Production Company(ies)
Mandeville Films, Walt Disney Pictures,
 
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
490 West Paces Ferry Rd, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for horror violence/gore and language
 
Year of Release
2009
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Horror
 
Keyword(s)
starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard, Bill Murray, directed by Ruben Fleischer, written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, comedy, horror, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Candice Frederick, Lisa Rosman, Deborah Ross, Michael Phillips, Bruce Diones, Perri Nemiroff, Sean Axmaker, George Fenwick, James Croot, Eddie Harrison, Mike Massie, Jason Best, R MPAA rating, produced by Gavin Polone, zombie subgenre, survival rules, zombie-killing strategies, virus, undead, ongoing battle, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita, Little Rock, 81 minutes, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS, Scope (2.35:1)
 

Cast & Crew

Woody Harrelson

Jesse Eisenberg

Emma Stone

Abigail Breslin

Amber Heard

Tallahassee

Columbus

Wichita

Little Rock

406

Woody Harrelson – Tallahassee
Jesse Eisenberg – Columbus
Emma Stone – Wichita
Abigail Breslin – Little Rock
Amber Heard – 406
Bill Murray – Self

 

Ruben Fleischer

Rhett Reese

Gavin Polone

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Ruben Fleischer
 
Writer(s)
Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
 
Producer(s)
Gavin Polone

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 29 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Candice Frederick

Lisa Rosman

Deborah Ross

Michael Phillips

Bruce Diones

Reel Talk Online

Us Weekly

The Spectator

Chicago Tribune

New Yorker

ZOMBIELAND
 All Critics (260) | Top Critics (62) | Fresh (232) | Rotten (28)
 It’s an okay DVD rental choice but doesn’t go beyond that.
 
 September 11, 2017 | Rating: C-
 
 Candice Frederick
 Reel Talk Online
 TOP CRITIC
 With its quick pace and witty writing, it’s a nonstop, snarky ride.
 
 July 19, 2017
 
 Lisa Rosman
 Us Weekly
 TOP CRITIC
 It is never properly scary. Mostly, it is just very silly, but because the film knows it is silly, it’s all rather infectious and not the big, cliché-pumped bore it might otherwise have been.
 
 September 22, 2014
 
 Deborah Ross
 The Spectator
 TOP CRITIC
 Warts, entrails and all, I had a ball at Zombieland. It’s 81 minutes of my kind of stupid.
 
 October 8, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Michael Phillips
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 Woody Harrelson has a rip-roaring time in this comic splatterfest as a redneck from hell who is out to kill zombies. It’s the kind of genre acting that doesn’t get much notice, but it’s a gleeful rampage of a performance.
 
 October 8, 2013
 
 Bruce Diones
 New Yorker
 TOP CRITIC
 Packed with the genre’s standard overdose of blood and guts. Add in a charming band of misfits and you get something thrilling, hilarious and sweet, all at the same time.
 
 August 12, 2010 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
 Perri Nemiroff
 Shockya.com
 TOP CRITIC
 The zombie comedy was hardly fresh territory when “Zombieland” came along (and really, will anyone top “Shaun of the Dead”?) but it nonetheless does a fine job of mining the humor inherent in the end of the world.
 
 March 12, 2022
 
 Sean Axmaker
 Stream on Demand
 For all its silliness, this is not, pardon the pun, brainless; rather, it’s a ruthlessly funny explosion of zombie-film cliches that somehow doubles as a charming road movie.
 
 February 12, 2022
 
 George Fenwick
 Stuff.co.nz
 If, like I once did, you thought Shaun of the Dead was the last word in zombie-comedy, you were dead wrong.
 
 November 5, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
 James Croot
 Stuff.co.nz
 …the whole film is something of a carefree blast…
 
 September 14, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Eddie Harrison
 film-authority.com
 Complete with spectacular gore, creative cursing, outrageous slow-motion ransacking, a modest amount of romance, and a tour of the palatial Bill Murray estate.
 
 November 29, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 If you thought Shaun of the Dead delivered the last word in Zombie horror-comedy, Zombieland shows that you can still get fresh laughs from the festering carcasses of the living dead.
 
 November 24, 2020
 
 Jason Best
 Movie Talk…

 

Plot
Searching for family. In the early twenty-first century, zombies have taken over America. A shy and college student in Texas has survived by following his 30 rules: like “look in the back seat,” “double-tap,” “avoid public restrooms.” He decides to travel to Ohio to see if his parents are alive. He gets a ride with a savage, brutal zombie-killer headed for Florida, and soon they confront a young woman whose sister has been bitten by a zombie and wants to be put out of her suffering. The sisters were headed to an LA park with atractions they’ve heard is without a zombie.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Zombieland includes Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin, all turning in performances perfectly tuned to the genre.
 

