITIC
 Ordinariness-and [Jonathan] Olshefski’s ordinary, level-headed approach to documenting their life-is the keynote of this intensely moving and involving film.
 
 March 8, 2018
 
 Jonathan Romney
 Film Comment Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 There is no grand narrative or point to be hammered home; instead, Olshefski delivers a subtle, sincere and honest portrait of barely making ends meet in modern America.
 
 February 23, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Barry Hertz
 Globe and Mail
 TOP CRITIC
 “Quest” could very easily have been titled “An American Family” as well.
 
 January 4, 2018 | Rating: 4/4
 
 G. Allen Johnson
 San Francisco Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Through eight years of filming … the director discovers an everyday American story of extraordinary strength.
 
 December 14, 2017
 
 Sheri Linden
 Los Angeles Times
 TOP CRITIC
 Filmed over the course of approximately a decade, this powerful and poignant picture moves well beyond its original niche.
 
 July 21, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Matt Brunson
 Film Frenzy
 Moments like these speak to people’s basic humanity and, combined with the Rainey clan’s refusal to suffer defeat, give us reason to be optimistic.
 
 March 21, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Phil Guie
 Film-Forward.com
 [The Raineys are] fascinating subjects to say the least and director Jonathan Olshefski couldn’t have made them more interesting if he’d written them.
 
 December 22, 2018 | Rating: 7.5/10
 
 Marisa Carpico
 The Pop Break
 The gentle, persistent rhythm of the film’s pacing subtly underlines the family’s continual push forward against all odds and since you feel so incredibly lucky to spend any time in their company.
 
 November 1, 2018
 
 Stephen Saito
 Moveable Fest
 To strip the preconceptions away and simply watch as a family prevails against the stacked deck their country sustains to keep them down is to see an honest slice of America.
 
 October 10, 2018 | Rating: 8/10
 
 Jared Mobarak
 Jaredmobarak.com
 …a story worth telling, but due to a lack of context and poor directing, that story is executed in the most boring manner possible.
 
 June 4, 2018 | Rating: D+
 
 Bobby LePire
 Film Threat…

 

Plot
A ground-breaking immersive competition series that drops 8 young people into the fantastic, fictional world of Everealm, where they must save a Kingdom by fulfilling an ancient prophecy.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The film follows the daily struggles and successes of the Raineys, an African-American family living in Philadelphia, and features real-life family members as the cast.
 

 
Jonathan-Olshefski.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
2.4.7. Films, France 3 Cinéma The Kennedy Marshall Company,
 
Distributor
Tangerine Entertainment
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
R
 
Year of Release
2017
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, comedy, Holocaust, humor, Mel Brooks, Sarah Silverman, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Gilbert Gottfried, Alan Zweibel, Ferne Pearlstein, Robert Edwards, Amy Hobby, Anne Hubbell, Jan Warner, Tangerine Entertainment, box office, budget, MPAA rating, reviewed by Randy Myers, Sheila O’Malley, Peter Keough, Peter Rainer, Kenneth Turan, David Ehrlich, Steven Prokopy, Renee Firestone, taboo subjects, concentration camp survivors, ethical dilemmas, Jewish humor, survival technique, cultural identity, anatomy of a joke, sensitive subject matter, affecting insights, unexpected humor, fresh approach
 

Cast & Crew

Mel Brooks

Sarah Silverman

Carl Reiner

Rob Reiner

Gilbert Gottfried

Mel Brooks

Sarah Silverman

Carl Reiner

Rob Reiner

Gilbert Gottfried

Mel Brooks – Self
Sarah Silverman – Self
Carl Reiner – Self
Rob Reiner – Self
Gilbert Gottfried – Self
Alan Zweibel – Self
Ferne Pearlstein – Director, Writer, Producer
Robert Edwards – Writer, Producer
Amy Hobby – Producer
Anne Hubbell – Producer
Jan Warner – Producer
Renee Firestone – Self

 

Ferne Pearlstein

Robert Edwards

Ferne Pearlstein

Robert Edwards

Amy Hobby

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Ferne Pearlstein
 
Writer(s)
Robert Edwards, Ferne Pearlstein
 
Producer(s)
Ferne Pearlstein, Robert Edwards, Amy Hobby, Anne Hubbell, Jan Warner

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Randy Myers

Sheila O’Malley

Peter Keough

Peter Rainer

Kenneth Turan

San Jose Mercury News

RogerEbert.com

Boston Globe

Christian Science Monitor

Los Angeles Times

THE LAST LAUGH
 All Critics (46) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (1)
 An eye opener in every sense
 
 November 20, 2017
 
 Randy Myers
 San Jose Mercury News
 TOP CRITIC
 In its own way, “The Last Laugh” is a celebration of Jewish humor, not just its importance as a survival technique, but also just how much it has shaped our culture.
 
