Croupier (2000)
88%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 2 nominations
The writer slumming for human truths and real experience is a common enough story, but this cool-headed and slick thriller provides a gut-churningly compelling backdrop to a look at our darker sides
Croupier is like a cool, suave James Bond movie, but instead of saving the world, Clive Owen is just dealing cards and getting into some shady business. It’s a slow burn, but the tension builds up until you’re on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s going to happen next. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love the sound of chips stacking on a table? It’s like music to a gambler’s ears. Overall, Croupier is a solid movie that’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for something a little different.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment,
Distributor
Shooting Gallery
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Nether Winchendon House, Nether Winchendon, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 31m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 9, 2004
Genre(s)
Keyword(s)
Croupier, Clive Owen, Kate Hardie, Alex Kingston, Gina McKee, Nicholas Ball, Nick Reding, Mike Hodges, Jonathan Cavendish, Christine Ruppert, Paul Mayersberg, Mystery, Thriller, Box Office, Budget, Critic Reviews, MPAA Rating, Gambling, Casino, Writer, Croupier, Novel, Relationships, Aspiring Writer, Observer, Gamblers, Darker Sides, Gut-Churningly Compelling, British, Sleeper, Tough, Intelligent, Gripping, Unsettling, Taut, Entertaining, Smart, Surprising, Hypnotic, Low-Key, Mystery, Head-Scratcher, Contemporary Noir, Meditation, Existential, Card Dealer, Meaning, Neo-Noir, Immensely Interesting
Worldwide gross: $7,120,568
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,350,025
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,893
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,346,786
US/Canada gross: $6,201,143
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,755,360
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,599
US/Canada opening weekend: $63,472
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $110,087
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,899
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
Kate Hardie – Bella
Alex Kingston – Jani de Villiers
Gina McKee – Marion
Nicholas Ball – Jack’s Father
Nick Reding – Giles Cremorne
Director(s)
Mike Hodges
Writer(s)
Paul Mayersberg
Producer(s)
Jonathan Cavendish, Christine Ruppert
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (59) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (3)
Script and direction play safe throughout.
March 20, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Xan Brooks
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Coolly hypnotic, the lean British sleeper Croupier is a reminder that movies don’t have to wave their arms and scream to hold our attention.
March 6, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
But it’s Clive Owen, who was so fine as the homosexual imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp in “Bent,” who steals the show. If you need an actor who emotes thunderstorms while his flesh is as still as a spring day, look no further.
May 26, 2016
Brandon Judell
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
For once here is a British film that is both tough and intelligent, and so well-researched that it will probably tell you more about how casinos work than had it been a documentary.
June 5, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
George Perry
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
It’s more of an art movie than a thriller, but it’s still gripping, persuasive, unsettling stuff.
June 5, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Croupier is taut, tense and enthralling, as smart and surprising as its protagonist.
May 10, 2001 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
My favorite thing about Croupier is the sound of the different games: the chips stacked on the tables, the rattling of the marble ball spinning in the roulette wheel; the clip of the cards dealt in front of players.
December 9, 2021
Jas Keimig
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
Not a great movie…kind of just hanging out, smoking a cigarette, flirting, cooking dinner, shaking.
July 1, 2021
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
Croupier is fascinating, mercilessly compact, adamant.
March 20, 2019
Antonia Quirke
Independent on Sunday
Clive Owen’s breakthrough role
May 3, 2013 | Rating: 75/100
Dan Jardine
Cinemania
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Bob Grimm
Sacramento News & Review
July 7, 2006 | Rating: 6/10
JoBlo
JoBlo’s Movie Network…
Plot
Jack Manfred is an aspiring writer going nowhere fast. To make ends meet, and against his better judgement, he takes a job as a croupier. He finds himself drawn into the casino world and the job gradually takes over his life; his relationship with girlfriend Marion begins to deteriorate. One gambler in particular catches his attention: Jani, whom he starts to see outside of working hours – a serious violation of casino rules. Jani is down on her luck; under pressure from her creditors she approaches Jack, asking him to be the inside man for a planned heist at the casino. Jack carefully considers the odds; it all looks so simple, but even a professional like Jack can’t predict the cards he will be dealt.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Clive Owen’s performance as the “existential card dealer” in Croupier, calling it “magnificent.”
Mike-Hodges.jpg
88%
Ghost Dog – The Way of the Samurai (2000)
88%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 8 nominations
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a cinematic masterpiece that seamlessly blends traditional notions of honor, loyalty, and professionalism with a stylish and ironic pastiche inspired by the likes of Melville and Suzuki. Jim Jarmusch’s film is a sly and dreamy comedy about role-playing that freely mixes and matches Bushido philosophy, Mafia and samurai flicks, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, and lo-fi hip-hop. The calculated weirdness of the film creates a simultaneous sense of something ending and beginning, making it a rare oddity that is very much of its period yet absolutely timeless. Ghost Dog is not just a film, it’s a work of art that captures the cool, the quirk, and the profundity of Jarmusch’s unique vision.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a film that’s as cool as a cucumber and as quirky as a cat wearing a top hat. It’s a mastermix of Bushido philosophy, Mafia and samurai flicks, and lo-fi hip-hop that somehow manages to be both sly and dreamy. Jim Jarmusch has created a film that’s highly original, insightful, and funny, while also paying tribute to traditional notions of honour, loyalty, friendship, and professionalism. It’s a head-scratcher of a film that’s worth the wear on your fingernails, and it’s definitely one of Jarmusch’s coolest features.
