Live Flesh (Carne trémula) (1998)
88%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
11 wins & 15 nominations total
Live Flesh surveys the fallout from an act of violence with a mature melodrama that sees Pedro Almodóvar working in surprisingly restrained form
Live Flesh is a wild ride of a movie that starts with a single gunshot and ends with a five-way battle of wits. Pedro Almodovar’s direction is mature and assured, with a seductive cast that leaves most films in the dust. The hyper-masculine tendencies of Victor, played by Liberto Rabal, fuel the plot and lead to some pointed political statements that bruise. And let’s not forget the fact that Almodovar has made a wheelchair movie that’s actually enjoyable! Overall, Live Flesh is a must-see for anyone who loves a good revenge saga with a side of humor.
Production Company(ies)
Apple Original Films, Interscope Films, Lighthouse Management & Media,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Calle Arenal, Madrid, Madrid, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some drug content
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Spanish, Italian, Bulgarian
-
Country of origin:Spain
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 1997 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2016
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri, Liberto Rabal, Ángela Molina, José Sancho, Penélope Cruz, directed by Pedro Almodóvar, written by Pedro Almodóvar, Ray Loriga, Ruth Rendell, drama, R rating, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Mike Clark, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Liam Lacey, Louis B Parks, David Denby, Giala Murray, Jan Stuart, Ruhaan Shah, Cole Smithey, David Noh, Ken Hanke, Javier Bardem as David, Francesca Neri as Elena, Liberto Rabal as Víctor Plaza, Ángela Molina as Clara, José Sancho as Sancho, Penélope Cruz as Isabel, wheelchair movie, melodrama, Spanish (Spain), Agustín Almodóvar produced
Worldwide gross: $1,785,901
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,277,380
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,293
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 357,402
US/Canada gross: $1,785,901
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,277,380
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,923
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,399
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $24,589
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,438
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Francesca Neri – Elena
Liberto Rabal – Víctor Plaza
Ángela Molina – Clara
José Sancho – Sancho
Penélope Cruz – Isabel
Director(s)
Pedro Almodóvar
Writer(s)
Pedro Almodóvar, Ray Loriga, Ruth Rendell
Producer(s)
Agustín Almodóvar
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
11 wins & 15 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (8)
A single ricochet gunshot propels the plot and dramatically alters the lives of the quintet. The result is a vengeful, five-way battle of wits.
January 9, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mike Clark
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The overall purpose of Live Flesh, the latest and reputedly most ‘mature’ work from Spanish bad-boy director Pedro Almodovar, remains engigmatic.
April 12, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Almodovar seems more assured here, confident that he can interest us without overt winking and tomfoolery.
January 1, 2000
Louis B. Parks
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Despite his erotic fixations, Pedro Almodvar is the cinema’s last true innocent.
January 1, 2000
David Denby
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
While despair underlies Almodovar’s film…the director attempts to lighten up with some misplaced jokes. These, though, are never any more than a brief respite from the irritating mess in which the characters embroil themselves.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/5
Giala Murray
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Few directors could bring together such a seductive collection of players for both women and men to revel in, then photograph them with an instinctive line into their sensuality that leaves most films, mainstream or porn, in the dust.
April 5, 2022
Jan Stuart
The Advocate
As Victor’s hyper-masculine tendencies fuel his actions, every character’s arc entangles more and more with one another. Liberto Rabal and Javier Bardem put on an immersive front and persona in this revenge saga.
April 29, 2020
Ruhaan Shah
Film Companion
[VIDEO ESSAY] Behind its soap opera appearance, Almodovar makes pointed political statements that bruise.
April 22, 2015 | Rating: A
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
The film also feels curiously underpopulated, unenlivened by any sparky character bits.
July 13, 2007
David Noh
Film Journal International
Very much an Almodovar picture with most of the anticipated outrageous occurrences intact.
October 11, 2006 | Rating: 4.5/5
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Pedro Almodovar has done something nearly unheard of: he has made a wheelchair movie without maudlin sentiment and overbearing importance. Even better, it’s actually rather enjoyable.
September 23, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid…
Plot
Pizza delivery man Victor is having an argument with Elena, whom he met a few days ago, but she was high then and doesn’t want to hear about him. Reacting to the noise, two cops, young David and older Sancho, arrive at the scene, the gun accidentally goes off.. Four years later David is a wheelchair basketball star, he’s married to Elena, Victor is released out of prison and their destinies begin to cross again.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Live Flesh.
Pedro-Almodóvar.jpg
88%
The Heart of the Game (2005)
88%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 3 nominations
This group of high school girls and their eccentric basketball coach easily win your heart with their unusual humanity and dynamism
The Heart of the Game is a slam dunk of a documentary that will have you cheering for the Roosevelt Roughriders. It’s a heartwarming story about a high school girls’ basketball team and their inspiring coach, Bill Resler. Sure, some critics may say it lacks depth, but who needs depth when you have nail-biting games and left-field twists? Plus, it’s proof that nice guys and girls don’t always finish last. So grab some popcorn, get ready to root for the underdogs, and let The Heart of the Game take you on a winning ride.
Production Company(ies)
Daiei
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Seattle, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Feb 27, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, basketball, high school, girls, coach, Bill Resler, Darnellia Russell, Ward Serrill, Liz Manne, directed by Ward Serrill, written by Ward Serrill, produced by Ward Serrill, Liz Manne, PG-13, box office gross $444.1K, reviewed by David Ansen, Richard Corliss, J.R Jones, Nick Funnell, Peter Bradshaw, Stella Papamichael, Richard Propes, Dorothy Woodend, Cole Smithey, Jim Lane, Helene A Aasen, basketball team, social issues, hip hop, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, triumph-over-adversity, nail-biting match, inspiring, Seattle, Roughriders, Hoop Dreams, female athletes, overlooked, box office hit, drama
Worldwide gross: $446,446
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $658,355
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,681
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 71,794
US/Canada gross: $445,374
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $656,774
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,271
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,251
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $16,591
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,574
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ward Serrill – Writer
Ward Serrill – Producer
Liz Manne – Producer
Larry Estes – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Ward Serrill
Writer(s)
Ward Serrill
Producer(s)
Ward Serrill, Liz Manne
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (100) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (87) | Rotten (13)
Will it be heartbreak or triumph for the Roosevelt Roughriders? You will care, passionately.