 November 20, 2017
 
 Sheila O’Malley
 RogerEbert.com
 TOP CRITIC
 Is laughter a palliative? The only weapon of the powerless? Perhaps significantly, the film ends in tears.
 
 November 20, 2017
 
 Peter Keough
 Boston Globe
 TOP CRITIC
 At a time when many of us look to comedy to keep us sane, the question is especially pertinent, although the answers here aren’t especially penetrating.
 
 March 24, 2017 | Rating: B-
 
 Peter Rainer
 Christian Science Monitor
 TOP CRITIC
 At times haphazard but always involving …
 
 March 16, 2017
 
 Kenneth Turan
 Los Angeles Times
 TOP CRITIC
 Ferne Pearlstein’s The Last Laugh is a rather safe and genteel documentary about the limits of humor (especially as they pertain to the Holocaust), but it opens with a subtly provocative sequence of events that’s hard to shake.
 
 March 9, 2017 | Rating: B-
 
 David Ehrlich
 indieWire
 TOP CRITIC
 Director Pearlstein makes it easy on us to decide by making the film both hilarious and thought-provoking.
 
 April 28, 2020
 
 Steven Prokopy
 Third Coast Review
 Renee Firestone, a Holocaust survivor now 93-years-old, captures the essence of The Last Laugh, Pearlstein’s documentary on the humor coming out of the horror during World War II.
 
 August 16, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Brigid Presecky
 FF2 Media
 The Last Laugh doesn’t have many answers. But the questions it raises are worth their own sake.
 
 December 27, 2018 | Rating: B+
 
 Nathanael Hood
 Audiences Everywhere
 The Last Laugh is thought provoking in its analysis of both the cultural identity of the Jewish people and the anatomy of a joke.
 
 November 1, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Sean Mulvihill
 FanboyNation.com
 Pearlstein asks the big questions, and sometimes the answer is a tear, sometimes a laugh, and always profound.
 
 February 3, 2018
 
 Christopher Llewellyn Reed
 Hammer to Nail
 What upends The Last Laugh is that the scenes with Firestone, which take up a good percentage of the screen time, follow the template of scores, if not hundreds, of Holocaust-survivor documentaries.
 
 November 20, 2017
 
 Betsy Sherman
 Arts Fuse…

 

Plot
A group of popular students play a cruel prank on a shy nerd resulting in a terrible accident. Years later a reunion is held where each of the students face a stalker killer who may be the same nerd out for revenge.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Mel Brooks and Sarah Silverman are among the comedians interviewed in the documentary.
 

 
Ferne-Pearlstein.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
The Mirisch Corporation,
 
Distributor
Kino Lorber
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Negev Desert, Israel
 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2016
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Sand Storm, drama, Elite Zexer, Lamis Ammar, Ruba Blal, Hitham Omari, Khadija Al Akel, Jalal Masrwa, Arabic, Kino Lorber, box office, budget, reviewed by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, J.R Jones, Kenneth Turan, Alan Scherstuhl, Tomris Laffly, Godfrey Cheshire, David Bax, Fernanda Solórzano, Roger Moore, Jorge Ignacio Castillo, Stephen Saito, MPAA rating, Bedouin culture, forbidden love, patriarchal traditions, Southern Israel, debut feature, feminist story, nuanced, conservative customs, victims, humanist, filmmaking skills, family drama, bias, performances
 

Cast & Crew

Lamis Ammar

Ruba Blal

Hitham Omari

Khadija Al Akel

Jalal Masrwa

Lamis Ammar

Ruba Blal

Hitham Omari

Khadija Al Akel

Jalal Masrwa

Lamis Ammar – Layla
Ruba Blal – Jalila
Hitham Omari – Suliman
Khadija Al Akel – Tasnim
Jalal Masrwa – Anwar
Elite Zexer – Director

 

Elite Zexer

Elite Zexer

NA

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Elite Zexer
 
Writer(s)
Elite Zexer
 
Producer(s)
NA

 

Film Festivals
Sundance, Berlin, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
15 wins & 19 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

J. R. Jones

Kenneth Turan

Alan Scherstuhl

Tomris Laffly

Chicago Reader

Los Angeles Times

Village Voice

Film Journal International

RogerEbert.com

SAND STORM
 All Critics (43) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (3)
 There is a grim sense of inevitability that runs through Sand Storm, yet Jalila’s incandescent spirit contains the hope that the old ways are soon to be a thing of the past.
 