Production Company(ies)
Cinema ’84 Euro Film Funding, Hemdale
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence and language
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 56m
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 18, 1999 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2000
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Forest Whitaker, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman, Henry Silva, Isaach De Bankolé, Tricia Vessey, directed by Jim Jarmusch, written by Jim Jarmusch, Crime, Drama, $3.3M box office, R MPAA rating, reviewed by Kambole Campbell, Geoff Andrew, Xan Brooks, Liam Lacey, Glenn Kenny, Mark Morris, Jonathan Ringen, Forest Whitaker as Ghost Dog, John Tormey as Louie, Cliff Gorman as Sonny Valerio, Henry Silva as Ray Vargo, Isaach De Bankolé as Raymond, Tricia Vessey as Louise Vargo, Richard Guay produced, Artisan Entertainment distributed, Surround sound mix, Dolby Digital sound mix, Scope (2.35:1) aspect ratio
Worldwide gross: $9,380,473
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,269,640
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,792
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,774,225
US/Canada gross: $3,308,029
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,737,498
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,769
US/Canada opening weekend: $166,344
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $288,510
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,552
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
John Tormey – Louie
Cliff Gorman – Sonny Valerio
Henry Silva – Ray Vargo
Isaach De Bankolé – Raymond
Tricia Vessey – Louise Vargo
Director(s)
Jim Jarmusch
Writer(s)
Jim Jarmusch
Producer(s)
Richard Guay, Jim Jarmusch
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (101) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (17)
Even when aware of all the strange, disparate elements, it still surprises.
August 25, 2018
Kambole Campbell
One Room With A View
TOP CRITIC
At once a tribute to traditional notions of honour, loyalty, friendship and professionalism, and a stylish, ironic pastiche inspired by the likes of Melville and Suzuki, it’s very funny, insightful, and highly original.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
This is a picture by turns amusing and melancholic, sweet-centred and dark-edged.
December 2, 2002
Xan Brooks
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
A handsomely shot, cool-sounding head-scratcher of a film that probably isn’t worth the wear on the fingernails.
April 5, 2002 | Rating: 2/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Less a pastiche than a mastermix from a cinematic DJ at the height of his formalist powers, Ghost Dog is pretty ill — but it’s not evil.
September 10, 2001
Glenn Kenny
Premiere Magazine
TOP CRITIC
it’s original, sharply funny, and rather moving
April 17, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Morris
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
The film’s calculated weirdness can’t redeem a stale story.
May 27, 2022
Jonathan Ringen
Out Magazine
Ghost Dog is one of Jim Jarmusch’s coolest features in an oeuvre featuring some of the slickest characters ever. We may not need to understand everything we see, but that’s exactly the point.
July 27, 2021
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Another Jim Jarmusch title, another opportunity to add some eccentric twists to a fairly ordinary story.
November 27, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Freely mixes and matches Bushido philosophy, Mafia and samurai flicks, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, and lo-fi hip-hop into a sly and dreamy comedy about role-playing.
November 24, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Chris Barsanti
PopMatters
Ghost Dog has retained all of the cool, the quirk, the profundity it captured in a bottle in 1999… One gets the sense that never before Ghost Dog could this film have been possible, and, never since.
November 21, 2020
Ed Travis
Cinapse
The film is a rare oddity in that is very much of its period, yet is absolutely timeless. It’s not just that the poetry Jarmusch pulls from Hagakure … it’s that the film constantly creates a simultaneous sense of something ending and beginning.
November 11, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Douglas Davidson
Elements of Madness…
Plot
A hitman who lives by the code of the samurai, works for the mafia and finds himself in their crosshairs when his recent job doesn’t go according to plan. Now he must find a way to defend himself and his honor while retaining the code he lives by.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
Jim-Jarmusch.jpg
88%
George Washington (2000)
88%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Languid and melancholy, George Washington is a carefully observed rumination on adolescence and rural life
George Washington is a coming-of-age film that captures the essence of early adolescence and the tragedy that can come with it. While some critics found it to be undistinguished and uninvolving, others praised it for its poetic and patient style. As a non-critic, I can say that this movie is a beautiful masterpiece that defies expectations of what defines independent cinema. The young and unproven cast delivers winning performances that make this morality tale a must-watch. Plus, it’s directed by David Gordon Green, who is definitely a talent to watch. So, grab some popcorn and get ready for a movie that’s both charming and endearing, yet tragic and mature.
Production Company(ies)
Twentieth Century Fox, Brandywine Productions, Pinewood Studios,
Distributor
Cowboy Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 29, 2000 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 19, 2002
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Candace Evanofski, Donald Holden, Curtis Cotton III, Eddie Rouse, Paul Schneider, Damian Jewan Lee, directed by David Gordon Green, written by David Gordon Green, Drama, $241.8K box office, reviewed by Scott Tobias, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Joe Leydon, Jason Solomons, Patrick Peters, Nicholas Bell, Christopher Long, Burl Burlingame, Emanuel Levy, Michael Dequina, Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, produced by David Gordon Green, Sacha W Mueller, Lisa Muskat, MPAA rating: R, rural life, adolescence, tragedy, choices, consequences, abandoned amusement park, innocence, poverty, disease, Gus Van Sant, haunting score, poetic, emotional, honest, accurate, experimental, genuine filmmaking, reality, loneliness, harshness, haunting, beautiful, subtle, understated, no name actors, real people, tragic event, realistic, proper way, melancholy, carefully observed, rumination
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
Donald Holden – George
Curtis Cotton III – Buddy
Eddie Rouse – Damascus
Paul Schneider – Rico Rice
Damian Jewan Lee – Vernon
Director(s)
David Gordon Green
Writer(s)
David Gordon Green
Producer(s)
David Gordon Green, Sacha W. Mueller, Lisa Muskat
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (63) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (10)
George Washington is a mood piece first, and its triumph is in bottling up the intense feeling of early adolescence, and watching how tragedy transforms it.