March 14, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Girls have hoop dreams too. And dreams can come true at the final buzzer.
August 1, 2008
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
[The film] covers seven years and touches on some of the same social issues that gave Hoop Dreams its epic sweep, yet Serrill fails to treat any of them adequately, and the narrative loses its shape as events unfold.
March 26, 2007
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The intrusive narration, from hip hopper Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, offers little sense of real lives unfolding, more of a way being paved to an, admittedly tense, all-American triumph-over-adversity climax.
December 30, 2006
Nick Funnell
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Boredom and irritation set in early with this shallow, parochial and blandly celebratory documentary about a US high-school girls’ basketball team, of frankly limited interest to non-US audiences.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 1/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
It’s packed with left-field twists and turns and culminates in a genuinely nail-biting match where old rivalries come to a head. In the end, it’s all you can do not to stand up and cheer.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A simple, yet effective documentary that treats with respect female athletes who are too often overlooked.
September 10, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
If the drama that sweeps through The Heart of the Game is any indication, God must have a thing for girls’ basketball.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
Writer/director Ward Serrill’s wonderful documentary, about a Seattle high school girls basketball team the Roughriders coached by the inspiring Bill Resler, is a “Hoop Dreams” of the early 21st century.
April 23, 2009 | Rating: B+
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
So many astonishing and inspirational events take place that if The Heart Of The Game wasn’t such a great documentary, it could have and should have been a box office hit drama.
August 1, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Helene A Aasen
Film4
A nice little documentary that proves that nice guys, and nice girls, don’t always finish last.
September 1, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope…
Plot
A documentary Roosevelt Roughriders, a girls’ high-school basketball team in Seattle, and one player’s fight to regain her eligibility to play.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Bill Resler, a university professor who coaches a basketball team comprised of high-school girls, and Darnellia Russell, one of the team’s few black players, who struggles to stay on the team despite major obstacles.
Ward-Serrill.jpg
88%
Wordplay (2006)
88%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 7 nominations
You see them hunched over with their brows furrowed, folded newspaper in hand as they attempt to complete the crossword puzzle. This may even describe you. This ingeniously edited documentary introduces viewers to some of the more dedicated fans of this solitary pastime, none more well-known the puzzle editor for the New York Times, Will Shortz. This underground world provides a surprising amount of crowd-pleasing entertainment and suspense, especially at the annual crossword tournament. Didn’t know there was one, did you
Wordplay is a movie that will have you on the edge of your seat, even though it’s about crossword puzzles. It’s like the Olympics of word games, and the competitors are just as intense as any athlete. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a word nerd to enjoy this film. It’s playful, informative, and even sweet at times. Plus, it’s always satisfying to watch people who are really good at something do their thing, even if that thing is filling in boxes with letters. So grab a pencil and get ready to be entertained.
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some language and mild thematic elements
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2006 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 7, 2006
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, crossword puzzles, Will Shortz, New York Times, puzzle editor, fans, crossword tournament, President Bill Clinton, Indigo Girls, Jon Stewart, Mike Mussina, Ken Burns, Patrick Creadon, Christine O’Malley, PG, English, box office, $3.1M, 1h 34m, directed by Patrick Creadon, produced by Christine O’Malley, reviewed by Peter Travers, Stephanie Zacharek, Roger Moore, Marjorie Baumgarten, Rene Rodriguez, Tom Long, Richard Propes, Felicia Feaster, Mattie Lucas, Emanuel Levy, Jay Antani, Jeffrey Chen, starring Will Shortz, genre: documentary, MPAA rating: PG, crossword puzzle tournament, crossword puzzle editor, crossword puzzle fans, crossword puzzle celebrities, crossword puzzle documentary, crossword puzzle movie, crossword puzzle championship, crossword puzzle competition, crossword puzzle community, crossword puzzle devotion, crossword puzzle dedication, crossword puzzle entertainment, crossword puzzle suspense, crossword puzzle skill, crossword puzzle intelligence, crossword puzzle creation, crossword puzzle editing, crossword puzzle advertisement, crossword puzzle witty, crossword puzzle emotions, crossword puzzle manipulation, crossword puzzle biopic, crossword puzzle geeky, harmless, crossword puzzle world, crossword puzzle New York, crossword puzzle solitaire, crossword puzzle pastime, crossword puzzle entertainment, crossword puzzle mystery, crossword puzzle intrigue, crossword puzzle logic, crossword puzzle precision, crossword puzzle objects, crossword puzzle undramatic, crossword puzzle sport, crossword puzzle community, crossword puzzle common-interest societies, crossword puzzle traits, crossword puzzle sharing, crossword puzzle mutual dedication, crossword puzzle heartwarming, crossword puzzle uplifting, crossword puzzle unpredictable, crossword puzzle heartbreaking, crossword puzzle fabulous, crossword puzzle look, crossword puzzle extra credence, crossword puzzle Bill Clinton, crossword puzzle fans
Worldwide gross: $3,177,636
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,685,923
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,196
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 511,006
US/Canada gross: $3,121,270
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,602,803
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,832
US/Canada opening weekend: $32,847
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $48,438
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,221
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Christine O’Malley – Producer
Patrick Creadon – Cinematographer
Douglas Blush – Film Editing
Director(s)
Patrick Creadon
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (123) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (116) | Rotten (7)
Boy, was I wrong. There’s more palm-sweating suspense in one minute of this baby than in all of The Omen.