 
Ruben-Fleischer.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Road Movies Filmproduktion, Argos Films, Westdeutscher Rundfunk
 
Distributor
Fox
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Bradbury Building – 304 S. Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language
 
Year of Release
2009
 

 
Genre(s)
Romance
 
Keyword(s)
starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, Clark Gregg, directed by Marc Webb, written by Scott Neustadter, Michael Weber, romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Ed Koch, Candice Frederick, Bill Goodykoontz, Kimberley Jones, Richard Brody, Kevin Craft, Nicholas Oon, Catherine Springer, Mike Massie, Jason Best, Richard Propes, PG-13, Fox, produced by Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters, Mason Novick, Steven J Wolfe, love, relationship, breakup, greeting-card writer, hopeless romantic, girlfriend, Summer, 500 days, passions, life, musical numbers, non-linear presentation, comedy, likable film, chick flick, Shakespeare, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV shows, streaming movies
 

Cast & Crew

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Tom

Zooey Deschanel

Summer

Geoffrey Arend

Tom

Summer

McKenzie

Rachel

Paul

Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Tom
Zooey Deschanel – Summer
Geoffrey Arend – McKenzie
Chloë Grace Moretz – Rachel
Matthew Gray Gubler – Paul
Clark Gregg – Vance

 

Marc Webb

Scott Neustadter

Jessica Tuchinsky

Mark Waters

Mason Novick

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Marc Webb
 
Writer(s)
Scott Neustadter, Michael Weber
 
Producer(s)
Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters, Mason Novick, Steven J. Wolfe

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
17 wins & 58 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Deborah Ross

Ed Koch

Candice Frederick

Bill Goodykoontz

Kimberley Jones

The Spectator

The Atlantic

Reel Talk Online

Arizona Republic

Austin Chronicle

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER
 All Critics (235) | Top Critics (68) | Fresh (201) | Rotten (34)
 This is a film which tries so hard to be fresh and different it loses sight of the bigger picture, is just kind of empty somehow, and rather beefs up the ‘rom’ and the heartache at the expense of the ‘com.’
 
 August 30, 2018
 
 Deborah Ross
 The Spectator
 TOP CRITIC
 The principals perform their roles nicely, but there really isn’t much for them to do. Undoubtedly, the age gap has influenced my negative response.
 
 January 17, 2018
 
 Ed Koch
 The Atlantic
 TOP CRITIC
 What makes this movie so seamless is the spot-on performances of the two lead actors and the very relatable story of what happens when love–and life–happens.
 
 September 12, 2017 | Rating: B+
 
 Candice Frederick
 Reel Talk Online
 TOP CRITIC
 An unpredictable, immensely satisfying experience, much like love itself.
 
 February 10, 2014
 
 Bill Goodykoontz
 Arizona Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 (500) Days is a funny, seductive, and surprisingly honest dramatization of the ways we snooker ourselves into incompatible love.
 
 February 10, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Kimberley Jones
 Austin Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Forcedly cute, clumsily mechanical, overdetermined, and undernourished, this ostensibly soulful romance is a plastic void.
 
 February 10, 2014
 
 Richard Brody
 New Yorker
 TOP CRITIC
 The thing about (500) Days of Summer is that you could switch the leads and not miss a beat. Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt are that good.
 
 March 23, 2022
 
 Kevin Craft
 PopMatters
 The kind of film that comes around every 10 years. A true, funny kind of love story that’s not a love story at the same time.
 
 August 17, 2021
 
 Nicholas Oon
 Maximum Hype (YouTube)
 It has no great story to tell, other than recounting the path of a relationship from start to end and the various emotions that occur within it-and it is terrific every step of the way. And utterly relatable.
 
 July 25, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Catherine Springer
 CathsFilmForum.com
 Fresh, different, and entirely worthwhile.
 
 November 28, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 Sardonic, quirky, clever: these filmmakers really know the way to my heart.
 
 November 24, 2020
 
 Jason Best
 Movie Talk
 Who really understands this thing we call love?
 
 September 7, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
 
 Richard Propes
 TheIndependentCritic.com…

 

Plot
After it looks as if she’s left his life for good this time, Tom Hansen reflects back on the just over one year that he knew Summer Finn. For Tom, it was love at first sight when she walked into the greeting card company where he worked, she the new administrative assistant. Soon, Tom knew that Summer was the woman with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life. Although Summer did not believe in relationships or boyfriends – in her assertion, real life will always ultimately get in the way – Tom and Summer became more than just friends. Through the trials and tribulations of Tom and Summer’s so-called relationship, Tom could always count on the advice of his two best friends, McKenzie and Paul. However, it is Tom’s adolescent sister, Rachel, who is his voice of reason. After all is said and done, Tom is the one who ultimately has to make the choice to listen or not.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film (500) Days of Summer on Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Marc-Webb.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
Music Box Films
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Via del Corso, Rome, Lazio, Italy
 
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
 
Year of Release
2008
 

 
Genre(s)
Biography
 
Keyword(s)

Cast & Crew

Toni Servillo

Giulio Andreotti

Anna Bonaiuto

Livia Danese

Piera Degli Esposti

Giulio Andreotti

Livia Danese

Signora Enea

Aldo Moro

Eugenio Scalfari

Toni Servillo – Giulio Andreotti
Anna Bonaiuto – Livia Danese
Piera Degli Esposti – Signora Enea
Paolo Graziosi – Aldo Moro
Giulio Bosetti – Eugenio Scalfari
Flavio Bucci – Franco Evangelisti

 

Paolo Sorrentino

Paolo Sorrentino

Francesca Cima

Nicola Giuliano

Andrea Occhipinti

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Paolo Sorrentino
 
Writer(s)
Paolo Sorrentino
 
Producer(s)
Francesca Cima, Nicola Giuliano, Andrea Occhipinti

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
32 wins & 40 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Jonathan F. Richards

Peter Howell

Brian Tallerico

Roger Ebert

Kerry Lengel

Film.com

Toronto Star

Movie Retriever

Chicago Sun-Times

Arizona Republic

IL DIVO
 All Critics (51) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (4)
 The film takes flight on the brilliant title performance by Tony Servillo (Gomorrah), who plays Andreotti like a mummified Alec Guinness, as if encased in layers of plaster of Paris.
 