 August 25, 2018
 
 Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
 The Blue Lenses
 TOP CRITIC
 The movie is like a study in prisoner psychology.
 
 November 10, 2016
 
 J. R. Jones
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s set in the heart of the desert, but the disturbances of the quietly impressive “Sand Storm” rage not in the natural world but in the intimate corners of the human heart.
 
 October 6, 2016
 
 Kenneth Turan
 Los Angeles Times
 TOP CRITIC
 Rich in cultural specifics but also universal longings.
 
 September 28, 2016
 
 Alan Scherstuhl
 Village Voice
 TOP CRITIC
 A deeply affecting, powerfully aching feminist story… Elite Zexer’s confident debut is a nuanced look at conservative customs where villains are deep down victims, too.
 
 September 28, 2016
 
 Tomris Laffly
 Film Journal International
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s a fairly familiar critique of patriarchy from a humanist, feminist perspective, but one put across with some very impressive filmmaking skills by a first-time director.
 
 September 28, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Godfrey Cheshire
 RogerEbert.com
 TOP CRITIC
 As things progress, it begins to seem that such anger is partially what Zexer aims to provoke. And, from there, the empathy follows…
 
 January 5, 2021
 
 David Bax
 Battleship Pretension
 It’s not a naive story… It’s the story of a dilemma and how a final decision is not always the most gratifying, but it’s the one that will have significant repercussions in the long run. [Full Review in Spanish]
 
 May 8, 2020
 
 Fernanda Solórzano
 Letras Libres
 Exquisitely frustrating domestic drama in a novel Bedouin setting.
 
 April 15, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Roger Moore
 Movie Nation
 Sand Storm brings attention to the limited opportunities women have in this environment and hints at the resilience of patriarchal tradition.
 
 January 28, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Jorge Ignacio Castillo
 The Canadian Crew
 “Sand Storm” provides the satisfaction of a good ol’ fashioned family drama from an invigorating new point of view.
 
 March 1, 2019
 
 Stephen Saito
 Moveable Fest
 By placing the emphasis on the characters, the performance, and the subtext, Zexer has crafted something truly accomplished.
 
 August 28, 2018 | Rating: 3.9/5
 
 Andrew Parker
 The Gate…

 

Plot
Desert noon in a Bedouin village in Southern Israel. Jalila is hosting an awkward celebration – the marriage of her husband to a second, much younger wife – while trying to conceal the insult that boils inside her. Her daughter Layla is preoccupied with a different matter. Her secret, strictly forbidden, love affair with Anuar was just unveiled by her mother. Jalila believes that the world is harsh and cruel, and the only way to win – is to keep your mouth shut, your head as high as possible without raising too much attention, and struggle from inside the limits of the traditional world surrounding you. Layla believes that there are no limits to the world surrounding her. Everything can be hers if she only wished hard enough. But, as the story unfolds, they each fail in her individual battle. Their whole family falls apart and everything they believe in shatters. Now, the two women are forced to understand that, if they wish to survive, they will have to start seeing the world from each other’s eyes.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Sand Storm.
 

 
Elite-Zexer.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Renaissance Films, British Broadcasting Corporation, Curzon Film Distributors
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for rude humor throughout, language and thematic elements
 
Year of Release
2016
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
School Life, documentary, David Rane, Neasa Ni Chianáin, teachers, students, boarding school, Ireland, education, inspiring, warm-hearted, charming, observational, music lessons, Fred Wiseman, School of Rock, Headfort, teachers as superheroes, formative years, immersive, intimate, educational, engaged educators, personal, portrait, joy of teaching, Robert Roten, Dennis Schwartz, Wendy Ide, Kevin Maher, Leslie Felperin, G Allen Johnson, Kenneth Turan, Heidy Morales, Charlotte Harrison, Alistair Ryder, Marisa Carpico
 

Cast & Crew

Unknown Actor

David Rane

self

Director

Unknown Actor – self
David Rane – Director

 

David Rane

NA

NA

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
David Rane
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
NA

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
5 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Stratton

Wendy Ide

Kevin Maher

Leslie Felperin

G. Allen Johnson

The Australian

Observer (UK)

Times (UK)

Guardian

San Francisco Chronicle

SCHOOL LIFE
 All Critics (47) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (3)
 Boarding school, especially for these youngsters (aged eight to 12) has rarely looked more appealing.
 