November 24, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Even though these puzzles are mapped out with utmost precision — and even though logic is an extremely useful tool for solving them — they’re still, somehow, objects of intrigue and mystery.
October 7, 2006
Stephanie Zacharek
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
A playful, informative and very sweet documentary about the world of words ‘across’ or ‘down.’
July 7, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The fact that Wordplay works as a film at all is a testament to its skill.
July 1, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It manages to turn an internal, solitary activity into fodder for an engaging, even exciting movie.
June 30, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
There’s a surface satisfaction to Wordplay that’s absolutely undeniable. But there are also just enough smarts here to make you wish for something more.
June 30, 2006 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Often brilliant yet ends up falling just a couple letters short of truly being a championship film.
September 27, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Diverting though Wordplay may be, when it moves into tournament-mode, the film suffers from the essentially undramatic nature of this solitary “sport.”
February 4, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
Mines suspense out of what seems to be the most mundane of entertainments, the crossword puzzle, and makes it more thrilling than any football game ever was.
June 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)
A poignant inside look into the world of crossover puzzles of the NY Times.
July 25, 2011 | Rating: B+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
As pleasant and good-natured as Wordplay is, it’s not exactly potent stuff”
August 17, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer
If the movie emphasizes anything, it affirms that common-interest societies like this … all survive by sharing the traits of community, devotion, and mutual dedication.
April 8, 2010 | Rating: 7/10
Jeffrey Chen
ReelTalk Movie Reviews…
Plot
A documentary that focuses on the world of crossword puzzles: those that construct them, those that love to solve them, those that compete in the annual Crossword competition in Stamford and also on Will Shortz, the editor of the New York Times crossword since the early 1990s. Shortz actually has a university degree in games and organized the first crossword championship in 1978. Some of the contributors to the Times puzzle explain how they go about building them while some aficionados, including former President Bill Clinton and comedian Jon Stewart talk about their love of solving them. The film also introduces several past champions and near champions competing in the 2006 tournament and it takes you from the preliminary rounds to the final where the top three contestants compete in front of a room full of admiring contestants.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features a profile of The New York Times “puzzle master” Will Shortz, as well as celebrities who swear by the Times puzzle, including President Bill Clinton, folk-rock duo Indigo Girls, comic Jon Stewart, baseball player Mike Mussina, and filmmaker Ken Burns.
Patrick-Creadon.jpg
88%
Tsotsi (Thug) (2006)
88%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
23 wins & 18 nominations total
Chweneyagae’s powerful performance carries this simple yet searing tale of a shantytown teenager’s redemption
Tsotsi is a movie that will make you gasp, cry, and laugh all at the same time. It’s like a rollercoaster ride that takes you through the streets of South Africa and into the heart of a young gangster named Tsotsi. The movie is a perfect blend of storytelling, acting, and cinematography that will leave you breathless. And if you’re wondering how a baby can change a hardened criminal, well, you just have to watch the movie to find out. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Production Company(ies)
Beimo Films, Persistence of Vision Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Johannesburg, South Africa
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some strong violent content
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English
-
Country of origin:South Africa, United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 18, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Presley Chweneyagae, Mothusi Magano, Israel Makoe, Percy Matsemela, Jerry Mofokeng, Benny Moshe, directed by Gavin Hood, written by Gavin Hood, drama, R rating, box office gross $2.9M, reviewed by Zadie Smith, Roger Moore, Marjorie Baumgarten, Liz Beardsworth, Robert Denerstein, Michael Booth, Richard Propes, Debbie Lynn Elias, Nick Rogers, Fernando F Croce, Betsy Bozdech, redemption, South Africa, Johannesburg, violence, gang, baby, humanity, Dolby Digital, Peter Fudakowski, Afrikaans
Worldwide gross: $9,891,303
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $14,586,280
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,833
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,590,652
US/Canada gross: $2,912,606
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,295,095
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,844
US/Canada opening weekend: $76,324
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $112,552
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,894
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $3,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $4,423,971
Production budget ranking: 1,931
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,382,308
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,780,000
ROI to date (est.): 114%
ROI ranking: 885
Mothusi Magano – Boston
Israel Makoe – Tsotsi’s father
Percy Matsemela – Sgt. Zuma
Jerry Mofokeng – Morris
Benny Moshe – Young Tsotsi
Director(s)
Gavin Hood
Writer(s)
Gavin Hood
Producer(s)
Peter Fudakowski
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
23 wins & 18 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (131) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (108) | Rotten (23)
The audience gasps in that odd mixture of surprise and recognition that great story-telling affords.
January 16, 2018
Zadie Smith
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It is a first peek at a South Africa that doesn’t need a Hollywood studio or Hollywood stars to present itself to the world, or to come to grips with itself at home.
April 7, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
What Tsotsi fails to explain is how the mere introduction of a baby can melt the cruel cycle of criminality and disregard for others.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
With lively pacing, superb performances and a candid yet forgiving heart, Hood has created an inverse fairy tale that is never less than absorbing.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Liz Beardsworth
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Unfolds in such clear-eyed, powerful fashion that its characters become unforgettable, and the movie lands a big-time emotional punch.
March 24, 2006 | Rating: B+
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
To feel the full power of the movie’s wrenching story, you must not rush to judge or embrace young Tsotsi. He is an enigma whose journey is the story.
March 24, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Booth
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
It is one of only a handful of films where I have, quite literally, forgotten that it is a foreign film.
September 26, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Artfully combining and complimenting with each other the story and technical aspects of the film, the results are an unparalleled synergistic relationship, seamlessly interweaving the film’s ever increasing message of hope and redemption.
November 9, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
It’s a redemption song that could be stripped down into a Hallmark-esque distillation of “City of God.” Instead, it retains a minor key, with bullets, blood and beatings illustrating a descent into dangerous living while a baby’s presence suggests hope.