 August 23, 2009
 
 Jonathan F. Richards
 Film.com
 TOP CRITIC
 We may not know the man, but we know the dance, as seen in the highly diverting and hugely controversial Il Divo, a biopic as wly as its subject.
 
 July 10, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Peter Howell
 Toronto Star
 TOP CRITIC
 A stunning piece of work that feels both familiar and completely unique at the same time.
 
 July 10, 2009
 
 Brian Tallerico
 Movie Retriever
 TOP CRITIC
 After I saw Il Divo, I suppose I should have felt indignation. I suppose I should also have felt that way after “The Godfather.” But such films present such mesmerizing figures that I simply regard them, astonished.
 
 July 9, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Roger Ebert
 Chicago Sun-Times
 TOP CRITIC
 The enigmatic Andreotti is the perfect subject for a biopic in the European tradition.
 
 June 30, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Kerry Lengel
 Arizona Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 All in all, this phenomenal film illustrates Alexis de Tocqueville’s observation that “The people get the government they deserve.” In both meanings of the word, Il Divo is sensational.
 
 June 5, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Carrie Rickey
 Philadelphia Inquirer
 TOP CRITIC
 A more conventional filmmaker would be defeated by Andreotti’s murky history, but Sorrentino’s flamboyantly Baroque approach – full of dazzling visual flourishes worthy of Scorsese in his pomp – delivers an indelible portrait.
 
 November 21, 2020
 
 Jason Best
 Movie Talk
 Sumptuous filmmaking at its most flashiest, “Il Divo” may distance some people but I found it to be riveting.
 
 January 17, 2020
 
 Ard Vijn
 ScreenAnarchy
 A clever telling of the story about the epic levels of corruption in Italian public life that found the suitably opaque, vampiric presence of Andreotti at the centre of it.
 
 February 1, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 PJ Nabarro
 Patrick Nabarro
 A fascinating history of recent Italian politics.
 
 April 2, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Wesley Lovell
 Cinema Sight
 … not so much a savage satire as one disenchanted with the institutional corruption of politics.
 
 December 5, 2009
 
 Sean Axmaker
 Seanax.com
 … Sorrentino avoids the dreary conventions of the biopic in favor of a cheeky mix of music montages, dramatic re-enactments and hilariously deadpan takes ….
 
 September 11, 2009 | Rating: 7/10
 
 Sarah Boslaugh
 Playback:stl…

 

Plot
The story of Italian politician Giulio Andreotti, who has served as Prime Minister of Italy seven times since the restoration of democracy in 1946.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Toni Servillo in a “brilliant title performance” as Giulio Andreotti, playing him like a “mummified Alec Guinness.”
 

 
Paolo-Sorrentino.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Perfect Day Films,
 
Distributor
Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual humor and drug references
 
Year of Release
2008
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Fantasy
 
Keyword(s)
starring Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Bill Campbell, Kristen Wiig, Dana Ivey, directed by David Koepp, written by David Koepp, John Kamps, comedy, fantasy, romance, PG-13, box office, budget, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Nell Minow, Ben Kenigsberg, Christine Champ, Paul Byrnes, Jake Wilson, Cole Smithey, Mike Massie, Kathi Maio, Eileen Jones, Megan Basham, James Vance, ghosts, dentist, afterlife, near-death experience, misanthropic, spirits, widow, colonoscopy, talking to the dead, Frank Herlihy, Mrs Pickthall, Gavin Polone, produced by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
 

Cast & Crew

Ricky Gervais

Téa Leoni

Greg Kinnear

Bill Campbell

Kristen Wiig

Bertram Pincus

Gwen

Frank Herlihy

Richard

Surgeon

Ricky Gervais – Bertram Pincus
Téa Leoni – Gwen
Greg Kinnear – Frank Herlihy
Bill Campbell – Richard
Kristen Wiig – Surgeon
Dana Ivey – Mrs. Pickthall

 

David Koepp

David Koepp

Gavin Polone

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
David Koepp
 
Writer(s)
David Koepp, John Kamps
 
Producer(s)
Gavin Polone

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 2 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Deborah Ross

Nell Minow

Ben Kenigsberg

Christine Champ

Paul Byrnes

The Spectator

Movie Mom

Time Out

Film.com

Sydney Morning Herald

GHOST TOWN
 All Critics (187) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (159) | Rotten (28)
 I like Gervais but now realise there is only so much I can take at the one sitting.
 
 August 23, 2018
 
 Deborah Ross
 The Spectator
 TOP CRITIC
 February 18, 2012 | Rating: B
 
 Nell Minow
 Movie Mom
 TOP CRITIC
 November 17, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Ben Kenigsberg
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 May 6, 2011 | Rating: B-
 
 Christine Champ
 Film.com
 TOP CRITIC
 Ghost Town is both a surprise and a departure: it’s genuinely funny and quietly original. It also shows what Gervais can do in the right role.
 
 February 20, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Paul Byrnes
 Sydney Morning Herald
 TOP CRITIC
 Writer-director David Koepp is almost too careful a craftsman for his own good, but Gervais and Leoni share a talent for throwing the audience off-balance…
 
 February 13, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Jake Wilson
 The Age (Australia)
 TOP CRITIC
 David Koepp’s 1998 New York City romcom could improve your amorous relationship, even if it’s a first date.
 
 December 18, 2020 | Rating: A-
 
 Cole Smithey
 ColeSmithey.com
 Although it utilizes a fairly run-of-the-mill romantic comedy plot, Ricky Gervais and Tea Leoni are undeniably charming.
 
