Mean Creek (2004)
88%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 6 nominations
Mean Creek is an uncomfortably riveting glimpse into the casual cruelty of youth
Mean Creek is a movie that will make you feel like you’re back in high school, but without the acne and awkwardness. It’s a dark and twisted tale about the cruelty of young people, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you’re looking for a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you question your own sense of morality, then Mean Creek is the perfect choice. Just don’t watch it with your parents, unless you want to explain why you’re watching a movie about teenagers doing terrible things.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures,
Distributor
Focus Features, Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Troutdale, Oregon, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, sexual references, teen drug and alcohol use
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 29m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Rory Culkin, Josh Peck, Trevor Morgan, Ryan Kelley, Scott Mechlowicz, Carly Schroeder, directed by Jacob Aaron Estes, written by Jacob Aaron Estes, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, Peter Travers, Steven Rea, Jay Boyar, Richard Nilsen, Kimberley Jones, Steve Erickson, Sean Nelson, Felix Vasquez Jr., Jim Lane, Jeremy C Fox, Urban Cinefile Critics, R rating, Focus Features, Paramount Pictures, Rick Rosenthal, Susan Johnson, Hagai Shaham, teenage bullying, revenge, moral complexity, loss of innocence, coming-of-age, peer pressure, wilderness, river, boating expedition, violence, consequences, morality, friendship, washed-out palette, earthy tones, Sharone Meir, TomandAndy, lack of atmosphere, haunting, riveting, outstanding performances, incredible script, compelling characters, emotional core, masterpiece, dynamic character, powerful drama, slow crawl to an end
Worldwide gross: $802,948
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,266,640
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,540
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 138,129
US/Canada gross: $603,951
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $952,724
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,199
US/Canada opening weekend: $29,170
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $46,015
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,238
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $788,743
Production budget ranking: 2,100
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $424,738
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $53,158
ROI to date (est.): 4%
ROI ranking: 1,377
Ryan Kelley – Clyde
Scott Mechlowicz – Marty Blank
Trevor Morgan – Rocky Merrick
Josh Peck – George Tooney
Carly Schroeder – Millie
Jacob Aaron Estes – Director, Writer
Rick Rosenthal – Producer
Susan Johnson – Producer
Hagai Shaham – Producer
Director(s)
Jacob Aaron Estes
Writer(s)
Jacob Aaron Estes
Producer(s)
Rick Rosenthal, Susan Johnson, Hagai Shaham
Film Festivals
Sundance, Cannes
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (124) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (110) | Rotten (14)
This movie about teens is for adults only.
December 26, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
August 14, 2007 | Rating: 2/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Estes’ dark sunlit tale cuts like a knife.
October 19, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
A low-key, low-budget thriller that reminds us just how cruel young people can be.
September 24, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Although it is a flawed film, with a first half that moves slowly and sometimes tediously, it is redeemed by a second half that is gripping, not only for its action but for its moral complexity.
September 23, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
September 19, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
For all its contrivances and hesitations, Mean Creek showcases a real, promising talent-even if he might be better off writing about characters his own age.
January 29, 2019
Steve Erickson
Nashville Scene
Mean Creek is a strong premise gone horribly awry.
August 23, 2017
Sean Nelson
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
A very effective tale of morals, conscience, and peer pressure.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
The film gives us an adult’s idea of what kids are like, avoiding the complications and inconsistencies of actual adolescence.
September 16, 2005
Jeremy C. Fox
Pajiba
First time writer/ director Estes brings sensitivity and insight to this tale of teens pushed to extremes and forced to confront their sense of responsibility and morality
August 30, 2005
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile…
Plot
When Sam Merrick is beaten up by local bully George Tooney, Sam’s older brother Rocky and his friends Clyde and Marty plan to pretend it’s Sam’s birthday to “invite” George on a boat trip in which they would dare him to strip naked, jump in the lake, and run home naked. But when Sam, his girlfriend Millie, Rocky, and Clyde see George as not much of a bad guy, they want to call off the plan, but Marty refuses. Will the plan go ahead as planned?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Mean Creek.
Jacob-Aaron-Estes.jpg
88%
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
88%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 4 nominations
Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how Metallica survives one of their more turbulent periods
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” is a documentary that will make you feel like you’re in the band, without actually having to play an instrument or deal with their egos. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from fragility and fear to cursing and auditions. You’ll get to witness the band at their lowest point, but also see the beauty in their understanding of the music business and fan base. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or know nothing about Metallica, this film will rock you to your core.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Giants Stadium, Meadowlands Sports Complex – 50 State Highway 120, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 20m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2005
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Metallica, Some Kind of Monster, documentary, 2h 20m, directed by Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky, produced by Bruce Sinofsky, Joe Berlinger, starring Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine, Jason Newsted, Bob Rock, Phil Towle, genre, heavy metal, band, therapy, personal demons, replacement bass player, new album, behind-the-scenes, turbulent period, repressed anger, aggression, box office performance, budget, $1.2M, MPAA rating, R, reviewed by J.R Jones, Liese Spencer, Marrit Ingman, Jeannette Catsoulis, Jamie Russell, Chris Riemenschneider, Brian Costello, Nick Rogers, Jay Antani, Joe Lozito, Bill Clark, Ethan Alter, audience score, 83%, critic score, 88%, distributor, IFC Films, sound mix, surround
Worldwide gross: $1,980,444
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,124,124
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,306
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 340,690
US/Canada gross: $1,222,708
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,928,805
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,044
US/Canada opening weekend: $46,359
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $73,131
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,059
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
James Hetfield – Self
Dave Mustaine – Self
Jason Newsted – Self
Bob Rock – Self
Phil Towle – Self
Director(s)
Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Bruce Sinofsky, Joe Berlinger
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (123) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (108) | Rotten (15)
Snippets of the band’s brutally percussive music punctuate the endless encounter sessions, which expose the musicians’ boundless self-absorption…
June 29, 2022
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
March 7, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Liese Spencer
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
September 19, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The real beauty of “Metallica” is its understanding of a business, and a fan base, that provide no way to age gracefully while retaining musical credibility.