November 7, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
Fraudulent, patronizing, and empty
August 30, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
Gavin Hood’s Oscar-nominated tale about a young South African gangster who gets an unexpected chance at redemption is literally a world apart from anything produced by Hollywood.
September 27, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Betsy Bozdech
Hollywood.com
…an emotionally honest tale of redemption that does not ignore the fact that we live in a world of cause and consequence.
February 28, 2008 | Rating: 8/10
Brandon Fibbs
BrandonFibbs.com…
Plot
In Johannesburg, a small time criminal, Tsotsi, is a teenager without feelings, hardened by his tough life. After a series of violent gang hits, Tsotsi hijacks a car. However, whilst driving, Tsotsi finds that there is a baby on the back seat. He brings the baby to his house in the slum. The next six days bring about a change in him that couldn’t be foreseen.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Presley Chweneyagae’s powerful performance carries this simple yet searing tale of a shantytown teenager’s redemption.
Gavin-Hood.jpg
88%
The Proposition (2005)
88%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 13 wins & 30 nominations
Brutal, unflinching, and violent, but thought-provoking and with excellent performances, this Australian western is the one of the best examples of the genre to come along in recent times
If you’re in the mood for a Western that’s as gritty and brutal as it is beautiful, then The Proposition is the movie for you. This Australian gem takes you on a journey through the unforgiving Outback, where family loyalty and revenge collide in a way that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Sure, it’s not breaking any new ground in terms of Western tropes, but who cares when it’s this well-executed? Plus, it’s got Guy Pearce and Danny Huston giving powerhouse performances that will stick with you long after the credits roll. So grab some popcorn and settle in for a wild ride. Yeehaw!
Production Company(ies)
Fine Line Features, Capitol Films, Channel Four Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Queensland, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong grisly violence, and for language
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Aboriginal
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 19, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama/Action
Keyword(s)
starring Ray Winstone, Guy Pearce, Emily Watson, Danny Huston, John Hurt, David Wenham, directed by John Hillcoat, written by Nick Cave, drama, action, western, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Brian Tallerico, Marjorie Baumgarten, Ben Walters, Joe Morgenstern, John Hartl, Roger Moore, Richard Propes, Yasser Medina, Leigh Paatsch, David Lamble, C.H Newell, MPAA rating R, lawman, renegade, moral dilemma, violence, revenge, Australian outback, family loyalty, British colonials, Kantian philosophy, Sam Peckinpah, cat o’ nine tails, Dolby, produced by Chris Brown, Cat Villiers, Chiara Menage, Jackie O’Sullivan
Worldwide gross: $5,048,693
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,445,091
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,053
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 811,896
US/Canada gross: $1,903,434
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,806,912
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,954
US/Canada opening weekend: $32,681
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $48,193
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,223
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $29,493,141
Production budget ranking: 1,165
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,882,057
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$37,930,107
ROI to date (est.): -84%
ROI ranking: 1,917
Ray Winstone – Capt. Stanley
Emily Watson – Martha Stanley
Danny Huston – Arthur Burns
John Hurt – Jellon Lamb
David Wenham – Eden Fletcher
Chris Brown – Producer
Cat Villiers – Producer
Chiara Menage – Producer
Jackie O’Sullivan – Producer
John Hillcoat – Director
Nick Cave – Writer
Director(s)
John Hillcoat
Writer(s)
Nick Cave
Producer(s)
Chris Brown, Cat Villiers, Chiara Menage, Jackie O’Sullivan
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
13 wins & 30 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (129) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (110) | Rotten (19)
Any movie that can cling to your memory with as much brutal power as this fantastic film is unquestionably a proposition worth taking.
March 24, 2007
Brian Tallerico
UGO
TOP CRITIC
Despite perpetual rumors of its demise as a genre, the Western is alive and well in the Australian outback.
June 24, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A beautifully shot tracker’s western that brings the Fordian poles of garden and desert to bear on the bushrangers’ Outback, this is also a revenge drama of substantial horror.
June 24, 2006
Ben Walters
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A visionary tale of a fragile civilizing impulse crushed by family loyalty and a lust for revenge in the vast Outback of the late 19th century.
June 22, 2006
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
It doesn’t offer much that hasn’t already been said about lawless frontier towns, bonds between outlaws or the settling of the West.
June 9, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
By the end, it all pays off exactly the way a hundred earlier Westerns did.
June 9, 2006 | Rating: 2/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
May be one of the most realistic portrayals of how the West was really won.
September 20, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
I know by heart the revisionism of this western. [Full review in Spanish]
July 24, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
This self-styled “Australian western” is powerful, punishing drama of the highest class.
May 26, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
As stark a meditation on British colonials marooned in a hellish land as any film since Picnic at Hanging Rock.
May 7, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
A filthy, disturbing, and poignant Western about a whole host of themes from the Kantian philosophy of morality to the boundaries of love and family.
May 3, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
C.H. Newell
Father Son Holy Gore
John Hillcoat’s violence-probing Western feels as uncompromisingly bleak, royally widescreen and graphically violent as any Sam Peckinpah opus – a sunburned, grimy-nailed saga of point-blank executions and blood wrung from a cat o’ nine tails.
September 17, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap…
Plot
In the harsh outback of 1880s Australia, the brutal Burns brothers are wanted for a vicious crime. When Charlie Burns is captured, the officer arresting makes a startling proposition in order to end the cycle of violence: Charlie must hunt down and murder his violent older brother Arthur, in order to save his youngest brother from the noose.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast includes Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, Emily Watson, Danny Huston, John Hurt, and David Wenham.