 November 28, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 If you are the type who actually enjoys watching (or rewatching, for the umpteenth time) old movies like A Christmas Carol and Topper, you will likely heartily enjoy David Koepp’s mild-mannered retro comedy…
 
 March 4, 2020
 
 Kathi Maio
 The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
 The ending’s like The Simpsons’ version of a Disneyland parade, with the shouted slogan, “Hurray for Everything!!” And these days, nobody needs that kind of aggravation.
 
 October 31, 2018
 
 Eileen Jones
 The eXile
 Kinnear plays smarmy well enough and the rest of the cast turn in serviceable performances, but it is Gervais and Leoni who take a patchwork quilt of a romance and make it a comedy worth seeing.
 
 October 10, 2018
 
 Megan Basham
 WORLD
 Based on the ad campaign, it would be easy to pigeonhole “Ghost Town” as another romantic comedy with a twist, but it’s much more and much better than that.
 
 February 6, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
 
 James Vance
 Tulsa World…

 

Plot
Bertram Pincus is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Even worse, they all want something from him, particularly Frank Herlihy who pesters him into breaking up the impending marriage of his widow Gwen. That puts Pincus squarely in the middle of a triangle with spirited result.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Ricky Gervais’ performance is consistently sharp and beautifully dry, transforming this mainstream comedy into an endearing, funny, and altogether snappy romantic comedy. With ghosts.
 

 
David-Koepp.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Shochiku
 
Distributor
Miramax Films
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Bygdøy, Norway
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexuality and language
 
Year of Release
2006
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Anders Danielsen Lie, Espen Klouman Høiner, Viktoria Winge, Henrik Elvestad, Christian Rubeck, Odd Magnus Williamson, directed by Joachim Trier, written by Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ben Kenigsberg, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Rene Rodriguez, Kimberley Jones, Tom Keogh, Richard Nilsen, Richard Propes, Mattie Lucas, Emanuel Levy, James Verniere, Duane Dudek, Jules Brenner, R rating, Miramax Films, Karin Julsrud, Norwegian language, literary ambitions, friendship, young adulthood, creative instinct
 

Cast & Crew

Anders Danielsen Lie

Phillip

Espen Klouman Høiner

Erik

Viktoria Winge

Phillip

Erik

Kari

Henning

Lars

Anders Danielsen Lie – Phillip
Espen Klouman Høiner – Erik
Viktoria Winge – Kari
Henrik Elvestad – Henning
Christian Rubeck – Lars
Odd Magnus Williamson – Morten
Joachim Trier – Director
Karin Julsrud – Producer
Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt – Writers

 

Joachim Trier

Joachim Trier

Karin Julsrud

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Joachim Trier
 
Writer(s)
Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt
 
Producer(s)
Karin Julsrud

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
16 wins & 16 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Ben Kenigsberg

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Rene Rodriguez

Kimberley Jones

Tom Keogh

Time Out

Entertainment Weekly

Miami Herald

Austin Chronicle

Seattle Times

REPRISE
 All Critics (81) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (10)
 November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Ben Kenigsberg
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 September 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
 
 Lisa Schwarzbaum
 Entertainment Weekly
 TOP CRITIC
 This story about two aspiring writers in their early 20s has the fearlessness and vivacity of a first novel, and its playful approach to chronology and voice-over narration serves to amplify its themes instead of coming off as a show-off trick.
 
 August 1, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Rene Rodriguez
 Miami Herald
 TOP CRITIC
 As auspicious — and breathless — a debut as Reservoir Dogs was for Tarantino.
 
 July 3, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Kimberley Jones
 Austin Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Reprise is not just about engaging with or surviving through the creative instinct. It is that instinct.
 
 June 20, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Tom Keogh
 Seattle Times
 TOP CRITIC
 If you are young, male and dream of making a name for yourself in the arts, Reprise is about the joys and sufferings of that quest: It is a Jules and Jim for the punk-rock generation.
 
 June 12, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Richard Nilsen
 Arizona Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 A promising feature-length debut from Norwegian director Joachim Trier.
 
 September 21, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
 
 Richard Propes
 TheIndependentCritic.com
 Embraces the old while forging brave new trails in the art form.
 
 July 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Mattie Lucas
 From the Front Row
 Stylistically bold, impressive feature debut about creative youth
 
 July 11, 2011 | Rating: B+
 
 Emanuel Levy
 EmanuelLevy.Com
 October 18, 2008 | Rating: A-
 
 James Verniere
 Boston Herald
 Reprise alternately shows punk energy, library hush and comic anxiety. And despite ominous portents, the ending is cockeyed optimistic.
 
 October 18, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Duane Dudek
 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 Trier is having more fun in the editing room than his story requires and he’d be well advised to spend more time in the deeper development and dramatic elements of his characters.
 
 August 30, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/5
 
 Jules Brenner
 Cinema Signals…

 

Plot
Reprise follows the intertwined journeys of two best friends, Phillip and Erik, as they navigate their literary ambitions and the challenges of young adulthood.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for the film “Reprise”.
 