September 9, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Jeannette Catsoulis
Las Vegas Mercury
TOP CRITIC
Whether you know everything or nothing about Metallica, it will rock you.
September 4, 2004 | Rating: 5/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Fans of the band will love the revealing footage, especially landmark moments such as bassist auditions (more famous names showed up than the one they picked) and encounters with the ex-Metallica members (Newsted and Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine).
August 19, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Chris Riemenschneider
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Raw docu shows band at a low point; frequent cursing.
April 25, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Brian Costello
Common Sense Media
A mostly terrific documentary about a mostly terrible album. Despite derisory poor-me whining, it captures fragility and fear in Metallica’s questioned relevancy, considered disbandment and the closest things to tears they can muster for each other.
September 19, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
An entertaining and penetrating look at the creative process
August 20, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer
December 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster is a masterpiece of rock ‘n roll documentary filmmaking, and has set the bar high for those who attempt it in the future.
June 21, 2005 | Rating: A
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony
March 5, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic…
Plot
Some Kind of Monster is a music documentary about Metallica’s making of their album St. Anger and the difficulties they had to go through in the process. The directors shot over 1200 hours and followed the band around night and day for over a year to create this documentary.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features Metallica band members Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine, Jason Newsted, Bob Rock, and Phil Towle.
Joe-Berlinger.jpg
88%
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
88%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 22 nominations
A well-made sequel that delivers the thrills
The Bourne Supremacy is like a snowball rolling down a hill – it just keeps getting bigger and better. The action scenes are heart-pumping and the snowy Moscow landscape is breathtaking. Plus, this time around, we actually get some answers to our burning questions. It’s a smooth and violent thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Just be prepared for some flashy editing that might make you dizzy. Overall, it’s a thrilling ride that’s worth taking.
Production Company(ies)
Selznick International Pictures,,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Goa, India
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for violence and intense action, and for brief language
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 48m
-
Language(s):English, Russian, German, Italian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 7, 2004
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Karl Urban, Gabriel Mann, Joan Allen, directed by Paul Greengrass, written by Tony Gilroy, Robert Ludlum, action, PG-13, box office, budget, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Nell Minow, Chris Hewitt, James Christopher, Nev Pierce, David Denby, Film Companion Staff, Mike Massie, Leigh Paatsch, Megan Basham, Kevin M W, Luke E, Ben B, espionage, thriller, spy, CIA, Russia, India, Moscow, snow, wintry, mistaken identity, frame-up, revenge, assassination, chase scenes, stunts, handheld camera, suspense, task force, Treadstone, vulnerability, vengeance, innocence, justice, Pamela Landry, Ward Abbott, Nicky, Danny Zorn, produced by Patrick Crowley, Frank Marshall, Paul L Sandberg, Universal Pictures, Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS, Scope (2.35:1), The Bourne Collection
Worldwide gross: $290,835,269
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $458,788,685
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 327
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 50,031,481
US/Canada gross: $176,241,941
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $278,019,267
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 222
US/Canada opening weekend: $52,521,865
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $82,852,528
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 104
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $75,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $118,311,481
Production budget ranking: 317
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $63,710,732
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $276,766,472
ROI to date (est.): 152%
ROI ranking: 763
Franka Potente – Marie
Brian Cox – Ward Abbott
Julia Stiles – Nicky
Karl Urban – Kirill
Gabriel Mann – Danny Zorn
Director(s)
Paul Greengrass
Writer(s)
Tony Gilroy, Robert Ludlum
Producer(s)
Patrick Crowley, Frank Marshall, Paul L. Sandberg
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 22 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (197) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (161) | Rotten (36)
Needless to say, the viewers also get to drink in some awesome landscape, particularly the snowy, wintry Moscow. Where Supremacy differs from Identity is that questions do get answered here eventually.
January 7, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
Second in trilogy is a smooth but violent thriller.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Exciting, emotionally layered and brimming with invention.
August 13, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Chris Hewitt (UK)
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
You can’t put a price on a film-maker who still believes stunts should be shot in the street and not the editing suite
August 12, 2004
James Christopher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A brisk, engrossing and intelligent thriller.
August 10, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Nev Pierce
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Of its kind, The Bourne Supremacy is incredibly skilled — much more exciting than its predecessor.
August 3, 2004
David Denby
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
The sophisticated espionage series that reinvented onscreen action gave us a new, more rooted kind of spy thriller, far removed from the Bond school of blockbuster, but no less exhilarating.