John-Hillcoat.jpg
88%
La Nana (The Maid) (2009)
88%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 4 nominations
Catalina Saavedra’s devastating performance would be reason enough to see The Maid, but Sebastian Silva’s empathetic direction and finely tuned script only add to the movie’s pleasing heft
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel like a terrible person, The Maid is the one for you! But don’t worry, it’s not all shame and guilt – there’s also a gripping psychological thriller and a poignant human drama thrown in for good measure. Plus, Catalina Saavedra’s performance as the guarded and ruthless titular character is a real standout. And let’s not forget the ending – it’s one of the best in recent years. So if you’re up for a slice of life that’s both touching and real, give The Maid a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures,
Distributor
Elephant Eye Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Dorset, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTSS DDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 12.39 : 12.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 36m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2009 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2010
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Catalina Saavedra, Claudia Celedón, Alejandro Goic, Andrea García-Huidobro, Mariana Loyola, Agustín Silva, Mercedes Villanueva, directed by Sebastián Silva, written by Sebastián Silva, Pedro Peirano, drama, $549.5K box office, Elephant Eye Films, MPAA rating, reviewed by Ed Koch, Laura Kern, J.R Jones, Derek Malcolm, Anthony Quinn, Peter Bradshaw, Catalina Saavedra as Raquel, Claudia Celedón as Pilar, Alejandro Goic as Mundo, Andrea García-Huidobro as Camila, Mariana Loyola as Lucy, Agustín Silva as Lucas, Sebastian Silva’s empathetic direction, finely tuned script, Raquel’s devastating performance, domestic politics, psychological thriller, poignant human drama, class system, Latin-American culture, Chile, maid character, serious film, inner life, emotional challenges, live-in maid, friendship, loyalty, respect, overexposure to cleaning chemicals, dizzy spells, additional help, pressure, resentment, all-out assault, new employee, family, suburban family, vibrant, happy, hostility, mistreatment, terrorize, emotional challenges, masterpiece, eye-opening
Worldwide gross: $123,276,807
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $181,791,015
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 748
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 19,824,538
US/Canada gross: $47,144,110
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $69,521,395
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 922
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,503,650
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,387,910
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 619
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $36,866,427
Production budget ranking: 1,015
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $19,852,571
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $125,072,018
ROI to date (est.): 221%
ROI ranking: 590
Claudia Celedón – Pilar
Alejandro Goic – Mundo
Andrea García-Huidobro – Camila
Mariana Loyola – Lucy
Agustín Silva – Lucas
Director(s)
Sebastián Silva
Writer(s)
Sebastián Silva, Pedro Peirano
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (75) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (70) | Rotten (5)
This is a boring and much too long movie…all in all, if you give any thought to how you spend your discretionary hours this, in my opinion, The Maid is not the movie for you.
January 17, 2018
Ed Koch
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
The Maid is a film that defies expectations; expect to feel ashamed of yourself.
October 20, 2014
Laura Kern
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
As played by Catalina Saavedra, she’s a guarded, ruthless, but ultimately poignant character, and writer-director Sebastian Silva studies the levers of power inside the little household as if it were the Politburo.
March 13, 2014
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Sebastian Silva’s film is very finely decorated by Catalina Saavedra’s loyal but self-destructive servant.
September 1, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
August 27, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Sebastián Silva’s film is an unexpected combination: a gripping psychological thriller, and also a poignant human drama.
August 26, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The Maid features one of my favorite movie endings in recent years. Slice of life that is both touching and real.
March 24, 2021
Dustin Chang
Floating World
[A] pointed examination of domestic politics; a startling portrait of a life given over to others; a beautifully observed film about the smallest of everyday things that somehow feels huge and noble and universal.
February 17, 2021
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
Told with nonchalant sexual candor, The Maid examines a wealthy Chilean family as both buttress against change and unlikely incubator for new social and political mores.
June 18, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Women in Hollywood don’t often get roles as meaty as the one Catalina Saavedra has here, and she doesn’t squander her opportunity in Silva’s thrilling tale of one woman’s progression from oppression to self-awareness.
January 23, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
The performance at the center of this film and the breath of fresh air provided by the lively Miss Loyola remind us that there are depths no one suspects at the center of that iconic figure in a black-and-white uniform.
December 1, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Times
This is a subtle and intelligent movie, which knows that from small acorns mighty oaks grow.
August 9, 2018
Sarah Manvel
Critic’s Notebook…
Plot
1860s Victorian England. Sadly, the widowed undertaker, Cedric Brown, has a lot on his plate. As the desperate father works his fingers to the bone to provide for his seven unruly children, in the meantime, they have managed to drive out not one but seventeen nannies with their elaborate practical jokes and bad behaviour. Then, on a stormy night, the hideous government nanny extraordinaire, Nanny McPhee, sets foot in Cedric’s household, bent on transforming the children’s manners and the house. Will a dash of magic do the trick?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
Sebastián-Silva.jpg
88%
Duma (2005)
88%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 4 Oscars
13 wins & 59 nominations total
This is an old-fashioned, richly textured family film that will appeal to children and adults alike
Duma is the perfect movie for anyone who loves adventure, animals, and stunning landscapes. It’s like The Black Stallion, but with a cheetah instead of a horse. And let’s be real, cheetahs are way cooler. The movie is visually breathtaking and will make you feel like you’re right there in the African wilderness. Plus, it’s got some serious suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just don’t watch it with your little siblings unless you want to deal with some nightmares about lions and alligators. Overall, Duma is a handcrafted masterpiece that deserves way more recognition than it got.
Production Company(ies)
Eisei Gekijo Hakuhodo Nippon Shuppan Hanbai K. K.