 
Joachim-Trier.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Queens, New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
 
Year of Release
2008
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Chop Shop, drama, Ramin Bahrani, Jeb Brody, Bahareh Azimi, Alejandro Polanco, Isamar Gonzales, Ahmad Razvi, Carlos Ayala, Laura Patalano, Nick Jasprizza, neorealist, New York City, low-budget, auto-body repairman, siblings, underbelly, Queens, criminal enterprises, Third World America, verite style, hand-held cameras, natural dialogue, docu-feel, gritty, resourceful, low-level, idle dreams, hope, heartfelt, excellent performances, box office, gross USA, $123.7K, MPAA rating, reviewed by David Fear, Ben Kenigsberg, Noel Murray, Andrew O’Hehir, Michael Phillips, Steven Winn, Piers Marchant, Matt Brunson, Norman Wilner, Douglas Davidson, David Walsh, Mattie Lucas, directed by Ramin Bahrani, produced by Jeb Brody, written by Bahareh Azimi and Ramin Bahrani, drama genre, 1h 24m runtime
 

Cast & Crew

Alejandro Polanco

Isamar Gonzales

Ahmad Razvi

Carlos Ayala

Laura Patalano

Ale

Isamar

Ahmad

Carlos the Pigeon Worker

Laura

Alejandro Polanco – Ale
Isamar Gonzales – Isamar
Ahmad Razvi – Ahmad
Carlos Ayala – Carlos the Pigeon Worker
Laura Patalano – Laura
Nick Jasprizza – The “John”

 

Ramin Bahrani

Bahareh Azimi

Jeb Brody

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Ramin Bahrani
 
Writer(s)
Bahareh Azimi, Ramin Bahrani
 
Producer(s)
Jeb Brody

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 8 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Fear

Ben Kenigsberg

Noel Murray

Andrew O’Hehir

Michael Phillips

Time Out

AV Club

Salon.com

Chicago Tribune

San Francisco Chronicle

CHOP SHOP
 All Critics (59) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (2)
 November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
 
 David Fear
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Ben Kenigsberg
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 All these low-level criminal enterprises and idle dreams aren’t happening in Mexico City or Kandahar; they’re just outside Queens.
 
 October 18, 2008 | Rating: B+
 
 Noel Murray
 AV Club
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s a near-masterwork of low-budget precision and improvisation, constructed and rehearsed over many months in collaboration with the actors and the entire Willets Point community.
 
 July 9, 2008
 
 Andrew O’Hehir
 Salon.com
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s a sharp mixture of neorealist grit and lyricism.
 
 July 9, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Michael Phillips
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 In this clear-eyed, quietly absorbing film, director Ramin Bahrani opens up a wedge of Third World America that operates, all but invisibly, in plain sight.
 
 June 27, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Steven Winn
 San Francisco Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Bahrani shoots the film in classic verite style, all hand-held cameras, and natural dialogue, capturing a docu-feel for a story as gritty and resourceful as its young protagonist.
 
 June 1, 2021
 
 Piers Marchant
 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
 Its protagonist hopes to avoid leading a life of quiet desperation.
 
 March 12, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Matt Brunson
 Film Frenzy
 Ramin Bahrani’s low-budget studies of people on the margins of American society.
 
 February 27, 2021
 
 Norman Wilner
 NOW Toronto
 That’s what’s fantastic about Chop Shop, and even Man Push Cart, Bahrani doesn’t look down. He captures the stories with sincerity, bestowing a kind of grace on his characters.
 
 February 23, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Douglas Davidson
 Elements of Madness
 In his Chop Shop, co-written with Bahareh Azimi, director Ramin Bahrani has chosen to treat a world and individuals that are invisible to the people who “count” in New York City.
 
 February 14, 2021
 
 David Walsh
 World Socialist Web Site
 It never feels artificial or created, it feels raw, earthy and urgently immediate.
 
 July 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Mattie Lucas
 From the Front Row…

 

Plot
A young man works as an auto-body repairman to provide for his younger sister in the gritty underbelly of New York City in Ramin Bahrani’s heartfelt neorealist drama, Chop Shop.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Alejandro Polanco in the lead role as Ale, a young man working as an auto-body repairman to provide for his younger sister.
 

 
Ramin-Bahrani.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
First Thought Films,
 
Distributor
Neoclassic Films
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Bardia Parade, Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content, a scene of violence, and brief strong language
 
Year of Release
2008
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Rhys Wakefield, Gemma Ward, Luke Ford, Toni Collette, Erik Thomson, Deborah Ann Piper, directed by Elissa Down, written by Elissa Down, Jimmy Jack, drama, PG-13, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Anna King, Ben Kenigsberg, Michael O’Sullivan, Walter V Addiego, Michael Phillips, Roger Ebert, Mattie Lucas, Al Alexander, Mike Scott, Christian Toto, Alicia Potter, Graham Killeen, autism, family, special needs, relationships, coming of age, Australian film, Tristram Miall, Neoclassic Films, Thomas Mollison, Jackie Masters, Charlie Mollison, Maggie Mollison, Simon Mollison, Janet, tender, witty, heartfelt, compassionate, unblinking, honest, passionate, subtle, realistic, outstanding performances, musical scene, chaste romance, special challenge
 

Cast & Crew

Rhys Wakefield

Thomas Mollison

Gemma Ward

Jackie Masters

Luke Ford

Thomas Mollison

Jackie Masters

Charlie Mollison

Maggie Mollison

Simon Mollison

Rhys Wakefield – Thomas Mollison
Gemma Ward – Jackie Masters
Luke Ford – Charlie Mollison
Toni Collette – Maggie Mollison
Erik Thomson – Simon Mollison
Deborah Ann Piper – Janet
Self – Elissa Down (Director)
Tristram Miall – Producer
Elissa Down – Writer
Jimmy Jack – Writer

 

Elissa Down

Elissa Down

Tristram Miall

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Elissa Down
 
Writer(s)
Elissa Down, Jimmy Jack
 
Producer(s)
Tristram Miall

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
18 wins & 24 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Anna King

Ben Kenigsberg

Michael O’Sullivan

Walter V. Addiego

Michael Phillips

Time Out

Washington Post

San Francisco Chronicle

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun-Times

THE BLACK BALLOON
 All Critics (41) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (6)
 November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Anna King
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 November 17, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Ben Kenigsberg
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 Thomas and Jackie’s friendship, blossoming into a chaste romance, is the dramatic engine that powers The Black Balloon, but it’s far from the most important relationship in the film.
 