October 27, 2020
Film Companion Staff
Film Companion
The flashy, speedy editing still gets in the way of enjoying the hand-to-hand choreography of lurching punches or flitting knives.
September 29, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Quite a forceful spy drama until author Robert Ludlum’s usual formula kicks-in.
May 7, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Despite its grave themes (or perhaps because or them), The Bourne Supremacy is still supremely thrilling.
February 7, 2018
Megan Basham
National Review
The strengths are amazing, and it’s pretty impressive how thoroughly and successfully the movie rewrote the vocabulary of action cinema.
December 6, 2016 | Rating: 9/10
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
A minor step above the entertaining (yet underwhelming) The Bourne Identity…
August 12, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews…
Plot
Two years ago, Jason Bourne thought he had walked away from his past. But now the past catches up to Jason Bourne when the CIA threatens to ruin his new life. Bourne and Marie have maintained their anonymous, underground existence at the cost of permanence. Fueled by splintered nightmares and haunted by the past he cannot remember, Bourne moves Marie from city to city, trying to remain one step ahead of the threat implicit in every unexplained stranger’s glance, every “wrong number” phone call
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Bourne Supremacy.
Paul-Greengrass.jpg
88%
The Return (2004)
88%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: Won 11 Oscars
209 wins & 124 nominations total
A suspenseful but perplexing thriller
The Return is like a fishing trip with your dad, but instead of catching fish, you catch emotions. The Russian wilderness serves as the perfect backdrop for this mysterious and visually stunning film. It’s like a thriller, but with a deeper meaning that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll. And let’s not forget about the menacing and glowering father figure, who adds a touch of masculine rage to the mix. Overall, The Return is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good metaphysical drama.
Production Company(ies)
Black Mandala Onetti Brothers Productions, Rusty Robot
Distributor
Kino Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Hinuera Valley, Matamata, Waikato, New Zealand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and frightening images
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS-ES Dolby Digital EXSDDS Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English, Quenya, Old, English, Sindarin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 6, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Vladimir Garin, Ivan Dobronravov, Konstantin Lavronenko, Natalya Vdovina, Galina Petrova, Aleksey Suknovalov, directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, written by Vladimir Moiseyenko, Aleksandr Novototskiy-Vlasov, drama, box office gross $502.0K, Kino Pictures, MPAA rating, reviewed by Joe Morgenstern, Andrew O’Hehir, Scott Tobias, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Anthony Lane, Deborah Young, Nicholas Bell, Nathanael Hood, Mattie Lucas, Jon Fortgang, Jeffrey Overstreet, Dragan Antulov, suspenseful, thriller, perplexing, emotional, suspense, mystery, wilderness, fishing trip, father and son, masculine rage, Tarkovsky, cinematography, eerie, sound, gangster, visual, powerful, emotional, empty, remarkable, must-see, bleak, oppressive, beauty, stunning, muted blue, central performances, top horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, renewed and cancelled TV shows, 2022’s most anticipated movies and TV & streaming
Worldwide gross: $1,146,436,214
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,858,226,068
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 23
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 202,641,883
US/Canada gross: $378,251,207
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $613,096,695
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 49
US/Canada opening weekend: $72,629,713
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $117,723,450
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 60
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $94,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $152,361,944
Production budget ranking: 217
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $82,046,907
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,623,817,217
ROI to date (est.): 693%
ROI ranking: 181
Vladimir Garin – Andrey
Konstantin Lavronenko – Father
Natalya Vdovina – Mother
Galina Petrova – Grandmother
Aleksey Suknovalov – Zavodila
Director(s)
Andrey Zvyagintsev
Writer(s)
Vladimir Moiseyenko, Aleksandr Novototskiy-Vlasov
Producer(s)
Dmitri Lesnevsky
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 11 Oscars
209 wins & 124 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (89) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (85) | Rotten (4)
The story, set in contemporary Russia, seems unexceptional at the start. Yet it plays out against a vast wilderness of shorelines and lakes, and turns tantalizing ambiguity into urgent mystery.
March 27, 2013
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
The long and eventful fishing trip Dad drags the boys on is simultaneously a very real voyage through the Russian wilderness and also, like, a Jungian trip, man.
March 27, 2013
Andrew O’Hehir
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
Throughout his expertly controlled film, Zvyagintsev never allows a break in the clouds to provide some reassuring sign that the brothers are on solid footing.
March 27, 2013 | Rating: B-
Scott Tobias
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Beautifully structured and emotionally wrenching.
March 27, 2013
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Zvyagintsev gets formidable concentration from his youthful actors, and his storytelling moves with the simplicity — calm, chiselled, and suggestive — of a fable.
March 27, 2013
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Constructed like an eerie, metaphorical thriller, this tense, riveting character study offers viewers nearly two hours of emotions with a stunning pay-off no one will be expecting.
June 4, 2009
Deborah Young
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Konstantin Lavronenko provides the film with a menacing, glowering backbone, the return of the mythical fatherland who seems interested only in typically masculine, overtly cruel rites of passage as the way to approach his progeny.
August 18, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
The kind of movie you watch between your fingers as you hold your hands up to your face for protection.
January 26, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Nathanael Hood
Nate Hood Reviews
Deftly explores the dynamic between father and son and its roots in masculine rage.
June 3, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Mysterious, compelling, visually inventive, The Return is a quiet but intense metaphysical-drama of great emotional impact and insight.