March 10, 2014 | Rating: 4.5/5
Scott Tobias
The Dissolve
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
You have to bring a lot of yourself to this film if you want it to give something back, but the rewards are considerable.
July 18, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Undistinguished and uninvolving attempt to offer a rural spin on Kids.
July 18, 2007
Joe Leydon
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Amid languorous style, the story gets lost, which is a pity because it could have been a nice quirky one.
July 17, 2007
Jason Solomons
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Poetic, patient and beautiful, it’s an astoundingly mature film from 25 year old debutant director Green.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Patrick Peters
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
As charming and endearing as it is tragic, Green started out of the gate with a masterpiece of a film that defies expectations of what defines independent cinema.
November 4, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
An exceptionally beautiful movie with some winning performances from a young and unproven cast,
March 19, 2014 | Rating: 7/10
Christopher Long
Movie Metropolis
Oh, you could analyze and debate and dissect the individual vignettes to smithereens, which is what makes it literary, I ‘spect. But that would be too much like homework.
July 5, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Burl Burlingame
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
This morality tale represents the impressive feature debut by regional filmmaker David Gordon Green, a talent to watch
April 13, 2011 | Rating: B+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
What makes Green’s work such a thing of beauty is its relentless, yet altogether genuine, modesty.
January 17, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Stylized to the point of poetry, David Gordon Green’s impressive debut fuses the lyricism of Terence Malick with Harmony Korine’s willingness to poke around the garbage-strewn landscape of the American underclass.
July 18, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4
Ken Fox
TV Guide…
Plot
In a rural southern town, a group of young kids struggle to come to terms with the consequences of a tragic lie after a member of their group dies during an innocent game in an abandoned amusement park in George Washington.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film George Washington on Fresh Kernels.
David-Gordon-Green.jpg
88%
The Green Mile (1999)
88%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 4 Oscars
15 wins & 37 nominations total
Though The Green Mile is long, critics say it’s an absorbing, emotionally powerful experience
The Green Mile is like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but instead of loops and drops, it’s tears and heartache. The movie is so long that you might need to pack a lunch, but it’s worth it for the incredible performances and powerful moments. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy, because this one will hit you right in the feels.
Production Company(ies)
Shangri-La Entertainment, Tuff Gong Pictures, Cowboy Films,
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Tennessee State Penitentiary, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, language and some sex-related material
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:3h 9m
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 13, 2000
Genre(s)
Drama/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, directed by Frank Darabont, written by Stephen King, Frank Darabont, drama, fantasy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kirk Honeycutt, Lisa Alspector, Nell Minow, Rob White, Richard Corliss, Derek Adams, Matt Brunson, MPAA rating R, produced by Frank Darabont, David Valdes, Warner Bros Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros., supernatural, prison, death row, miracles, grief, emotional, powerful, absorbing, long, three hours, convict, black man, murder, sisters, innocence, guilt, prodigious, supernatural gift, naive, deathly fear, simple, massive, size, strength, demeanor, questioning, truth, justice, redemption, heartwarming, Thomas Newman, soundtrack, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey Demunn, Sam Rockwell, Harry Dean Stanton, William Sadler, Doug Hutchison, flat aspect ratio, surround sound, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Worldwide gross: $286,801,374
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $514,816,463
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 275
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 56,141,381
US/Canada gross: $136,801,374
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $245,562,281
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 264
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,017,152
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $32,341,290
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 409
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $60,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $107,701,673
Production budget ranking: 365
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $57,997,351
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $349,117,439
ROI to date (est.): 211%
ROI ranking: 606
David Morse – Brutus “Brutal” Howell
Michael Clarke Duncan – John Coffey
Bonnie Hunt – Janice Edgecomb
James Cromwell – Warden Hal Moores
Michael Jeter – Eduard “Del” Delacroix
Frank Darabont – Director, Producer, Writer
David Valdes – Producer
Stephen King – Writer
Director(s)
Frank Darabont
Writer(s)
Stephen King, Frank Darabont
Producer(s)
Frank Darabont, David Valdes
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Oscars
15 wins & 37 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (137) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (108) | Rotten (29)
The simple fable can’t stand such scrutiny. More pivotally, the weight given to each moment lends The Green Mile a ponderousness that works against the emotions the story seems to want to plug into.
December 10, 2019
Kirk Honeycutt
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Much of the three-hour movie takes place in the prison, but the resonant characterization, expansive plotting, and judicious use of exterior locations and flashbacks turn the walls into windows.
April 8, 2011
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Thoughtful, intelligent movie for older teens.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
How many blockbusters deal with that kind of grief?
October 18, 2008
Rob White
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
To more than a few viewers, this one will feel like a life sentence.
August 24, 2008
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The supernatural elements carry an undeniable emotional charge, but the solution to the underlying murder mystery is disappointingly tidy and trite.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
There are several scenes of tremendous power. But the same problems that plagued The Shawshank Redemption are in full force here.
February 27, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Now, for the first time, Darabonts The Green Mile is available on 4K UHD with high-dynamic range, rejuvenating the drama, imbuing it with the visual energy to accompany its bittersweet narrative.
February 24, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
Douglas Davidson
Elements of Madness
At times, you notice The Green Mile tugging your heartstrings. But aside from a moment or two over the course of three hours, the viewer gives in, entrenched in the proceedings and deeply affected by the spell of these characters.