 May 1, 2009
 
 Michael O’Sullivan
 Washington Post
 TOP CRITIC
 The film’s vision is neither a grim wallow nor falsely cheerful. It’s compassionate but unblinking, and in the end we can’t help but admire the genuine strength of how its characters accept their special challenge.
 
 April 17, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Walter V. Addiego
 San Francisco Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 At its sharpest Elissa Down’s feature directorial debut is guided by intense, rough-edged emotional swings that feel authentically alive, even when the script settles for tidiness.
 
 April 10, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Michael Phillips
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 The Black Balloon establishes this family with a delicate mixture of tenderness and pain.
 
 April 10, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Roger Ebert
 Chicago Sun-Times
 TOP CRITIC
 This is standard Hallmark fare but to its credit it never tries to hide from that.
 
 July 7, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
 
 Mattie Lucas
 From the Front Row
 Autism is a subject most filmmakers fear to broach, but not Aussie newcomer Elissa Down, she attacks the issue with honesty and passion.
 
 May 25, 2013 | Rating: B+
 
 Al Alexander
 The Patriot Ledger
 It’s a well-meaning film, marked by Luke Ford’s sensitive portrayal of a disabled character. But the main character is bland, imparting the same vibe on the rest of the film.
 
 August 14, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Mike Scott
 Times-Picayune
 The Black Balloon is neither ‘Rain Man’ nor ‘The Other Sister. This Aussie charmer charts its own course.
 
 May 3, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Christian Toto
 What Would Toto Watch?
 Wakefield anchors the well-paced quieter moments.
 
 April 23, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Alicia Potter
 Boston Phoenix
 The Black Balloon is marked by the fiercest bravery you’re likely to encounter on screen this year.
 
 April 16, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Graham Killeen
 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel…

 

Plot
Thomas is turning 16. His Dad is in the army and they’ve just moved to a town in New South Wales; his mum is pregnant; his older brother, Charlie, who’s autistic, has his own adolescent sexual issues. Thomas finds Charlie an embarrassment in public, so when Thomas is attracted to Jackie, a girl in his swim class, Charlie presents any number of obstacles when she drops by their house, when the three of them go for a walk, and during a family birthday dinner. Can Thomas find a way to enter the world of teen romance and still be his brother’s keeper, or is Charlie’s disability going to prove more than Thomas can handle?
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The Black Balloon features a standout performance from Toni Collette as the mother of an autistic son.
 

 
Elissa-Down.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Absolute Clay Productions, Quincy Jones Productions, Shadow Catcher Entertainment,
 
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Lompoc, California, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violence
 
Year of Release
2008
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J O’Connor, Ciarán Hinds, Dillon Freasier, Sydney McCallister, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, written by Paul Thomas Anderson, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Deborah Ross, Nell Minow, Dave Calhoun, Ben Kenigsberg, Jordan Hoffman, Brian Eggert, Fico Cangiano, Sarah Brinks, David Walsh, Scott Nye, MPAA rating R, capitalism, oil, corruption, greed, morality, faith, California, silver miner, tycoon, self-made, underhanded heroes, Little Boston, Western town, oil extraction company, murder, false prophet, family, Upton Sinclair, Oil!, pipeline, atmospheric, minimalistic directing style, iconic performance, empire, scenic shots
 

Cast & Crew

Daniel Day-Lewis

Paul Dano

Kevin J. O’Connor

Ciarán Hinds

Dillon Freasier

Daniel Plainview

Eli Sunday

Paul Sunday

Henry Brands

Fletcher Hamilton

Daniel Day-Lewis – Daniel Plainview
Paul Dano – Eli Sunday, Paul Sunday
Kevin J. O’Connor – Henry Brands
Ciarán Hinds – Fletcher Hamilton
Dillon Freasier – H.W.
Sydney McCallister – Mary Sunday

 

Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson

Daniel Lupi

JoAnne Sellar

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Paul Thomas Anderson
 
Writer(s)
Paul Thomas Anderson
 
Producer(s)
Paul Thomas Anderson, Daniel Lupi, JoAnne Sellar

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
116 wins & 137 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Cinematography Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
 

Top Reviews

Namrata Joshi

Deborah Ross

Nell Minow

Dave Calhoun

Ben Kenigsberg

Outlook

The Spectator

Movie Mom

Time Out

Time Out

THERE WILL BE BLOOD
 All Critics (243) | Top Critics (62) | Fresh (222) | Rotten (21)
 The sprawling, dark epic hinges on atmospherics and the moody air. It’s heightened further by the ominous music, especially in the long, wordless opening sequence set in the mines with man pitted against nature.
 
 January 29, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Namrata Joshi
 Outlook
 TOP CRITIC
 Day-Lewis’s performance will simply have you like a fever you can’t shift. The landscapes are hard and big, but he scathes through them as if they were no more than your Uncle Stan’s allotment.
 
 August 23, 2018
 
 Deborah Ross
 The Spectator
 TOP CRITIC
 February 18, 2012 | Rating: B+
 
 Nell Minow
 Movie Mom
 TOP CRITIC
 November 18, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Dave Calhoun
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 November 17, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Ben Kenigsberg
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 In a way, there’s not a step you haven’t seen in classics going as far back as Citizen Kane. Still, there are enough oddities in the details to keep you full of questions.
 