 November 3, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 David Stratton
 The Australian
 TOP CRITIC
 File this charming documentary alongside Être et Avoir in the list of films that make the case that teachers are the closest thing we have to superheroes in everyday life.
 
 October 15, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Wendy Ide
 Observer (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 There are some lovely observations from the directors Neasa Ni Chianáin and David Rane, especially the scenes of music lessons.
 
 October 12, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Kevin Maher
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 Imagine Fred Wiseman directing a remake of School of Rock but in Ireland and you’re almost there, but with more incidental music and a closer focus on the charming characters.
 
 October 12, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Leslie Felperin
 Guardian
 TOP CRITIC
 The immersion invites viewers to form their own thoughts on the children and teachers, and the value of the education offered at Headfort.
 
 September 21, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
 
 G. Allen Johnson
 San Francisco Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 “School Life” is as charming, intimate and warm-hearted an observational documentary as you’d ever want to see.
 
 September 14, 2017
 
 Kenneth Turan
 Los Angeles Times
 TOP CRITIC
 School Life is a reminder of how important the role of teacher is in the formative years of one’s lives. It is an entertaining and charming story that can be enjoyed alone, with friends and family as well.
 
 February 20, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Heidy Morales
 Hye’s Musings
 Immersive, intimate, and charming.
 
 January 27, 2020
 
 Charlotte Harrison
 VultureHound
 School Life is likeable, but not lovable, due to how we never truly get to know about these inspirational teachers outside the classroom.
 
 December 25, 2018 | Rating: 6/10
 
 Alistair Ryder
 The Digital Fix
 School Life is a pleasant film about the quiet, pain-staking work of engaged educators.
 
 December 25, 2018 | Rating: 7/10
 
 Marisa Carpico
 The Pop Break
 Directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin and David Rayne (‘The Stranger’) this is a warm, personal, inspiring portrait of students, teachers and staff at an Irish boarding school that could have been titled The Joy of Teaching.
 
 January 5, 2018 | Rating: B
 
 Robert Roten
 Laramie Movie Scope
 Absorbing educational documentary.
 
 November 20, 2017 | Rating: A-
 
 Dennis Schwartz
 Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…

 

Plot
Imaginative quiet teenager Rafe Katchadorian is tired of his middle school’s obsession with the rules at the expense of any and all creativity. Desperate to shake things up, Rafe and his best friend Leo have come up with a plan: break every single rule in the school and let the students run wild.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features an unknown actor in the cast.
 

 
David-Rane.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Road Movies Filmproduktion, Argos Films, Westdeutscher Rundfunk
 
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Northyards Blvd at North Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, sexuality, nudity, language and brief drug use
 
Year of Release
2016
 

 
Genre(s)
Action/Comedy
 
Keyword(s)
starring Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Yaya DaCosta, directed by Shane Black, written by Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi, action, comedy, R-rated, Warner Bros Pictures, Joel Silver, $36.2M box office, reviewed by K Austin Collins, Nigel Andrews, Sara Michelle Fetters, Tara Brady, Leonard Maltin, Udita Jhunjhunwala, Brian Eggert, Matt Brunson, Michael J Casey, Olly Richards, Ian Brill, private eye, 1977 Los Angeles, hired enforcer, missing woman, conspiracy, buddy comedy, retro soundtrack, 70s detailing, popcorn-munching entertainment, down-on-his-luck, violent, dangerous people, dark places, unlikely partners, chemistry, knowing script, bygone era, irresistible chemistry, gritty, guilt-free lark, Coen Brothers-esque, nod at 80s culture, dated stereotype, clever, satirical, good laughs
 

Cast & Crew

Russell Crowe

Jackson Healy

Ryan Gosling

Holland March

Angourie Rice

Jackson Healy

Holland March

Holly March

John Boy

Amelia Kuttner

Russell Crowe – Jackson Healy
Ryan Gosling – Holland March
Angourie Rice – Holly March
Matt Bomer – John Boy
Margaret Qualley – Amelia Kuttner
Yaya DaCosta – Tally

 

Shane Black

Shane Black

Joel Silver

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Shane Black
 
Writer(s)
Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi
 
Producer(s)
Joel Silver

 

Film Festivals
Cannes
 
Awards & Nominations
9 wins & 34 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

K. Austin Collins

Nigel Andrews

Sara Michelle Fetters

Tara Brady

Leonard Maltin

The Ringer

Financial Times

MovieFreak.com

Irish Times

leonardmaltin.com

THE NICE GUYS
 All Critics (321) | Top Critics (76) | Fresh (292) | Rotten (29)
 What’s memorable about The Nice Guys is the crew of not-so-nice kids: the 12- through 18-year-olds who seem remarkably unbothered when bumping heads with coke-addled pornographers.
 