February 23, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Make no mistake that The Green Mile is powerful and draws on our emotions but the film is also too long.
February 22, 2022
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Unfortunately the movie can never shake the uncomfortable and trope-filled premise.
February 28, 2019 | Rating: 3/10
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
…despite the clichs and stereotypes, the film’s cast manages to lift it from the depths of the commonplace and make watching it enjoyable.
December 6, 2009 | Rating: 7/10
John J. Puccio
Movie Metropolis…
Plot
Death Row guards at a penitentiary, in the 1930’s, have a moral dilemma with their job when they discover one of their prisoners, a convicted murderer, has a special gift.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Michael Clarke Duncan’s performance as John Coffey is widely praised by critics as powerful and emotionally resonant.
Frank-Darabont.jpg
88%
The Best Man (1999)
88%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 11 nominations
With a strong cast and a host of well-defined characters, The Best Man is an intelligent, funny romantic comedy that marks an impressive debut for writer/director Malcolm D. Lee
The Best Man is like a wedding cake that looks amazing on the outside, but when you take a bite, it’s just okay. Sure, the cast is great and the dialogue is witty, but it falls short on delivering a truly memorable experience. It’s like going to a wedding where the food is good, the music is decent, but you don’t leave feeling like you witnessed something truly special. Overall, it’s a fun and entertaining movie, but don’t expect it to change your life.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and sexuality
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 28, 2006
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, directed by Malcolm D Lee, written by Malcolm D Lee, Comedy, Drama, $34.1M box office, reviewed by Washington Post, Chicago Reader, Sight & Sound, San Francisco Chronicle, Austin Chronicle, Village Voice, Baltimore Sun, Common Sense Media, Philadelphia City Paper, Film Journal International, R MPAA rating, produced by Bill Carraro, Sam Kitt, Spike Lee, commitment, friendship, love, wedding, novel, best man, ex-flame, African-American cast, imperfection, redemption, becoming the best man that you can be
Worldwide gross: $34,573,780
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $62,060,899
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,239
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,767,819
US/Canada gross: $34,102,780
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $61,215,441
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 979
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,031,660
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $16,212,082
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 752
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $9,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $16,155,251
Production budget ranking: 1,478
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,699,603
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $37,206,046
ROI to date (est.): 150%
ROI ranking: 770
Nia Long – Jordan Armstrong
Morris Chestnut – Lance Sullivan
Harold Perrineau – Julian Murch
Terrence Howard – Quentin
Sanaa Lathan – Robin
Director – Malcolm D. Lee
Producers – Bill Carraro, Sam Kitt, Spike Lee
Writer – Malcolm D. Lee
Director(s)
Malcolm D. Lee
Writer(s)
Malcolm D. Lee
Producer(s)
Bill Carraro, Sam Kitt, Spike Lee
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (71) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (20)
Ultimately when it’s all said and done, Best Man remains always a groomsman, never a groom: It backs down on its promise to both challenge and entertain, opting instead for the easy laugh–and the pat ending.
November 14, 2013
Teresa Wiltz
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Viewers who mistake the didacticism for stylistic weakness miss much of the point of this nicely toned movie.
April 11, 2012
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
In his earnestness Lee forgets that we need engagingly defective objects of mockery for comedy to work and instead falls back on characters who exhibit no demeaning flaws.
December 2, 2002
Kay Dickinson
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
The glossy ensemble cast is consistently interesting.
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Bob Graham
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Malcolm D. Lee is clearly a director to watch.
March 21, 2001 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The dialogue is fast, funny, and based in character.
January 1, 2000
Amy Taubin
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Lee comes at the topics refreshingly, taking the African-American male, one of the least explored groups in film, and placing him under a microscope, not for judgment, but for observation.
November 14, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Milton Kent
Baltimore Sun
Entertaining romantic drama ponders commitment, fidelity.
March 15, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
S. Jhoanna Robledo
Common Sense Media
The wedding weekend entails predictable conflict and resolution, by way of some excellent performances.
May 3, 2012
Cynthia Fuchs
Philadelphia City Paper
A festive few hours that often delights.
December 11, 2006
Doris Toumarkine
Film Journal International
The Best Man is a decent character driven effort and a light night out at the movies.
May 26, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
When it comes right down to it, The Best Man isn’t exciting, it isn’t poignant, and the lessons learned in the end aren’t particularly worth learning.
September 18, 2002 | Rating: 2/5
Oz
eFilmCritic.com…
Plot
Harper’s autobiographical novel is almost out, his girlfriend Robin desires commitment, and he’s best man at the wedding of Lance, a pro athlete. He goes to New York early (Robin will come for the wedding) to hang out with Lance and other friends, including Jordan, his former almost-lover, now in media and privy to an advance copy of the book. The men discuss women, never facing their own double standard; Jordan wants to try again with Harper, at least for one night; and Harper fears that Lance will read his book and learn that the bride-to-be slept with him once to avenge Lance’s many affairs. Can Harper mature before Lance kills him, Jordan seduces him, and he loses Robin?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for The Best Man.
Malcolm-D.-Lee.jpg
88%
Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
88%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
50 wins & 38 nominations total
Harrowing yet stirring, Boys Don’t Cry powerfully commemorates the life — and brutally unjust death — of transgender teen Brandon Teena
Boys Don’t Cry is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and question everything you thought you knew about gender and sexuality. Hilary Swank’s performance is so good, you’ll forget she’s not actually Brandon Teena. The film’s use of lighting and scenery perfectly captures the feeling of being stuck in a small town with no way out. And let’s not forget about the soundtrack – it’s a banger. Overall, Boys Don’t Cry is a must-watch for anyone who wants to see a powerful story told with heart and humanity.