 August 14, 2009 | Rating: A-
 
 Jordan Hoffman
 UGO
 TOP CRITIC
 Few Westerns have reached so deep into the abscesses of American ambition.
 
 March 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Brian Eggert
 Deep Focus Review
 Daniel Day-Lewis delivers one of the best performances of all time. Paul Thomas Anderson’s riveting epic of greed, capitalism, religion and family is one of the ages. A modern masterpiece. [Full review in Spanish]
 
 April 16, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
 Fico Cangiano
 CineXpress Podcast
 Day-Lewis’ fully committed and memorable performance as Daniel Plainview the selfish and successful oil man elevates the film. But it is one of those films were everything just works to make a great film. The Johnny Greenwood soundtrack adds a lot.
 
 March 24, 2021
 
 Sarah Brinks
 Battleship Pretension
 Histrionic, fatally confused and socially evasive, Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood is all the worse for its touching upon important subjects, oil and religion in American life.
 
 February 13, 2021
 
 David Walsh
 World Socialist Web Site
 The only other contemporary filmmakers operating at this level are saddled with lesser scripts, or haven’t Anderson’s ambition to perfect them by breaking them.
 
 December 8, 2020
 
 Scott Nye
 Battleship Pretension
 An absolutely phenomenal performance by Daniel Day-Lewis brings to life as charismatic and captivating a character as any to grace the screen this year.
 
 November 28, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins…

 

Plot
The intersecting life stories of Daniel Plainview and Eli Sunday in early twentieth century California is presented. Miner turn oilman Daniel Plainview is a driven man who will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He works hard but he also takes advantage of those around him at their expense if need be. His business partner is his son H.W., who in reality he “acquired” when H.W.’s biological single father, who worked on one of Daniel’s rigs, got killed in a workplace accident. Daniel is deeply protective of H.W. if only for what H.W. brings to the partnership. Eli Sunday is one in a pair of twins, whose family farm Daniel purchases for the major oil deposit located on it. Eli, the local preacher and a self-proclaimed faith healer, wants the money from the sale of the property to finance his own church. The lives of the two competitive men often clash as Daniel pumps oil off the property and tries to acquire all the surrounding land at bargain prices to be able to build a pipeline to the coast, and as Eli tries to build his own religious empire.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Daniel Day-Lewis delivers one of the best performances of all time in There Will Be Blood, according to Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Paul-Thomas-Anderson.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures,
 
Distributor
Buena Vista
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some scary images and mild innuendo
 
Year of Release
2007
 

 
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Musical
 
Keyword(s)
starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, directed by Kevin Lima, written by Bill Kelly, produced by Barry Sonnenfeld, Barry Josephson, fantasy, musical, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Craig Outhier, Jim Schembri, David Stratton, Joe Morgenstern, Anthony Lane, Christopher Orr, PG MPAA rating, banished princess, evil queen, modern Manhattan, divorce lawyer, storybook romance, prince, Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz, animation, live-action, Disney, fairy tale, homage, witty dialogue, sharp animation, star turn by Amy Adams, Cinderella figure, contagion of delight, allusions to the Disney canon, children’s movie, cartoon for grownups, smart re-imagining of fairy tale tropes, would-be princess, true momentum, clash of past and present, something truly magical, delightful stuff, sheer delight, joyous elements, inspired and incisive songs
 

Cast & Crew

Amy Adams

Patrick Dempsey

James Marsden

Timothy Spall

Idina Menzel

Princess Giselle

Robert

Prince Edward

Nathaniel

Nancy

Amy Adams – Princess Giselle
Patrick Dempsey – Robert
James Marsden – Prince Edward
Timothy Spall – Nathaniel
Idina Menzel – Nancy
Rachel Covey – Morgan

 

Kevin Lima

Bill Kelly

Barry Sonnenfeld

Barry Josephson

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Kevin Lima
 
Writer(s)
Bill Kelly
 
Producer(s)
Barry Sonnenfeld, Barry Josephson

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
12 wins & 51 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Craig Outhier

Jim Schembri

David Stratton

Joe Morgenstern

Anthony Lane

Orange County Register

The Age

At the Movies

Wall Street Journal

New Yorker

ENCHANTED
 All Critics (194) | Top Critics (56) | Fresh (180) | Rotten (14)
 In Enchanted, even the vermin whistle while they work.
 
 December 10, 2014 | Rating: B
 
 Craig Outhier
 Orange County Register
 TOP CRITIC
 Delightful stuff.
 
 December 10, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Jim Schembri
 The Age (Australia)
 TOP CRITIC
 This large-scale Disney family film is sheer delight.
 
 December 10, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
 
 David Stratton
 At the Movies (Australia)
 TOP CRITIC
 Like the Cinderella figure she plays in Disney’s Enchanted, Amy Adams spreads a contagion of delight. The movie is great fun, but she’s enchanting.
 
 November 26, 2013
 
 Joe Morgenstern
 Wall Street Journal
 TOP CRITIC
 Happily, the leads carry the day: James Marsden as a prince of grinning vanity, Susan Sarandon as the wicked stepmother, and, above all, Amy Adams, who, in the role of a would-be princess, finds true momentum, not just sappiness, in the farce of innocence.
 
 November 26, 2013
 
 Anthony Lane
 New Yorker
 TOP CRITIC
 Though the film is full of allusions to the Disney canon, they are generally unobtrusive echoes rather than eager satires. This is a children’s movie at which adults are also welcome, not a cartoon for grownups.
 