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Chatsworth House, Edensor, Derbyshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some mild thematic elements
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 16, 2006
Genre(s)
Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Alexander Michaletos, Eamonn Walker, Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Mary Makhatho, Nthabiseng Kenoshi, directed by Carroll Ballard, written by Carol Flint, Karen Janszen, adventure, PG, box office gross $860.0K, reviewed by Michael Booth, Nancy Churnin, Philip Kennicott, Ty Burr, Jeff Shannon, John Monaghan, Michael Clark, Heather Boerner, Felix Vasquez Jr., Mary Lasse, Frank Swietek, Cherryl Dawson, Leigh Ann Palone, Xan, Duma, cheetah, Kenya, family film, orphaned animal, wildlife, domestication, coming-of-age, emotional, heartwarming, beautiful scenery, cinematography, child acting, classic feel, south africa landscapes, trained animals
Worldwide gross: $121,616,555
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $185,341,603
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 738
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 20,211,734
US/Canada gross: $38,405,088
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,528,714
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,006
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,804,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,273,249
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,120
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $42,671,533
Production budget ranking: 900
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $22,978,621
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $119,691,449
ROI to date (est.): 182%
ROI ranking: 673
Eamonn Walker – Ripkuna
Campbell Scott – Peter
Hope Davis – Kristin
Mary Makhatho – Thandi
Nthabiseng Kenoshi – Lucille
Director(s)
Carroll Ballard
Writer(s)
Carol Flint, Karen Janszen
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Oscars
13 wins & 59 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (4)
It’s a crime what happened to the wonderful African wilderness movie Duma in 2005. Beautifully directed by veteran Carroll Ballard, Duma fell flat in the United States because of bad timing and abysmal marketing.
February 8, 2008
Michael Booth
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
For those wishing they still made films like The Black Stallion, today is your lucky day.
March 31, 2006 | Rating: B+
Nancy Churnin
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Visually panoramic, a film that revels in making the expanse of a beautiful place palpable.
March 30, 2006
Philip Kennicott
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Too suspenseful for the youngest children, but for anyone older than 8 or 9, it evokes nothing less than awe at the harsh beauty of the natural world.
March 18, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
With ravenous alligators and lions on the prowl, Duma delivers familiar adventure, but Ballard refuses to cater to cuteness.
March 3, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Jeff Shannon
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Like its title character, Duma has been left to fend for itself by Warner Bros., which is barely releasing it. A successful showing this weekend will prove that there really is an audience for this brand of thoughtful, literate family film.
March 3, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Few filmmakers can get remotely close to matching Ballard’s slugging percentage. He said what he had to say, never wore out his welcome, and exited on a high note. More than a few of his lesser-talented contemporary peers should follow his lead.
February 28, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Michael Clark
Epoch Times
Enchanting coming-of-age story for kids.
December 18, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Heather Boerner
Common Sense Media
A pure children’s film with an exciting story, genuine characters, and deep messages about life, love, and loss.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
A handcrafted masterpiece.
November 1, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Mary Lasse
Christianity Today
It’s as good as this sort of thing gets, and deserves to be seen in a proper auditorium rather than on DVD.
April 4, 2006 | Rating: B+
Frank Swietek
One Guy’s Opinion
The film opens with some adorable cheetah cubs, so you’re instantly hooked, but there’s more to this than just a bunch of cute animals.
April 2, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com…
Plot
The story is based on Jane Austen’s novel about five sisters – Jane (Rosamund Pike), Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), Mary (Talulah Riley), Kitty (Carey Mulligan), and Lydia Bennet (Jena Malone) – in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when wealthy young Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) and his best friend, Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), arrive in their neighborhood.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Duma.
Carroll-Ballard.jpg
88%
Walk the Line (2005)
88%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
45 wins & 48 nominations total
Superior acting and authentic crooning capture the emotional subtleties of the legend of Johnny Cash with a freshness that is a pleasure to watch
If you’re looking for a movie that’ll make you want to put on your cowboy boots and start singing, Walk the Line is the one for you. Joaquin Phoenix gives an extraordinary performance as Johnny Cash, and Reese Witherspoon is sweet and sassy as June Carter. Sure, the movie may not be perfect, but it’s a fun and well-acted biopic that’ll have you tapping your toes and humming along to the music. Plus, who doesn’t love a good love story?
Production Company(ies)
Macrocosm Entertainment, Citizen Skull Productions, Bond It Media Capital
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Tennessee State Penitentiary, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some language, thematic material and depiction of drug dependency
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 16m
-
Language(s):English, Russian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 18, 2005 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 28, 2006
Genre(s)
Biography/Music
Keyword(s)
starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Roberts, Dan John Miller, directed by James Mangold, written by James Mangold, Gill Dennis, biography, music, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Zadie Smith, Victoria Segal, Chris Chang, Steven D Greydanus, Andrew Sarris, David Walsh, Rachel Wagner, John A Nesbit, Kevin Carr, Fernando F Croce, produced by Cathy Konrad, James Keach, PG-13, Johnny Cash, June Carter, Vivian Cash, Ray Cash, Sam Phillips, Luther Perkins, 20th Century Fox, Surround
Worldwide gross: $186,797,986
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $284,677,017
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 531
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 31,044,386
US/Canada gross: $119,519,402
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $182,145,576
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 410
US/Canada opening weekend: $22,347,341
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $34,056,975
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 385
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $42,671,533
Production budget ranking: 900
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $22,978,621
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $219,026,863
ROI to date (est.): 334%
ROI ranking: 416
Reese Witherspoon – June Carter
Ginnifer Goodwin – Vivian Cash
Robert Patrick – Ray Cash
Dallas Roberts – Sam Phillips
Dan John Miller – Luther Perkins
Director(s)
James Mangold
Writer(s)
James Mangold, Gill Dennis
Producer(s)
Cathy Konrad, James Keach
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
45 wins & 48 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (208) | Top Critics (55) | Fresh (171) | Rotten (37)
The film boasts of extremely competent performances, particularly the extraordinary Phoenix. As for Witherspoon, with her nasal twang and perky persona, she is sweet and sassy…
January 10, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
Walk the Line — although conspicuously well acted — is really no different from previous efforts, and that’s a good thing. It shares the charm of the (musical biopic) genre.
January 16, 2018
Zadie Smith
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Not only does the film show just how hungry Cash was to sing his songs, it understands how hungry society was for the cataclysmic changes such music brought.