Production Company(ies)
Bluemark Productions, C-Hundred Film Corporation, Civilian Pictures,
Distributor
Fox, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Austin, Texas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence including an intense brutal rape scene, sexuality, language and drug use
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 59m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 2, 1999 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 18, 2000
Genre(s)
Biography/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III, Alison Folland, Alicia Goranson, directed by Kimberly Peirce, written by Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen, biography, drama, LGBTQ+, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Peter Stack, Stephen Hunter, Steven Rosen, Ernest Hardy, Gemma Files, Janet Maslin, Sheila Reid, Brandon Judell, David Walsh, Alyssa Bereznak, David Steinberg, Hilary Swank as Teena Brandon/Brandon Teena, Chloë Sevigny as Lana Tisdel, Peter Sarsgaard as John Lotter, Brendan Sexton III as Tom Nissen, produced by John Hart, Eva Kolodner, Jeff Sharp, Christine Vachon, R rating, transgender, Falls City, Nebraska, ex-girlfriend, ex-convict friends, aspiring singer, Dolby, Surround, Flat (1.85:1), Fox, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Worldwide gross: $11,540,607
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,016,211
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,711
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,182,793
US/Canada gross: $11,540,607
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,016,211
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,418
US/Canada opening weekend: $73,720
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $127,861
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,842
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $3,468,832
Production budget ranking: 1,962
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,867,966
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,679,413
ROI to date (est.): 275%
ROI ranking: 493
Chloë Sevigny – Lana Tisdel
Peter Sarsgaard – John Lotter
Brendan Sexton III – Tom Nissen
Alison Folland – Kate
Alicia Goranson – Candace
John Hart – Producer
Eva Kolodner – Producer
Jeff Sharp – Producer
Christine Vachon – Producer
Kimberly Peirce – Director, Writer
Andy Bienen – Writer
Director(s)
Kimberly Peirce
Writer(s)
Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen
Producer(s)
John Hart, Eva Kolodner, Jeff Sharp, Christine Vachon
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
50 wins & 38 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (81) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (8)
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Stack
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Driven by performances of such luminous humanity that they break your heart.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4.5/5
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
One of the year’s best American films!
January 1, 2000
Steven Rosen
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
Swank is impressive in the lead role.
January 1, 2000
Ernest Hardy
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
With its constant juxtaposition of blazing nighttime highwayscapes and the flat Nebraska skyline, Boys Don’t Cry manages to perfectly evoke both a life spent in aimless forward motion and the stifling boredom Brandon was so desperate to escape.
January 1, 2000
Gemma Files
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
Stunning.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4.5/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Hilary Swank shows a depth of talent that is rare in even the most seasoned thespians.
May 16, 2022
Sheila Reid
Women in the Life
Now comes the cherry on the immortality cake, Kimberly Pierce’s brilliant dramatic rendition of the tale of the girl who would be a man and love as one.
October 6, 2021
Brandon Judell
Bay Area Reporter
Pierce was honest enough to take a hard look at the set of circumstances surrounding Brandon’s death. One might say that through her artistic integrity she stumbled on the general tragedy surrounding the individual tragedy.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Scene after scene takes place on several emotional levels at once, with love, hate, confusion, courage, yearning, hopelessness, strength, and desperation all thrown into the mix.
May 21, 2020
David Steinberg
Transgender Tapestry
Despite being one of the first major films to grapple with being transgender in America, Boys Don’t Cry is neither self-congratulatory, heavy-handed, nor exploitative.
March 25, 2019
Alyssa Bereznak
The Ringer
[VIDEO ESSAY] Kimberly Pierce’s remarkable 1999 filmic version of Brandon Teena’s last days is a scalding indictment of the kind of consciously ignorant intolerance that runs disgracefully through America’s Heartland and Southern states.
May 28, 2012 | Rating: A
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com…
Plot
Based on actual events. Brandon Teena is the popular new guy in a tiny Nebraska town. He hangs out with the guys, drinking, cussing, and bumper surfing, and he charms the young women, who’ve never met a more sensitive and considerate young man. Life is good for Brandon, now that he’s one of the guys and dating hometown beauty Lana; however, he’s forgotten to mention one important detail. It’s not that he’s wanted in another town for GTA and other assorted crimes, but that Brandon Teena was actually born a woman named Teena Brandon. When his best friends make this discovery, Brandon’s life is ripped apart.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Hilary Swank’s performance as transgender teen Brandon Teena is “superb” and “deserved the Oscar” according to audience reviews.
Kimberly-Peirce.jpg
88%
Caramel (2008)
88%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Caramel is both an astute cultural study, and a charming comedic drama from a talented newcomer
Caramel is like a warm hug from your best friend – sweet, comforting, and just what you need. This film about the lives of five Lebanese women is a beautiful showcase of the power of female friendship and solidarity. Director Nadine Labaki balances the bittersweet moments with moments of joy and laughter, making for a truly delightful viewing experience. The performances from the amateur cast are expressive and heartfelt, and the lush cinematography and entrancing score only add to the film’s charm. Caramel may not have any geopolitical pretensions, but it doesn’t need them – it’s a universal story about the beauty of life and the bonds that hold us together.