 September 22, 2008
 
 Christopher Orr
 The New Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 Two joyous elements give Enchanted its spark – inspired and incisive songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz and the tour de force that is Amy Adams.
 
 November 11, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 James Croot
 Stuff.co.nz
 It’s a feast of references and gentle self-deprecation for Disney fans, a pleasant if uninventive romcom and an altogether nice time at the movies.
 
 October 11, 2021 | Rating: 6/10
 
 Sean Collier
 Box Office Prophets
 A blend of traditional animation and live action that is sure to delight younger audiences – and, possibly, older crowds too.
 
 November 24, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 Enchanted says it all.
 
 September 7, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
 
 Richard Propes
 TheIndependentCritic.com
 A clever throwback to a bygone era that is very much a product of this one; a clash of past and present combining for something truly magical.
 
 July 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Mattie Lucas
 From the Front Row
 Disney’s Enchantedis a fun homage to all the Walt Disney Animation Studios classics.
 
 November 25, 2018
 
 Danielle Solzman
 Solzy at the Movies…

 

Plot
The beautiful Princess Giselle (Amy Adams) is banished by evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn’t operate on a “happily ever after” basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer who has come to her aid – even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale Prince back home – she has to wonder: Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?
 
Trivia

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

 
Kevin-Lima.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Charles Chaplin Productions,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Ghent, Flanders, Belgium
 
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
 
Year of Release
2008
 

 
Genre(s)
Romance
 
Keyword(s)
starring Barbara Sarafian, Jurgen Delnaet, Johan Heldenbergh, Anemone Valcke, Sofia Ferri, Julian Borsani, directed by Christophe Van Rompaey, written by Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Pat Van Beirs, romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Patrick Peters, Drew Toal, Hank Sartin, Leo Goldsmith, John Anderson, Wesley Morris, Mattie Lucas, Michael Sragow, Tricia Olszewski, Chris Hewitt, Laura Clifford, Tony Medley, produced by Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, MPAA rating, single mother, ex-convict, domestic drama, kitchen sink, Flemish comedy, middle-class family, daily clashes, Amelie-like score, mature female strength, recovering alcoholic, traffic accident, wishy-washy husband, mid-life crisis, cleverly scripted, entertaining romantic comedy
 

Cast & Crew

Barbara Sarafian

Matty

Jurgen Delnaet

Johnny

Johan Heldenbergh

Barbara Sarafian

Matty

Jurgen Delnaet

Johnny

Johan Heldenbergh

Barbara Sarafian – Matty
Jurgen Delnaet – Johnny
Johan Heldenbergh – Werner
Anemone Valcke – Vera
Sofia Ferri – Fien
Julian Borsani – Peter
Director – Christophe Van Rompaey
Producer – Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem
Writers – Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Pat Van Beirs

 

Christophe Van Rompaey

Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem

Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Christophe Van Rompaey
 
Writer(s)
Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Pat Van Beirs
 
Producer(s)
Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
13 wins & 7 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Patrick Peters

Drew Toal

Hank Sartin

Leo Goldsmith

John Anderson

Empire Magazine

Time Out

indieWire

Washington Post

Boston Globe

MOSCOW, BELGIUM
 All Critics (40) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (3)
 Involving domestic drama that lingers a little too long at the kitchen sink.
 
 June 5, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Patrick Peters
 Empire Magazine
 TOP CRITIC
 November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Drew Toal
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Hank Sartin
 Time Out
 TOP CRITIC
 There aren’t many surprises%u2014the characters end up more or less where we expect them to%u2014but it’s useless and not at all fun to deny the simple pleasures of this film.
 
 August 8, 2009
 
 Leo Goldsmith
 indieWire
 TOP CRITIC
 Director Christophe Van Rompaey has a script, of course, but much of what comes across so eloquently in this Flemish comedy of ill-manners is wordless.
 
 May 29, 2009
 
 John Anderson
 Washington Post
 TOP CRITIC
 The movie just can’t decide whether it likes romance or disdains it, whether it wants to be dark or bright.
 
 April 23, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Wesley Morris
 Boston Globe
 TOP CRITIC
 Van Rompaey constructs the film with a delightful sense of whimsy, accentuated by the Amelie-like score by Tuur Florizoone.
 
 July 7, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Mattie Lucas
 From the Front Row
 Barbara Sarafian provides a full-bodied portrait of mature female strength as a mother named Matty in Moscow, Belgium.
 
 June 12, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Michael Sragow
 Baltimore Sun
 The film’s portrait of a middle-class family and its daily clashes, both major and minor, is spot-on.
 
 May 28, 2009
 
 Tricia Olszewski
 Washington City Paper
 There’s nothing special about the story in Moscow, Belgium. But the lead performance? Very special.
 
 April 17, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Chris Hewitt
 St. Paul Pioneer Press
 …a terrific vehicle for Sarafian, an actress who proves that middle age can still be intriguing and sexy.
 
 April 13, 2009 | Rating: B
 
 Laura Clifford
 Reeling Reviews
 A European-style chick flick where all the women are wonderful and the men jerks. Unlike the American genre, this is one men can actually sit through and enjoy
 
 March 12, 2009 | Rating: 7/10
 
 Tony Medley
 tonymedley.com…

 

Plot
A single mother becomes involved with an ex-convict in Moscow, Belgium, in this low-key romantic drama.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Barbara Sarafian delivers an outstanding lead performance in Moscow, Belgium.
 

 
Christophe-Van-Rompaey.jpg