March 27, 2013
Jon Fortgang
Film4
Like each episode of Kieslowski’s Decalogue, The Return is a small but potent story. It leads us to ask: Is it ever enough to just ‘trust and obey’?
September 9, 2007 | Rating: A
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
magnificent return of a great cinema tradition to the world stage
October 11, 2005 | Rating: 7/10
Dragan Antulov
Draxblog Movie Reviews…
Plot
The final confrontation between the forces of good and evil fighting for control of the future of Middle-earth. Frodo and Sam reach Mordor in their quest to destroy the One Ring, while Aragorn leads the forces of good against Sauron’s evil army at the stone city of Minas Tirith.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Vladimir Garin and Ivan Dobronravov as brothers raised alone by their mother.
Andrey-Zvyagintsev.jpg
88%
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
88%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
17 wins & 69 nominations total
Under the assured direction of Alfonso Cuaron, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban triumphantly strikes a delicate balance between technical wizardry and complex storytelling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a magical masterpiece that captures the essence of the wizarding world. While some critics may nitpick at the details, the film’s ability to transport viewers to a world of wonder and danger is undeniable. Cuarn’s direction brings a new level of magic to the franchise, making it a must-see for fans and non-fans alike. Plus, who doesn’t love a good time travel plot? Overall, this film is wondersful and a true testament to the power of storytelling.
Production Company(ies)
Bi Bi Film, Rai Fiction, Film Commission Torino-Piemonte
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some scary moments and mild language
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS-ES Dolby Digital EX 12-Track Digital Sound IMAX 6-Track
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 21m
-
Language(s):English, Latin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 31, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 23, 2004
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Michael Gambon, directed by Alfonso Cuaron, written by J.K Rowling, Steve Kloves, Fantasy, Adventure, PG, box office gross $249.4M, Warner Bros Pictures, reviewed by Christopher Orr, Antonia Quirke, Mark Kermode, Joe Morgenstern, Scott Tobias, David Nusair, Mike Massie, Debbie Lynn Elias, Guillem Martinez Oya, Rachel Wagner, technical wizardry, complex storytelling, delicate balance, Dementors, mysterious new teacher, time travel, Hippogriff’s, maturing tone, unique elements, visual style, storytelling faults, Voldemort’s lack of presence, Pettigrew, dark and gritty, funny world, experienced actors, Gary Oldman enters the picture, fantastic visuals/cinematography, Hermione & Harry team-up, unexpected twists and turns, long awaited punch, one big twist
Worldwide gross: $1,017,713,119
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,715,140,162
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 27
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 187,038,186
US/Canada gross: $318,886,962
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $537,416,513
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 59
US/Canada opening weekend: $90,294,621
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $152,172,482
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 30
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $125,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $210,661,056
Production budget ranking: 93
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $113,440,979
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,391,038,127
ROI to date (est.): 429%
ROI ranking: 307
Rupert Grint – Ron Weasley
Emma Watson – Hermione Granger
Gary Oldman – Sirius Black
David Thewlis – Professor Lupin
Michael Gambon – Professor Dumbledore
Chris Columbus – Producer
David Heyman – Producer
Mark Radcliffe – Producer
J.K. Rowling – Writer
Steve Kloves – Writer
Alfonso Cuarón – Director
Director(s)
Alfonso Cuarón
Writer(s)
J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves
Producer(s)
Chris Columbus, David Heyman, Mark Radcliffe
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
17 wins & 69 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (260) | Top Critics (64) | Fresh (235) | Rotten (25)
Cuarn’s Prisoner of Azkaban, while a touch less faithful to the details of Rowling’s oeuvre, captures far better its mood, the constant sense of wondrous discovery and lurking danger.
January 5, 2018
Christopher Orr
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
This Potter is terse, swift, sad — and welcome.
December 14, 2017
Antonia Quirke
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Cuarn brought to the Potter franchise a quality curiously missing from the two previous films: magic.
November 16, 2014
Christopher Orr
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
OK, so the narrative may be a tad shaky, but what lends Azkaban its edge is the unabashedly creepy tone that Cuaron conjures.
November 16, 2014
Mark Kermode
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
The right word for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is wondersful — as in full of wonders, great and small.
August 3, 2013
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
For the first time, the non-converted may actually see what all the fuss is about.
August 3, 2013
Scott Tobias
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
…a marked departure for the watchable yet thoroughly bland series…
December 8, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Definitely not foolproof, like almost every time travel explanation, but this film nevertheless presents a new, creative angle.
September 29, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Hogwarts is back in session! And not a moment too soon. And although I’ve said it before, I’ve got to say it again, a technical and visual masterpiece.
November 13, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
Good film directed for a teenage audience in which not only is magic taught but also how stereotypes affect it while the film itself recreates some British stereotypes. [Review in Spanish]
July 11, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Guillem Martinez Oya
Cinematismo
It is without a doubt the best made film of the series.
April 4, 2019 | Rating: A
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
Prisoner of Azkaban baffled me and completely floored me…it shows that Harry Potter ages with people.