September 26, 2017
Victoria Segal
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
It’s a tidy Hollywood arc imposed on a messy real life, but it gets the job done.
November 19, 2013
Chris Chang
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
In spite of all it does right, Walk the Line leaves one with the nagging sense of a story unfinished — or rather, with something left out.
February 11, 2006 | Rating: B+
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
I advise you catch up with Walk the Line, if only for Ms. Witherspoon’s transcendent joyousness as a still-growing legend within a legend.
January 5, 2006
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
This is not a malicious or embarrassing work; the viewer simply feels that Mangold has not genuinely tackled a single one of the complex and potentially rich problems bound up with the lives of Cash and Carter.
July 9, 2020
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
I love this movie so much.
February 28, 2019 | Rating: 9/10
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
the acting compensates for the weaknesses in the script
July 2, 2013 | Rating: B-
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
What made this film work, and what ultimately won it most of its acclaim, were the performances of the actors.
July 31, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures
Reverently reductive
September 1, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
A fun, well acted, and well directed piece of filmmaking…
April 29, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed…
Plot
While growing up in the Great Depression era, Johnny Cash takes an interest in music and eventually moves out of his Arkansas town to join the air force in Germany. While there, he buys his first guitar and writes his own music, and proposes to Vivian. When they got married, they settled in Tennessee and with a daughter, he supported the family by being a salesman. He discovers a man who can pursue his dreams and ends up getting a record with the boys. Shortly after that, he was on a short tour, promoting his songs, and meets the already famous and beautiful June Carter. Then as they get on the long-term tours with June, the boys, and Jerry Lee Lewis, they have this unspoken relationship that grows. But when June leaves the tour because of his behavior, he was a drug addict. His marriage was also falling apart, and when he sees June years later at an awards show, he forces June to tour with them again, promising June to support her two kids and herself. While the tour goes on, the relationship between June and John grow more,and his marriage to his first wife ends. June finds out about the drugs, and help him overcome it. True love and care helped John eventually stop the drug usage, and finally proposes to her in front of an audience at a show.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film boasts of extremely competent performances, particularly the extraordinary Phoenix. As for Witherspoon, with her nasal twang and perky persona, she is sweet and sassy…
James-Mangold.jpg
88%
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
88%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
40 wins & 25 nominations total
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a stop-motion masterpiece that blends traditional cartoon humor with modern CGI technology. The film’s audacious and inventive plot takes unexpected turns, culminating in a funfair chase sequence that will leave you breathless. The vocal performances are top-notch, and the film’s saucy postcard humor and wistful nostalgia are sure to delight audiences of all ages. With homages to Hollywood genres and parodies of horror cinema traditions, Wallace & Gromit is a film that will entertain and amuse both children and adults alike. It’s a rare gem that manages to be both silly and smart, and it’s a must-see for anyone who loves animation.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a hilarious and heartwarming adventure that will have you laughing out loud and rooting for the dynamic duo. The animation is top-notch and the story is full of unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus, who doesn’t love a good were-rabbit? This movie is perfect for kids and adults alike, and is sure to become a family favorite. So grab some cheese and crackers, settle in with your favorite pup, and get ready for a wild ride!
Production Company(ies)
Charles Chaplin Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Bristol, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:NA
Genre(s)
Animated/Comedy
Keyword(s)
animated, comedy, adventure, Wallace & Gromit, stop-motion, rabbits, inventor, dog, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Peter Sallis, Peter Kay, Steve Box, directed by Steve Box, produced by Steve Box, written by Steve Box, reviewed by Marc Lee, Richard Corliss, Derek Adams, Chris Hewitt, Sara Michelle Fetters, Andrew Sarris, Kathi Maio, James Mottram, Rachel Wagner, PJ Nabarro, Fernanda Solórzano, genre, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, family-friendly, British humor, clay-animation, horror film references, inventive, puns, pratfalls, chases, goofy, traditional cartoon, Aardman, nostalgia, saucy postcard humor, Blackadderian, word play, Hollywood homage, horror cinema parody
Worldwide gross: $194,137,091
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $295,861,691
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 508
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 32,264,088
US/Canada gross: $56,110,897
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $85,512,072
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 828
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,025,987
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $24,423,337
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 553
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $30,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $45,719,500
Production budget ranking: 863
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $24,619,951
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $225,522,240
ROI to date (est.): 321%
ROI ranking: 436
Ralph Fiennes – Victor Quartermaine
Helena Bonham Carter – Lady Tottington
Peter Kay – PC Mackintosh
Steve Box – Director
Director(s)
Steve Box
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
40 wins & 25 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (182) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (173) | Rotten (9)
The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, featuring his heroic man-and-dog duo, Wallace and Gromit, is Park at his sublimely silly best.
December 26, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Marc Lee
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The final work justifies every meticulous, monastic, masochistic effort.
September 1, 2008
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The finished article is so CGI-like that you wonder whether all that organic stop-frame stuff was necessary. Sorry, chaps.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The comedy is never indulged at the expense of the plot, which flies off in genuinely unexpected directions, culminating in a boundlessly inventive funfair chase sequence.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 5/5
Chris Hewitt (UK)
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The family comedy is an all-around winner, blowing every other animated picture this year so far out of the water they’re all stuck somewhere up in the upper atmosphere unable to get back down.
December 9, 2005 | Rating: 4/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Despite its vocal distractions, this clay-animation comedy adventure managed to dazzle me with its sheer audacity and inventiveness.
December 7, 2005
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a traditional cartoon, full of puns and pratfalls, fever-pitched chases, and generally goofy goings-on. It is also gloriously traditional in terms of its stop-mo production values.
February 28, 2020
Kathi Maio
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
Peddling a brand of saucy postcard humor that wouldn’t offend your granny, as well as the usual Aardman brand of wistful nostalgia, the story is also ripe with references to horror films… The result is close to perfection.