 August 10, 2017
 
 K. Austin Collins
 The Ringer
 TOP CRITIC
 Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are a good match in The Nice Guys. But writer-director Shane Black’s screenplay seldom strikes fire.
 
 December 27, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Nigel Andrews
 Financial Times
 TOP CRITIC
 The Nice Guys is a major blast, Crowe and Gosling having the time of their lives bringing all this madcap, blood-splattered lunacy to life.
 
 August 9, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Sara Michelle Fetters
 MovieFreak.com
 TOP CRITIC
 Too often, The Nice Guys feels like the Funniest Film of 1994. There are worse things.
 
 August 8, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Tara Brady
 Irish Times
 TOP CRITIC
 Watching Crowe and Gosling-who are admittedly enjoying themselves in their respective roles-is fun, but the road wears thin along the journey…
 
 July 11, 2016 | Rating: 2.5
 
 Leonard Maltin
 leonardmaltin.com
 TOP CRITIC
 [The Nice Guys is] propped up by the performances, humour, action, ’70s detailing, a soundtrack with retro tracks (by Kool & The Gang and Earth, Wind & Fire, among others) and a cameo by the dishy Matt Bomer.
 
 June 21, 2016
 
 Udita Jhunjhunwala
 Scroll.in
 TOP CRITIC
 The Nice Guys is a jubilant, gritty, and guilt-free lark. As a critic, it’s so satisfying to see a film that serves as both strong filmmaking and popcorn-munching entertainment.
 
 April 15, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Brian Eggert
 Deep Focus Review
 The Crowe-Gosling team might stir unhappy memories of what-were-they-thinking? twofers like Pat Morita and Jay Leno (Collision Course), Ted Danson and Howie Mandel (A Fine Mess) or Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds (R.I.P.D.), but they’re a dynamic duo.
 
 August 18, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Matt Brunson
 Film Frenzy
 The plot is cumbersome until it becomes painfully obvious who is behind it all, and then it becomes trite.
 
 July 26, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Michael J. Casey
 Michael J. Cinema
 Ryan Gosling excels as a feckless and cowardly private investigator in a buddy comedy full of wit and energy.
 
 May 5, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Olly Richards
 NME
 Ryan Gosling’s best performance this year, and Russell Crowe’s best work in a long time.
 
 April 13, 2021
 
 Ian Brill
 Battleship Pretension
 The Nice Guys loses its way time and again, and generally not in an intriguing manner. The filmmakers rely on too many clichés and shortcuts (psychotic hitmen, quirky thugs and such) and too much pointless, time-wasting violence.
 
 February 11, 2021
 
 David Walsh
 World Socialist Web Site…

 

Plot
Set against the backdrop of 1977 Los Angeles, The Nice Guys opens when single father and licensed PI Holland March (Gosling) is hired to investigate the apparent suicide of famous porn star Misty Mountains. As the trail leads him to track down a girl named Amelia (Qualley), he encounters less licensed and less hands-off private eye Jackson Healey (Russell Crowe) and his brass knuckles, both hired by the young hippie. However, the situation takes a turn for the worse when Amelia vanishes and it becomes apparent that March wasn’t the only party interested. As both men are forced to team up, they’ll have to take on a world filled with eccentric goons, strippers dressed as mermaids and even a possible government conspiracy.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Sorry, there is no mention of anything goofy, funny, or odd about the film in the Fresh Kernels database.
 

 
Shane-Black.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Otto Preminger Films,
 
Distributor
Shout! Factory
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some peril and mild language
 
Year of Release
2016
 

 
Genre(s)
Adventure/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Christa Théret, Féodor Atkine, Thomas Sagols, Rémi Caillebot, Audrey Sablé, Antony Hickling, directed by Rémi Chayé, written by Claire Paoletti, Patricia Valeix, genre Adventure, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Mekeisha Madden Toby, J.R Jones, Roxana Hadadi, Steve Davis, Kate Taylor, Matthew Lickona, Steven Prokopy, Rachel Wagner, Daniel de Partearroyo, Glenn Heath Jr., Matthew Bond, MPAA rating PG, produced by Ron Dyens, Henri Magalon, Russian girl, North Pole, French (France), Shout! Factory
 