January 26, 2018
Jeremy Jahns
JeremyJahns.com…
Plot
This is the tale of Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), an ordinary eleven-year-old boy serving as a sort of slave for his aunt and uncle who learns that he is actually a wizard and has been invited to attend the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is snatched away from his mundane existence by Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), the groundskeeper for Hogwarts, and quickly thrown into a world completely foreign to both him and the viewer. Famous for an incident that happened at his birth, Harry makes friends easily at his new school. He soon finds, however, that the wizarding world is far more dangerous for him than he would have imagined, and he quickly learns that not all wizards are ones to be trusted.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, had a difficult time filming the scene where he has to be dragged by a giant spider because he has a real-life fear of spiders.
Alfonso-Cuarón.jpg
88%
Osama (2004)
88%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
Osama is bitterly honest, deeply disturbing, and utterly worth watching
Wow, Osama is a movie that will leave you feeling all sorts of emotions. It’s a heartbreaking look at life under the Taliban regime, but it’s also a beautifully crafted film that manages to surprise you with its story. The film has an almost documentary feel about it, and the succession of virtually unrelieved horrors and humiliations will leave you feeling like you’ve been through the wringer. But great films like Osama give us the ability to withhold blanket judgments and come that much closer to the truth. So, if you’re in the mood for a grueling but wonderful picture, give Osama a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Screen Gems Jerry Bruckheimer Films, L Star Capital
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 22m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 6, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 27, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Osama, PG-13, Drama, Pashto, Siddiq Barmark, Zubaida Sahar, Marina Golbahari, Arif Herati, Khwaja Nader, Hamida Refah, Gul Rahman Ghorbandi, Julie LeBrocquy, Julia Fraser, reviewed by Anthony Quinn, Peter Travers, Peter Rainer, Jay Boyar, Marc Savlov, Robert Denerstein, David Walsh, Jay Antani, Felix Vasquez Jr., Stefan Ulstein, Robert Roten, Nick Davis, box office gross $1.1M, budget unknown, produced by Siddiq Barmark, MPAA rating PG-13, Taliban, hospital, mother, daughter, disguise, conscription, training school, mature thematic elements
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Arif Herati – Espandi
Zubaida Sahar – Mother
Khwaja Nader – Jadi
Hamida Refah – Rohmi
Gul Rahman Ghorbandi – Moazin
Director(s)
Siddiq Barmark
Writer(s)
Siddiq Barmark
Producer(s)
Siddiq Barmark, Julie LeBrocquy, Julia Fraser
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (103) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (4)
Like Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s garlanded Kandahar, Siddiq Barmak’s Osama springs up colourful and frightening.
December 20, 2017
Anthony Quinn
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
August 14, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
The first film shot entirely in Afghanistan since the rise and fall of the Taliban, and it’s a heartbreaking look back at life under that regime.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
We’ve heard so much about the cruelty of the Taliban that we think we’ve heard it all. But there’s something about seeing one small human story played out that is still overwhelming.
April 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Painfully realistic.
April 11, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Barmak proves an able craftsman. If the film’s story stammers here and there, its overall power can’t be denied.
March 12, 2004 | Rating: B+
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
The film is a succession of virtually unrelieved horrors and humiliations, each of them individually quite convincing.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
A wonderful and riveting movie experience
August 24, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer
A grueling but wonderful picture.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Great films like Osama, thoughtfully considered, give us the ability to withhold blanket judgments and come that much closer to the truth.
September 27, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Stefan Ulstein
Christianity Today
The film has an almost documentary feel about it.
February 5, 2005 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
Osama manages to surprise you with its story, even though we have no right to be surprised….Already ranks among the best films of the year.
July 1, 2004 | Rating: A-
Nick Davis
Nick’s Flick Picks…
Plot
A mother and daughter in Afghanistan disguise the daughter as a boy named “Osama” in order to survive under Taliban rule, but their plan is threatened when the Taliban begins conscripting boys for their training school.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film Osama.
Siddiq-Barmark.jpg
88%
Utama (2023)
88%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: NA
With breathtaking cinematography and naturalistic performances, Utama touchingly captures love and tradition in times of climate change.
“Utama” is a beautiful movie with stunning visuals and genuine acting that explores the themes of love and tradition amidst the backdrop of climate change.
Tagline
Production Company(ies)
Foreign Language
Distributor
NA
Release Type
THEATRICAL, THEATRICAL (LIMITED)
Filming Location(s)
Bolivia
MPAA / Certificate
NR
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 27m
-
Language(s):Quechua, Spanish
-
Country of origin:Bolivia, France, Uruguay
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 4, 2022 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2023
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Utama, drama, Alejandro Loayza Grisi, Santiago Loayza Grisi, Federico Moreira, Spanish, Bolivian highlands, Quechua couple, llamas, drought, climate change, tradition, family, changing environment, Sundance Film Festival, Barbara Alvarez, Lucrecia Martel, Grand Jury Prize, Kino Lorber, José Calcina, Luisa Quispe, Candelaria Quispe, Santos Choque, directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi, written by Alejandro Loayza Grisi, $49.9K box office, 1h 27m runtime, Drama genre, reviewed by Tom Long, David Hughes, Cath Clarke, Glenn Kenny, Katie Walsh, Manohla Dargis, Hope Madden, Cathy Brennan, Mattie Lucas, Saskia Baron, Ben Nicholson, Alex Saveliev, starring José Calcina, Luisa Quispe, Candelaria Quispe, Santos Choque, Alejandro Loayza Grisi, Sundance Film Festival, Kino Lorber, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video US, iTunes, limited release, streaming release, cinematography, naturalistic performances, love, tradition, climate change
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,589
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,913
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,805
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
Virginio
Luisa Quispe
Sisa
Candelaria Elena
Santos Choque
Clever
Alejandro Loayza Grisi
Director
Screenwriter
Director(s)
Alejandro Loayza Grisi
Writer(s)
Alejandro Loayza Grisi
Producer(s)
Santiago Loayza Grisi, Federico Moreira
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (2)
Alejandro Loayza Grisi isn’t interested in story or action here, he’s interested in the enormity of seemingly small lives.