Production Company(ies)
Mooz Films, Cedrus Invest Bank Sunnyland Film
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Johnie’s Broiler – 7447 Firestone Blvd., Downey, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexuality, language and violence, all involving teens
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 36m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 1, 2008 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2008
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Nadine Labaki, Yasmine Al Massri, Joanna Markouzel, Gisele Aouad, Adel Karam, Sihame Haddad, directed by Nadine Labaki, written by Nadine Labaki, Jihad Hojeily, Rodney Al Haddad, genre Drama, box office performance $1.1M, budget unknown, reviewed by Deborah Ross, David Stratton, Philippa Hawker, Craig Outhier, Moira MacDonald, Andrea Gronvall, Jason Best, Carlos Marañón, Mattie Lucas, Laura Hiros, Julie Washington, MPAA rating PG, produced by Anne-Dominique Toussaint, executive produced by Isabelle Fauvel, original language Arabic, distributor Roadside Attractions, beauty salon, Beirut, Lebanon, women, friendship, love, cultural study, comedic drama, societal expectations, private spaces, homosexuality, adultery, religion, sisterhood, romance, family, life, happiness, support, answers, questions
Worldwide gross: $3,117,085
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,595,254
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,139
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 610,170
US/Canada gross: $3,117,085
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,595,254
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,773
US/Canada opening weekend: $1,603,425
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $2,878,193
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,164
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $3,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $6,282,598
Production budget ranking: 1,833
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,383,179
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$4,070,522
ROI to date (est.): -42%
ROI ranking: 1,634
Yasmine Al Massri – Nisrine
Joanna Markouzel – Rima
Gisele Aouad – Jamale
Adel Karam – Youssef
Sihame Haddad – Rose
Director(s)
Nadine Labaki
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (79) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (74) | Rotten (5)
Caramel is sweet, but it’s never sickly, and it never shies away from how these women have to work round what society has planned for them.
August 23, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
It’s one of the best films about women you’re likely to see this year.
September 26, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Labaki, who co-wrote the film and also stars, maintains a knowing comic tone throughout.
September 19, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
Philippa Hawker
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Wistful tale of friendship and solidarity.
April 4, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Craig Outhier
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Delightful.
April 4, 2008
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Labaki elicits expressive performances from a cast of amateurs, aided by Khalad Mouzanar’s entrancing score and Yves Sehnaoui’s lush cinematography.
March 28, 2008
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
If all this makes the film sound more bitter than sweet, rest assured that Labaki… provides Caramel with moments of joy and laughter as well as tears.
November 4, 2020
Jason Best
Movie Talk
Five ladies teach us to live together in peace in a broken country: the challenge is impossible, but what a good time spent dreaming. [Full review in Spanish]
October 14, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Carlos Marañón
Cinemanía (Spain)
Utterly inconsequential but completely lovely, and is a strong first film for Labaki as a director.
July 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Extraordinary showpiece of the beauty of Lebanese cinema. [Full review in Spanish]
March 16, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Laura Hiros
Rincón de cine
Caramel doesn’t have any geopolitical pretensions. It just wants to show that beauty and friendship are universal.
August 17, 2017 | Rating: B
Julie Washington
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Caramel is filled with more dignity, class, and realism than a Sex and the City could ever muster.
March 5, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Pejkovic
Matt’s Movie Reviews…
Plot
In a no-holds-barred birthday prank, three of Reagan High School’s most popular girls – Julie, Marcie, and Courtney – pretend to kidnap the most popular, Liz Purr. Courtney shoves a jawbreaker into the victim’s mouth ostensibly to keep her from screaming. Their plan goes awry when the girl accidentally swallows the jawbreaker, choking to death. The cool and calculating Courtney tries to cover the crime but is found out by school geek Fern Mayo. In return for her silence, Courtney transforms the gawky Fern into the stylishly beautiful Vylette, leaving the conscience-stricken Julie out in the cold, threatening to set her up for the girl’s murder if she breaks her silence.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Caramel on Fresh Kernels.
Nadine-Labaki.jpg
88%
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
88%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Won 7 Oscars
64 wins & 87 nominations total
Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level
Shakespeare in Love is a movie that will make you fall in love with love, theater, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s impeccable British accent. It’s a delightful romp that will transport you to Elizabethan England and make you wish you could time travel just to see Shakespeare’s plays in their original setting. The chemistry between Joseph Fiennes and Paltrow is electric, and the supporting cast is equally fantastic. Plus, the music is so good that you’ll be humming the main theme for days. If you’re in the mood for a charming, witty, and heartwarming movie, Shakespeare in Love is the perfect choice.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group Heyday Films,
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Broughton Castle, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexuality
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTSS DDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 12.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 2m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 7, 1999
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
Shakespeare in Love, Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench, Colin Firth, directed by John Madden, written by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman, romantic comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Anupama Chopra, David Hunter, Anthony Quinn, James Christopher, Jeff Strickler, Quentin Curtis, produced by Marc Norman, Donna Gigliotti, David Parfitt, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, MPAA rating R, Miramax Films, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, Scope (2.35:1), Shakespeare, love story, Queen Elizabeth, theatre, historical, witty, sexy, timeless, greatest love story ever told
Worldwide gross: $289,317,794
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $519,333,507
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 274
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 56,633,970
US/Canada gross: $100,317,794
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $180,073,237
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 416
US/Canada opening weekend: $224,012
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $402,108
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,455
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $44,875,697
Production budget ranking: 870
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $24,165,563
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $450,292,247
ROI to date (est.): 652%
ROI ranking: 191
Gwyneth Paltrow – Viola De Lesseps
Geoffrey Rush – Philip Henslowe
Judi Dench – Queen Elizabeth
Simon Callow – Tilney, Master of the Revels
Colin Firth – Lord Wessex
Director(s)
John Madden
Writer(s)
Tom Stoppard, Marc Norman
Producer(s)
Marc Norman, Donna Gigliotti, David Parfitt, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 7 Oscars
64 wins & 87 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Art Direction Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Costume Design Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Original Score Winners, Oscar Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (140) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (129) | Rotten (11)
Outside the romance, it’s also got great depth and insight into the nature of showbusiness.