Cast & Crew

Christa Théret

Féodor Atkine

Thomas Sagols

Rémi Caillebot

Audrey Sablé

Sacha

Oloukine

Katch

Larson

Nadya

Christa Théret – Sacha (Voice)
Féodor Atkine – Oloukine (Voice)
Thomas Sagols – Katch (Voice)
Rémi Caillebot – Larson (Voice)
Audrey Sablé – Nadya (Voice)
Antony Hickling – Larson (Voice)

 

Rémi Chayé

Claire Paoletti

Ron Dyens

Henri Magalon

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Rémi Chayé
 
Writer(s)
Claire Paoletti, Patricia Valeix, Claire Paoletti, Patricia Valeix
 
Producer(s)
Ron Dyens, Henri Magalon

 

Film Festivals
Cannes
 
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 8 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Mekeisha Madden Toby

J. R. Jones

Roxana Hadadi

Steve Davis

Kate Taylor

Detroit News

Chicago Reader

Chesapeake Family Magazine

Austin Chronicle

Globe and Mail

LONG WAY NORTH
 All Critics (54) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (1)
 All in all, Long Way North is an ocularly gratifying film with a feminist message that is easy to embrace.
 
 December 15, 2016 | Rating: B-
 
 Mekeisha Madden Toby
 Detroit News
 TOP CRITIC
 Smart, exciting, and sharply characterized, this French-Danish animation is family entertainment of the highest order.
 
 December 15, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
 
 J. R. Jones
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 The beautifully animated Long Way North has an attention to detail visually that evens out some clichés, making it a must-watch for families with young girls.
 
 October 28, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Roxana Hadadi
 Chesapeake Family Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 The lovely Long Way North is an old-fashioned animated movie, but don’t let its unfussy execution fool you.
 
 October 20, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Steve Davis
 Austin Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Beautifully animated with a delightful paper cutout and oil-crayon look that delicately conjures up ice, snow and fog.
 
 October 14, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Kate Taylor
 Globe and Mail
 TOP CRITIC
 What it lacks in invention and tension, it makes up in painterly beauty and a kind of tough sweetness that is never in danger of spoiling into sentimentality.
 
 October 13, 2016 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Matthew Lickona
 San Diego Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 Suitable for children, the movie is certainly different in terms of its subject matter from your standard-issue animated work.
 
 April 29, 2020
 
 Steven Prokopy
 Third Coast Review
 We need independent visually unique voices in animation so I hope you will seek out films like Long Way North and give them your support.
 
 April 4, 2019 | Rating: B+
 
 Rachel Wagner
 rachelsreviews.net
 Sympathetic characters, action on the high seas, frozen landscapes… and an unforgettable heroine. [Full review in Spanish]
 
 January 11, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Daniel de Partearroyo
 Cinemanía (Spain)
 Feels like a wise palette cleanser from a bygone era that reminds us how to lead a fulfilling life.
 
 August 22, 2018
 
 Glenn Heath Jr.
 San Diego CityBeat
 It’s promising, but the animation is simple, the British voice cast under-powered, and neither penicillin nor modern CPR surely have any part in a story set in 1882.
 
 October 23, 2017 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Matthew Bond
 The Mail on Sunday (UK)
 Yeah, Long Way North is basically a Russian Moana.
 
 July 6, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Liam Maguren
 Flicks.co.nz…

 

Plot
1882, Saint Petersburg. Sasha, a young Russian aristocrat, has always been fascinated by her grandfather’s life as an adventurer. A renowned explorer, he designed a magnificent arctic ship, but he hasn’t returned from his last expedition to the North Pole. To save her family’s honor, Sasha runs away. Headed towards the Great North, she follows her grandfather’s trail in search of his famous ship.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for Long Way North.
 

 
Rémi-Chayé.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Twentieth Century Fox,
 
Distributor
MUBI
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Vartiosaari, Helsinki, Finland
 
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
 
Year of Release
2016
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Jarkko Lahti, Eero Milonoff, Oona Airola, Joonas Saartamo, John Bosco Jr., Joanna Haartti, directed by Juho Kuosmanen, written by Juho Kuosmanen, Mikko Myllylahti, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by J.P Passi, Scott Marks, Peter Hartlaub, Simran Hans, A.A Dowd, Kate Muir, Glenn Kenny, Dan Scully, David Harris, Nicholas Bell, Nick Evan-Cook, Daniel Barnes, producer Jussi Rantamäki, MUBI, MPAA rating, Finnish, boxing, sports biopic, career fulfillment, personal happiness, love story, period detail, black-and-white cinematography, Finnish featherweight boxing champion, knockout, packed stadium, balance
 