December 2, 2022 | Rating: B+
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
If you only see one film about Bolivian llama farmers this year, make it Utama.
November 22, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
David Hughes
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A gentle and superbly shot film.
November 21, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Cath Clarke
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
A film of dazzling visual power and genuine poignancy.
November 4, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Glenn Kenny
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
It is a spare and yet unsparing film, and a bold artistic statement from an emerging filmmaker.
November 3, 2022
Katie Walsh
TheWrap
TOP CRITIC
“Utama” pulls you in with an uneasy mix of beauty and dread.
November 3, 2022
Manohla Dargis
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Beautiful beyond measure but never showy, deliberate, and set among elderly people of a tiny community high in the hills of Bolivia, a film like Utama feels impossible.
December 15, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Hope Madden
MaddWolf
In a way, Utama is a perfect portrait of the present moment where a mounting climate disaster, coupled with a stormy economic system, threatens all but the most privileged.
December 8, 2022
Cathy Brennan
Screen Queens
Grisi has an incredible eye – the way he captures the barren landscapes almost recalls Carlos Reygadas (or to reach back further – John Ford), but it also leaves us wondering what a filmmaker like Reygadas could have done with this material.
December 3, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
The fusion in Utama of beautifully orchestrated images and warm, convincing performances invites its audience to immerse itself for 90 minutes in a way of life that is not only inaccessible to westerners but endangered. It’s well worth it.
November 29, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Saskia Baron
The Arts Desk
Letting go can often be the hardest thing to do and although Utama allows itself the odd flourish of magical realism, it is in the underlying truth of these experiences that the film hits home the hardest.
November 29, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Nicholson
CineVue
An elegiac, minimalist fable, Utama is about many things: global warming, survival, our connections to each other, our priorities.
November 22, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Alex Saveliev
Film Threat…
Synopsis (Warning: Spoilers!)
Trivia
Goofs
NA
Quotes
NA
Credits
Alternate Versions
NA
Soundtracks
NA
Links
(Click to Visit)
(Click to Visit)
Wikipedia: Go to Wiki
Rotten Tomatoes: Go to RT
Watch Now
(Click to Watch)
88%
X2: X-Men United (2003)
88%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 41 nominations
Tightly scripted, solidly acted, and impressively ambitious, X2: X-Men United is bigger and better than its predecessor — and a benchmark for comic sequels in general
X2 is like a superhero buffet – it’s got everything you could want and more! The action scenes are so intense, you’ll feel like you’re right in the middle of the action. And the characters? Let’s just say they’re more complex than a Rubik’s Cube. Sure, some critics might say it’s not perfect, but hey, what movie is? If you’re looking for a fun, action-packed ride, X2 is the movie for you.
Production Company(ies)
Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action/violence, some sexuality and brief language
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 14m
-
Language(s):English, German, Italian, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 2, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 25, 2004
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $407,711,549
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $660,848,131
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 194
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 72,066,317
US/Canada gross: $214,949,694
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $348,405,886
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 153
US/Canada opening weekend: $85,558,731
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $138,679,730
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 48
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $110,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $178,295,892
Production budget ranking: 159
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $96,012,338
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $386,539,900
ROI to date (est.): 141%
ROI ranking: 792
Hugh Jackman – Logan, Wolverine
Ian McKellen – Erik Lehnsherr, Magneto
Halle Berry – Ororo Munroe, Storm
Famke Janssen – Jean Grey
James Marsden – Scott Summers, Cyclops
Director(s)
Bryan Singer
Writer(s)
Dan Harris, Michael Dougherty, David Hayter, Bryan Singer, Zak Penn
Producer(s)
Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 41 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (247) | Top Critics (62) | Fresh (209) | Rotten (38)
X2 is pretty much all that you’d ever want out of a comic book movie — it’s smart, it’s breathlessly paced, the characters have at least 2 1/2 dimensions, and the action sequences are jaw-droppers, even on the small screen.
April 5, 2022
Alonso Duralde
The Advocate
TOP CRITIC
The truth is, the film is never again as good as its brilliant opening sequence.
January 10, 2018
Alexander Walker
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
X-Men 2 remains a decent enough sci-fi effort, which delivers on most of the levels fans could expect. Too bad it’s hampered by a plot that wouldn’t get green-lit for an average episode of Buffy.
January 3, 2018
Barbara Ellen
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
X2 still feels like a prologue. No matter how much goes on, you feel like nothing has happened.
July 14, 2015
Sam Adams
Philadelphia City Paper
TOP CRITIC
The light tone and modest character development of X-Men have given way to an avalanche of digital effects and a bloated symphonic score.
July 14, 2015
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Fortunately, bigger usually equals better here, and when it doesn’t, it equals just as good.