April 27, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
James Mottram
The List
This is just such a delight.
February 14, 2019 | Rating: 9/10
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
There’s something almost Blackadderian in The Case of the Were-Rabbit’s innate comic understanding of its British milieu – basking in the sheer smut and word play potential.
December 2, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Wallace and Gromit, the clever dog and his master Inventor, are great homages to the genres of Hollywood and parodies of the traditions of horror cinema. [Full review in Spanish]
September 6, 2017
Fernanda Solórzano
Letras Libres
There are precious few films you can take your children in which everyone, largish and smallish can feel entertained but not condescended to.
August 24, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)…
Plot
It’s ‘vege-mania’ in Wallace and Gromit’s neighborhood, and our two enterprising chums are cashing in with their humane pest-control outfit, “Anti-Pesto.” With only days to go before the annual Giant Vegetable Competition, business is booming, but Wallace & Gromit are finding out that running a “humane” pest control outfit has its drawbacks as their West Wallaby Street home fills to the brim with captive rabbits. Suddenly, a huge, mysterious, veg-ravaging “beast” begins attacking the town’s sacred vegetable plots at night, and the competition hostess, Lady Tottington, commissions Anti-Pesto to catch it and save the day. Lying in wait, however, is Lady Tottington’s snobby suitor, Victor Quartermaine, who’d rather shoot the beast and secure the position of local hero-not to mention Lady Tottingon’s hand in marriage. With the fate of the competition in the balance, Lady Tottington is eventually forced to allow Victor to hunt down the vegetable chomping marauder. Little does she know that Victor’s real intent could have dire consequences for her …and our two heroes.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features the voices of Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Peter Kay.
Steve-Box.jpg
88%
Ballets Russes (2005)
88%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 2 nominations
Even if you know little about ballet, there is much to love about this documentary’s captivating archival footage and its interviews with elderly former dancers who have much to share
Ballets Russes is like a time machine that takes you back to the golden age of ballet. With rare footage and interviews with the dancers themselves, this documentary is a must-see for anyone who loves dance or just wants to learn more about it. It’s like watching a history lesson, but with way more tutus and pirouettes. Plus, who doesn’t love a good raconteur? These dancers have stories for days and they’re all priceless. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and prepare to be enchanted, edified, and exhilarated.
Production Company(ies)
Talking Heads Arnold Stiefel Company,
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2006
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 1m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 12, 2006
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev, dance, artistry, archival footage, interviews, former dancers, Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine, Robert Hawk, Douglas Blair Turnbaugh, Celeste Schaefer Snyder, Gary Weimberg, $815.8K, Zeitgeist Films, English, 2h 1m, rent/buy, critic reviews, Tomatometer, audience score, genre, producer, director, writer, box office performance, MPAA rating, surviving members, New Orleans, ballet troupes, painters, filmmakers, artistry, dance production, glory years, legend, reunion, tribute, turn-of-the-century Paris, symphony ballets, Stravinsky, Debussy, Prokofiev, Miro, Picasso, Dali, US tours, major cities, small towns, expressive, passionate, individualistic, genius, new generation
Worldwide gross: $1,331,363
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,963,304
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,423
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 214,101
US/Canada gross: $815,848
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,203,096
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,147
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,230
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $18,035
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,548
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Dayna Goldfine – Director
Daniel Geller – Writer
Dayna Goldfine – Writer
Celeste Schaefer Snyder – Writer
Gary Weimberg – Writer
Director(s)
Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine
Writer(s)
Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine, Celeste Schaefer Snyder, Gary Weimberg
Producer(s)
Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine, Robert Hawk, Douglas Blair Turnbaugh
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (60) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (5)
A casual interest in dance is all it takes to enjoy Ballets Russes, an enchanting new documentary about the famed French ballet company.
March 17, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
… a heartening affirmation of the spirit that helped many dancers to thrive in their heyday more than half a century ago and to survive as teachers, dance devotees and priceless raconteurs.
March 10, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Enchanting, edifying and exhilarating.
March 8, 2006
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Deftly mixing talking-head interviews, archival footage, and sly musical cues, Ballets Russes impressively catalogues 30 years of the companies’ triumphs and failures, and does so in a way that a dance neophyte can easily absorb …
March 4, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Capturing glimpses of those halcyon days, filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine offer the documentary Ballets Russes, riveting in rare footage and poignant interviews with some of the dancers who brought ballet to the hinterlands.
February 16, 2006 | Rating: A-
Margaret Putnam
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Ballets Russes does an amazing job of unearthing footage of the famous ballet troupe from its beginnings in turn-of-the-century Paris through to its demise in the ’60s.
January 5, 2006 | Rating: A-
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
TOP CRITIC
While the present-tense interviews with 20 members of the two Ballets Russes companies will play splendidly on DVD, one should definitely see the film in a theatre to get the full impact of its awesome archival dance footage…
May 7, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
This is an invaluable record of ballet performances from the first half of the 20th century that otherwise might’ve been lost forever.
July 7, 2017
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Saporta Report (Atlanta)
Chock-a-block with invaluable footage of historical performances and reminiscences by eminent survivors, gorgeous and awe-inspiring in their unquenchable life force.
March 1, 2007
David Noh
Film Journal International
The talking heads, clips and photos are all so warm and dynamic that they make for quite a watchable film.
September 22, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
May 12, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review
An informative, insightful glimpse into the ballet company that made an impact on the development of the dance form…a history lesson and an unforgettable close up encounter with some of its artists
May 10, 2006
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile…
Plot
For many, modern ballet began with the Ballet Russe of Monte Carlo, originally made up of Russian exiles from the Russian Revolution. This film tells the story of this landmark company with its stars and production as well as its power games, rivalries and tribulations that marked its turbulent history.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels says that Ballets Russes features “interviews with elderly former dancers who have much to share.”
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