Cast & Crew

Jarkko Lahti

Olli Mäki

Eero Milonoff

Elis Ask

Oona Airola

Olli Mäki

Elis Ask

Raija Jänkä

Davey Moore

Laila Ask

Jarkko Lahti – Olli Mäki
Eero Milonoff – Elis Ask
Oona Airola – Raija Jänkä
Joonas Saartamo –
John Bosco Jr. – Davey Moore
Joanna Haartti – Laila Ask

 

Juho Kuosmanen

Juho Kuosmanen

Jussi Rantamäki

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Juho Kuosmanen
 
Writer(s)
Juho Kuosmanen, Mikko Myllylahti
 
Producer(s)
Jussi Rantamäki

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
13 wins & 15 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Scott Marks

Peter Hartlaub

Simran Hans

A.A. Dowd

Kate Muir

San Diego Reader

San Francisco Chronicle

Observer (UK)

AV Club

Times (UK)

THE HAPPIEST DAY IN THE LIFE OF OLLI MÄKI
 All Critics (57) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (1)
 J.P. Passi’s hand-held black-and-white cinematography cries out for big-screen viewing.
 
 June 2, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Scott Marks
 San Diego Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 This is a very small film, with a big heart.
 
 May 10, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Peter Hartlaub
 San Francisco Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 A warm, welcome sideways look at the Finnish featherweight boxing champion Olli Mki.
 
 April 23, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Simran Hans
 Observer (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 How endearing to encounter a sports movie, if it can even be called that, that prints the man instead of his legend.
 
 April 21, 2017 | Rating: B+
 
 A.A. Dowd
 AV Club
 TOP CRITIC
 Mki is played by the small, sinewy, mildly puzzled Jarkko Lahti; the wonderfully warm Oona Airola plays his fiance, Raija. The black-and-white film pays careful attention to period detail and character, and less to the blood, sweat and tears.
 
 April 21, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Kate Muir
 Times (UK)
 TOP CRITIC
 A lesson for our time? I can only hope.
 
 April 21, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Glenn Kenny
 RogerEbert.com
 TOP CRITIC
 There’s just something cozy and delightful about the whole thing that has left me glowing in the time since I watched it.
 
 March 25, 2020
 
 Dan Scully
 Cinema76
 An appealing and harmless film that slyly subverts a genre long known for its unshakable touchstones.
 
 December 7, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
 
 David Harris
 Spectrum Culture
 The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki succeeds as a unique endeavor because Kuosmanen elides formula.
 
 October 9, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Nicholas Bell
 IONCINEMA.com
 A hidden gem in this year’s Cannes lineup, Olli Mäki offers both visceral boxing thrills and as delightful a love story as you’ll see in a film of any genre.
 
 April 3, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Nick Evan-Cook
 One Room With A View
 A dithering hangout movie – warm and enveloping like the afternoon sun, luxuriating in gliding bike rides and long walks through the woods, easily digestible and easily forgettable.
 
 March 29, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/5
 
 Daniel Barnes
 Dare Daniel
 An elegant tale of personal desire and the sometimes lonely life of an athlete.
 
 August 28, 2018 | Rating: 4.8/5
 
 Andrew Parker
 The Gate…

 

Plot
The true story of Olli Mäki, the famous Finnish boxer who had a shot at the 1962 World Featherweight title. Immensely talented and equally modest, Olli’s small town life is transformed when he is swept into national stardom and suddenly regarded as a symbol of his country. There’s only one problem: Olli has just fallen in love. Inside of the ring, it’s Finland vs. the USA, but outside, boxing and romance become unlikely adversaries vying for Olli’s attention. This charming feature debut from Juho Kuosmanen was awarded the Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Jarkko Lahti as Olli Mäki, a Finnish featherweight boxing champion.
 