July 14, 2015
Keith Phipps
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
It does more than any other live action superhero film to convey the sheer wonder of superpowers.
July 23, 2021
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
Once again, there’s plenty of action, though the overdependence on wirework and computer-augmented fight choreography grows ever more grating.
November 9, 2020 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Superior to the 2000 original in every way and a classic within the comics/superhero film genre. [Full review in Spanish]
September 21, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Fico Cangiano
CineXpress Podcast
X2: X-Men United is better than its predecessor in every way.
June 3, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Spends way too much time reverently aggrandising its mutant/outsider theme, when in reality we’re talking about people with non-pitiable superhuman skills.
November 18, 2018 | Rating: 1/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Like the first movie, it wraps everything up in spectacular action scenes powered by special effects that are all the more impressive because director Bryan Singer does not let them overwhelm the other elements of the movie.
October 31, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Ron Weiskind
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
Plot
Several months have passed since the X-Men defeated Magneto and imprisoned him in a seemingly impregnable plastic chamber. One day, a mutant by the name of Nightcrawler infiltrates the White House and attempts to assassinate the President, setting off a chain reaction of anti-mutant measures by the government. Meanwhile, Logan is trying to discover his past. As scientist named William Stryker discovers Professor X’s secret school and Cerebro, Magneto’s partner, Mystique, is planning to break her leader out of prison. But when Professor X’s school is attacked by Stryker’s forces, Logan, Rogue, Iceman, and a few are lucky to escape. Those who remain meet in Boston, where they form an uneasy alliance with Magneto to stop Stryker and rescue Professor X.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Bryan-Singer.jpg
88%
The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares) (2003)
88%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
50 wins & 38 nominations total
A moving and heart-felt film from director Denys Arcand
The Barbarian Invasions” is a film that’s like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It’s got everything from heart-wrenching moments to laugh-out-loud humor. The film’s characters are so well-developed that you’ll feel like you know them personally by the end. And while some critics may find the film confusing or trite, I found it to be a refreshing take on family, friendship, and the meaning of life. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
Apple Corps Aimimage Productions, Diamond Docs
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Memphremagog Lake, Estrie, Québec, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, sexual dialogue and drug content
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Dolby SR
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 39m
-
Language(s):French, English
-
Country of origin:Canada, France
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 13, 2004
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Rémy Girard, Stéphane Rousseau, Marie-Josée Croze, Marina Hands, Dorothée Berryman, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, directed by Denys Arcand, written by Denys Arcand, Comedy, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Alexander Walker, Will Self, Ted Shen, Lisa Nesselson, Patrick Peters, Geoff Andrew, David Walsh, Felicia Feaster, Cole Smithey, Urban Cinefile Critics, MPAA rating R, cancer, family, socialism, philosophy, politics, sex, religion, Montreal, London, finance, socialism, Miramax Films, Denise Robert, Daniel Louis
Worldwide gross: $34,883,010
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $55,027,474
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,288
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,000,815
US/Canada gross: $8,544,975
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,479,582
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,530
US/Canada opening weekend: $461,363
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $727,794
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,317
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): CA$6,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Stéphane Rousseau – Sébastien
Marie-Josée Croze – Nathalie
Marina Hands – Gaelle
Dorothée Berryman – Louise
Johanne-Marie Tremblay – Sister Constance Lazure
Denys Arcand – Director, Writer
Denise Robert – Producer
Daniel Louis – Producer
Director(s)
Denys Arcand
Writer(s)
Denys Arcand
Producer(s)
Denise Robert, Daniel Louis
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
50 wins & 38 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (134) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (109) | Rotten (25)
It is a beauty. It blitzes all the phoniness, pretentiousness and political correctness around today, savages icons of popular and national culture, gives the finger to religious untouchables like Mother Theresa, and brought the house down.
January 10, 2018
Alexander Walker
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Arcand’s own script is delightfully fluid, his direction poised.
January 9, 2018
Will Self
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Despite an uneven cast, Arcand finds a tonal balance between sentimental and cynical that keeps the conversations real and heart wrenching.
March 23, 2010
Ted Shen
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A full-bodied, funny and gloriously unpretentious ode to family, friendship and the meaning of life.
August 7, 2008
Lisa Nesselson
Variety
TOP CRITIC
So many fascinating ideas are raised here that Arcand’s decision to explore them within the context of a self-satisfied soap is disappointing.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Patrick Peters
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Both the comedy and the weepy moments tend towards the trite, but the film is directed and performed with such brio and manipulative skill that one eventually succumbs to its somewhat dubious charms.
January 26, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The film is deeply eclectic and confused, the characters largely unreal and caricatured. Arcand has the unfortunate inclination to be paradoxical rather than penetrating.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
[A] subtle and scrupulously intelligent film.
January 30, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
“The Barbarian Invasions” is an intriguing meditation on the inevitable fall of ideologies under the pressure of nature’s laws.
May 4, 2009 | Rating: B
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Humour, whether darkly observant or skilfully witty, twines through the film like a confidently creeping ivy, growing out of the characters quite naturally.
October 18, 2008
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
The film may be more of a sad commentary on the human condition than traditionally sad in the manner Arcand intended.
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
The film’s emotional ending is deeply felt and powerful, examining the pain and the humor of life without pathos or melodrama. As such, the film resonates and lingers.