May 18, 2020
Anupama Chopra
Film Companion
TOP CRITIC
In a little more than two hours, director John Madden, screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard and a terrific cast and crew accomplish the miraculous.
December 18, 2018
David Hunter
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
It almost defies you not to have fun.
March 2, 2018
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
There is plenty to be thrilled about.
February 16, 2016
James Christopher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Sometimes it’s the small things that provide the biggest delights. That’s certainly the case with Shakespeare in Love, a tongue-in-cheek romance about the greatest romance ever written.
March 17, 2015
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
All these funny, frenetic performances make for an enjoyable romp.
March 17, 2015 | Rating: 5/5
Quentin Curtis
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Also of significant weight is the music by Stephen Warbeck, who has crafted stirring themes that sneak into the movie at all the right spots.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
A wonderful combination of the old-fashioned and the new.
April 11, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
….the echoes of passionate Shakespeare will linger in the memory and the most pleasant memories of the spectator. [Full review in Spanish]
March 2, 2018
Clarín Staff
Clarín
…very well calculated and balanced. [Full Review in Spanish]
March 2, 2018
Ángel Fernández-Santos
El Pais (Spain)
Shakespeare in Love lives up to its name with its joyous sensuality.
February 28, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
A good cast, if you can forget for a moment the protagonist, Joseph Fiennes. [Full Review in Spanish]
February 27, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/5
Diana Albizu
Sensacine…
Plot
William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is a known but struggling poet, playwright, and actor, who not only has sold his next play to both Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush) and Richard Burbage (Martin Clunes), but now faces a far more difficult problem: he is bereft of ideas and has yet to begin writing. He is in search of his muse, the woman who will inspire him but all attempts fail him until he meets the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow). She loves the theatre and would like nothing more than to take to the stage, but is forbidden from doing so as only men can be actors. She is also a great admirer of Shakespeare’s works. Dressing as a man, and going by the name of “Thomas Kent”, she auditions and is ideal for a part in his next play. Shakespeare soon sees through her disguise and they begin a love affair, one they know cannot end happily for them as he is already married and she has been promised to the dour Lord Wessex (Colin Firth). As the company rehearses his new play, William and Viola’s love is transferred to the written page leading to the masterpiece that is Romeo and Juliet.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Shakespeare in Love.
John-Madden.jpg
88%
Ray & Liz (2019)
88%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 8 nominations
Ray & Liz takes an unflinching look at lives impacted by poverty whose lingering impact is enhanced by writer-director Richard Billingham’s refusal to indulge in sentimentality
Ray & Liz” is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all sorts of emotions. It’s a moving portrayal of a family trying to survive in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain, and it’s done in a way that’s both beautiful and heartbreaking. The film is gorgeously photographed on 16mm, and the performances are absolutely committed. Even though it’s a tough watch, it’s worth it for the strange tonal nuances that find humor and hope in the midst of terrible sadness. So grab some tissues and get ready for a wild ride with “Ray & Liz.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
KimStim
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Convict Lake, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for sci-fi action violence, mild language and sensuality
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 48m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 10, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 14, 2020
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Richard Ashton, Michelle Bonnard, James Eeles, Sam Gittins, James Hinton, Andrew Jefferson-Tierney, directed by Richard Billingham, written by Richard Billingham, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Justin Chang, Dave White, José Teodoro, Andrew Lapin, Glenn Kenny, Nell Minow, Yasser Medina, Alonso Díaz de la Vega, Amelia Harvey, Roger Moore, Steven Sheehan, Louis Proyect, produced by Jacqui Davies, MPAA rating, poverty, social taboos, Birmingham, extreme rituals, family dysfunction, Thatcher’s Britain, unflinching, no sentimentality, emotional pain, 16mm photography, British miserablism, humor, beauty, sensuality, hardships, neglect, poverty line, Margaret Thatcher’s Britain
Worldwide gross: $112,587,658
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $206,614,228
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 675
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,531,541
US/Canada gross: $70,187,658
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $128,804,249
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 595
US/Canada opening weekend: $22,052,836
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $40,470,064
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 301
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $58,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $106,438,178
Production budget ranking: 374
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $57,316,959
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $42,859,091
ROI to date (est.): 26%
ROI ranking: 1,261
Michelle Bonnard – Zeinab
James Eeles – Kevin
Sam Gittins – Will
James Hinton – Dean
Andrew Jefferson-Tierney – Headmaster – Mr. Hale
Director(s)
Richard Billingham
Writer(s)
Richard Billingham
Producer(s)
Jacqui Davies
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (71) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (4)
What distinguishes “Ray & Liz” is its ability to find strange tonal nuances within that terrible sadness; bleak as it is, it’s remarkably devoid of bitterness or rancor, and even its most despairing passages are flecked with humor and hope.
July 20, 2019
Justin Chang
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Billingham’s famous photos are tough-minded and emotionally painful, silent by virtue of their medium. And his live-action version offers a similar experience.
July 19, 2019
Dave White
TheWrap
TOP CRITIC
Gorgeously photographed on 16mm, Richard Billingham’s Ray and Liz counters the grubby, quasi-authentic tenets of so-called British miserablism with humor, beauty, and a sensuality that in no way dilutes the hardships and neglect at its core
July 15, 2019
José Teodoro
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
We often say art “cuts close to the bone,” but in its depiction of clinking liquor bottles and drawers of unopened rent notices soaked in dog urine, Ray & Liz slices clean through that bone.