 
Juho-Kuosmanen.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Discovery Channel, Jigsaw Productions, Tall Woods
 
Distributor
A24
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Spring, Texas, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, substance abuse and some sexual content
 
Year of Release
2016
 

 
Genre(s)
Holiday/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Krisha, drama, holiday, Thanksgiving, family, addiction, uncomfortable, unconventional, raw, honest, Trey Edward Shults, directed by, Justin R Chan, Wilson Smith, Chase Joliet, produced by, written by, R-rated, Dolby Digital, Krisha Fairchild, Robyn Fairchild, Bill Wise, Chris Doubek, Olivia Grace Applegate, Alex Dobrenko, reviewed by, financial times, little white lies, time out, Detroit news, Arizona republic, TIME magazine, battleship pretension, the independent critic, cinelipsis, reel film reviews, way too indie, Nigel Andrews, David Jenkins, Trevor Johnston, Adam Graham, Bill Goodykoontz, Stephanie Zacharek, Ian Brill, Richard Propes, Federico Furzan, Carlos M, Alec B, Philip P, box office, gross USA, $140.8K, budget, $30,000, genre, drama, MPAA rating, R, substance abuse, some sexual content, Thanksgiving gathering, troubled woman, extended family, abandoned, uncomfortable truths, dissonant music, long wide-angle shots, psychological horror film, family drama, secrets, superficial kin, histories, truths, absorbing, more deserves to be said
 

Cast & Crew

Krisha Fairchild

Robyn Fairchild

Bill Wise

Chris Doubek

Olivia Grace Applegate

Krisha

Robyn

Doyle

Dr. Becker

Olivia

Krisha Fairchild – Krisha
Robyn Fairchild – Robyn
Bill Wise – Doyle
Chris Doubek – Dr. Becker
Olivia Grace Applegate – Olivia
Alex Dobrenko – Alex
Justin R. Chan – Producer
Trey Edward Shults – Producer, Writer, Director, Editor
Wilson Smith – Producer
Chase Joliet – Producer

 

Trey Edward Shults

Trey Edward Shults

Justin R. Chan

Trey Edward Shults

Wilson Smith

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Trey Edward Shults
 
Writer(s)
Trey Edward Shults
 
Producer(s)
Justin R. Chan, Trey Edward Shults, Wilson Smith, Chase Joliet

 

Film Festivals
South by Southwest, Cannes
 
Awards & Nominations
16 wins & 28 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Nigel Andrews

David Jenkins

Trevor Johnston

Adam Graham

Bill Goodykoontz

Financial Times

Little White Lies

Time Out

Detroit News

Arizona Republic

KRISHA
 All Critics (79) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (75) | Rotten (4)
 If this isn’t the first work of a major filmmaker I’ll eat my review. And I’ll film it for you on YouTube.
 
 December 27, 2016 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Nigel Andrews
 Financial Times
 TOP CRITIC
 Tough to stomach, but incredible talent in front of and behind the camera.
 
 December 8, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 David Jenkins
 Little White Lies
 TOP CRITIC
 Are we watching the emergence of America’s next great filmmaker?
 
 December 6, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Trevor Johnston
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 “Krisha” is a stone cold stunner.
 
 April 15, 2016 | Rating: A
 
 Adam Graham
 Detroit News
 TOP CRITIC
 From the first scene of “Krisha,” writer and director Trey Edward Shults puts us off balance, and for the next 83 minutes keeps us that way, almost daring us to look away.
 
 March 31, 2016 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
 Bill Goodykoontz
 Arizona Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 Fairchild’s performance is key to the movie: Krisha is witty and chatty one moment, shut down like a deserted fairground the next. We see dazzling warmth in her eyes but also the terror of total system failure.
 
 March 31, 2016
 
 Stephanie Zacharek
 TIME Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 Shults has created something special here. This story of how addiction affects both the addict and their family will hit home to those who have experience with this, and will be an eye-opening experience for those who don’t.
 
 April 13, 2021
 
 Ian Brill
 Battleship Pretension
 I feel like I became a different human being while watching it.
 
 September 1, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
 
 Richard Propes
 TheIndependentCritic.com
 An essential film about families. All of them are disfunctional. And Krisha tells a difficult story that just feels present. [Full review in Spanish].
 
 October 23, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Federico Furzan
 Cinelipsis
 …an often hypnotically ambitious debut feature…
 
 July 1, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 David Nusair
 Reel Film Reviews
 With Krisha, Shults shows that he knows how to get people’s attention-figuring out what to do with it is another story altogether.
 
 May 22, 2019 | Rating: 6/10
 
 C.J. Prince
 Way Too Indie
 KRISHA is a well-deserved achievement for a project that hits close to anybody, but the flair of experimentation from Schults’ camera keeps the tension at a fever pitch.
 
 December 10, 2018 | Rating: B+
 
 James Clay
 Fresh Fiction…

 

Plot
Krisha, a troubled woman, reunites with her extended family at Thanksgiving, causing tensions to rise and uncomfortable truths to be revealed.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film Krisha, but it does mention that the lead actress, Krisha Fairchild, shares the same name as her character.
 

 
Trey-Edward-Shults.jpg