November 18, 2005 | Rating: A
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)…
Plot
In this belated sequel to ‘The Decline of the American Empire’, 50-something Montreal college professor Remy learns that he is dying of liver cancer. He decides to make amends to his family and friends before he dies. He first approaches his ex-wife Louise, who asks their estranged son Sebastian, a successful businessman living in London, to come home. Sebastian makes the impossible happen, using his contacts and disrupting the entire Canadian system in every way possible to help his father fight his terminal illness to the bitter end, while he tries to reunite his former friends, Pierre, Alain, Dominique, Diane, and Claude to see their old friend before he passes on.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Barbarian Invasions.
Denys-Arcand.jpg
88%
Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
88%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
Melville is at the top of his game, giving us his next-to-last entry into the world of deception, crime, and extreme suspense that made him a maestro of the French heist genre
If you’re looking for a heist movie that’s both stylish and philosophical, then The Red Circle is the perfect pick. Melville’s French take on the American gangster film is a classic cornerstone of the genre, and it’s easy to see why. The characters are fully developed in multiple shades of gray, the dialogue is crisp, and the methodical panache with which the criminals execute their plans is truly impressive. Plus, thanks to Melville’s spare approach, the film feels cool in both senses of the phrase. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride with these existential heroes.
Production Company(ies)
Red Box Films, Passion Pictures, Canfield Pictures,
Distributor
Rialto Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Bijouterie Mauboussin, 20 Place Vendôme, Paris 1, Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
1970
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 20m
-
Language(s):French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 2, 1970 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 28, 2003
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Alain Delon, Yves Montand, Bourvil, Gian Maria Volonte, Paul Crauchet, Paul Amiot, directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, written by Jean-Pierre Melville, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Richard Brody, David Parkinson, Geoff Andrew, Nick Schager, Marta Barber, Robert Denerstein, Joe Nolan, Neely Swanson, Amber Wilkinson, Mike Massie, Anton Bitel, Stephan Boissonneault, MPAA rating, jewel heist, French underworld, police commissioner, escaped murderer, alcoholic, deception, extreme suspense, film noir, heist genre, French cinema, Raymond Chandler-style, trench-coats, cigarettes, existential heroes, slow-burn, tension, atmosphere, police procedural, friendship, unspoken, jewelry store scene
Worldwide gross: $471,766
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,045,176
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,231
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 441,131
US/Canada gross: $432,820
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,711,232
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,890
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,843
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $127,272
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,846
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
Alain Delon – Corey
Bourvil – Le Commissaire Mattei
Gian Maria Volonté – Vogel
Paul Crauchet – Le Receleur
Paul Amiot – Le chef de la police
Director(s)
Jean-Pierre Melville
Writer(s)
Jean-Pierre Melville
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (3)
Grimly elegant…
June 21, 2021
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
A classic cornerstone of the heist genre from a master of the nouvelle vague.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Melville’s special achievement was to relocate the American gangster film in France, and to incorporate his own steely poetic and philosophical obsessions.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The epitome of neo-noir stylishness.
October 31, 2005 | Rating: A-
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
One well-choreographed, beautifully shot and definitely cool cops-and-robbers film.
September 5, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
I can’t say that Cercle Rouge is an overlooked masterpiece, but it’s an amazing antidote to the current style of filmmaking in which silence and causal relationships are routinely disregarded.
August 15, 2003 | Rating: B+
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
Melville’s influence can also be felt in works by John Woo, Michael Mann and Quentin Tarantino, and Le Cercle Rouge is a good primer on Melville’s stripped-down, gritty French take on Raymond Chandler-style trench-coats-and-cigarettes noir.
September 13, 2021
Joe Nolan
Nashville Scene
Melville’s plotting is outstanding; the characters are fully developed in multiple shades of gray; and the dialogue is crisp.
July 13, 2021
Neely Swanson
Easy Reader (California)
Thanks to Melville’s spare approach, the film feels cool in both senses of the phrase and there’s time to really focus on the look.
November 25, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
Opts for bleak realism in the outcome and unhurried pacing for the execution.
August 30, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Even if the characters are doomed to eventual failure, and their efforts are ultimately futile, the methodical panache with which they execute their plans, documented in minute detail by the film, elevates them to the status of existential heroes.
March 20, 2020
Anton Bitel
Projected Figures
It makes you side with the calm collected criminals. You truly believe they are all professionals and you want them to get away with the caper.
March 15, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Stephan Boissonneault
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)…
Plot
On the eve of his release after five years imprisoned, the thief Corey is contacted by one guard of the prison that offers him a jewelry heist. However Corey seeks out his former boss Rico and steals money from him. Rico sends two gangsters to hunt Corey down and retrieve the stolen amount. Meanwhile the criminal Vogel is transported by train by the Police Officer Mattei and succeeds to escape. Corey drives from Marseille to Paris and Vogel hides in the trunk of his car. Corey finds him but does not object to ride Vogel to Paris hidden in the trunk. When the gangsters sent by Rico cut in Corey’s car, Vogel saves him from the criminals, but Corey loses the money. Without money, Corey decides to heist the jewelry with Vogel and invites the former police detective Jansen to team-up with them. The trio executes a perfect heist but Rico is seeking revenge and Mattei is an unethical but efficient police officer capable to use any means to resolve the case.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Red Circle.
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