July 12, 2019
Andrew Lapin
NPR
TOP CRITIC
Performed with absolute commitment by its cast (Justin Salinger and Ella Smith play the younger versions of the title characters), “Ray & Liz” is a quietly harrowing movie.
July 11, 2019
Glenn Kenny
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
With its very tamped-down emotion, Bellingham’s decision not to attempt insight or empathy is the most telling display of the consequences of his story.
July 10, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
Nell Minow
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
The domestic portrait with which it reconstructs fragments of Billingham’s childhood and his dysfunctional family seems infinitely flat to me. Full review in Spanish
March 31, 2022 | Rating: 4/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
Even the presence of memory and the past show that no evil lasts forever. At least for Richard and Jason. [Full review in Spanish]
December 9, 2021
Alonso Díaz de la Vega
El Universal
Whilst it doesn’t follow a concrete narrative, Ray & Liz is a moving portrayal of a family trying to stay above the poverty line.
April 13, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Amelia Harvey
Screen Queens
In 108 spare, harrowing minutes, we see the walls closing in on a family that’s given up, never equipped to deal with the despair of Margaret Thatcher’s Britain.
April 4, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Moore
Movie Nation
The film clearly demonstrates why Billingham’s childhood has informed so much of his artistic career, but it proves a little harder to find a way to empathise with it.
February 6, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Steven Sheehan
The Digital Fix
Despite failure to provide context of family dysfunction within the rust-belt of Black Country in Northern England, it is still a keenly-observed portrait of the director’s own family.
February 4, 2020
Louis Proyect
Counterpunch.org…
Plot
While on a mission to observe the peaceful Ba’ku race, Lieutenant Commander Data suddenly behaves as if having to fear for his existence. The immortal Ba’ku, whose planet offers regenerative radiation, and therefore incredible lifespans, live in harmony with nature and reject advanced technology. Their planet and their culture is secretly researched by the Federation associated with an alien race called the Son’a. But the Son’a intend to abduct the Ba’ku in order to take the planet for themselves and for the Starfleet officials who all would like to regenerate their bodies. But they did not think of the loyalty of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E to the Prime Directive.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Ray & Liz includes Richard Ashton, Michelle Bonnard, James Eeles, Sam Gittins, James Hinton, and Andrew Jefferson-Tierney.
Richard-Billingham.jpg
88%
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel (2012)
88%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 4 nominations
An affectionate portrait created with visual flair, Diana Vreeland is entertaining, informative, and stylish, due in large part to its charismatic subject
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel” is like a fashionista’s dream come true. It’s full of energy, humor, and fabulousness, just like its subject. The documentary celebrates the life and work of the late, great Diana Vreeland, who was a true icon in the fashion industry. From her refined yet raucous baritone voice to her famous pronouncements (“I adore pink! It is the navy blue of India!”), Vreeland was a force to be reckoned with. The film is a must-see for anyone who loves fashion, style, and a good dose of humor. So grab your popcorn and get ready to travel with the eye of the one and only Diana Vreeland.
Production Company(ies)
London Film Productions,
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language and some violence
Year of Release
1997
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 17m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 5, 2013
Genre(s)
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $7,281,450
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,573,212
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,859
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,480,176
US/Canada gross: $7,281,450
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,573,212
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,520
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,020,015
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,629,552
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,075
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $33,553,456
Production budget ranking: 1,085
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,068,536
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$38,048,780
ROI to date (est.): -74%
ROI ranking: 1,826
Lillian Bassman – Self
Manolo Blahnik – Self
Bob Colacello – Self
Hubert de Givenchy – Self
Oscar de la Renta – Self
Lisa Immordino Vreeland – Director/Producer/Writer
Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt – Writer
Frédéric Tcheng – Writer
Director(s)
Lisa Immordino Vreeland
Writer(s)
Lisa Immordino Vreeland, Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Frédéric Tcheng
Producer(s)
Lisa Immordino Vreeland
Film Festivals
Telluride
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (71) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (4)
Fantastic fun. It’s full of energy and zing, just like its subject, although, just like its subject, it also feels less than truthful somehow.
September 1, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
We suspect that in her imperious voice, Vreeland would say she was mad about it, and she’d mean it as a measure of praise.
January 24, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
She wanted you to look and look again, and this film is full of images which make you do just that.
November 22, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
There’s something marvellously comic about her, an effect reinforced by her refined yet raucous baritone voice.
November 22, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Her life, and her work, transcended what we think of as “fashion.” Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel celebrates a unique and uniquely determined woman.
November 1, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Many people remember some of Diana Vreeland’s famous pronouncements (“I adore pink! It is the navy blue of India!”) but few remember actually hearing her speak. The documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel takes care of that.
October 26, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Suzanne S. Brown
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
The late Vreeland is the subject of the absorbing 2011 documentary “Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel”.
April 23, 2020
Loren King
Newport This Week (RI)
The mixture of archive footage with contemporary interviews, photography and animation works exceptionally well and shows great craft.
February 5, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Lee Cassanell
CineVue
The late, great Diana Vreeland devoted her youth to reinventing herself-and her life-to redefine how the world sees beauty. While she may not have become a swan, she became something much more opulent and grand. A peacock, perhaps.
December 3, 2017 | Rating: 8/10
Alexandra MacAaron
Women’s Voices for Change
The limits placed on Immordino Vreeland by a presumed family obligation and her subject’s superstructure persona create a fascinating narrative tension in an otherwise admirably executed but boilerplate personality piece.
September 11, 2017
Michelle Orange
Capital New York
Although some of the dates and causal events in her life are passed over, the rhythm and style carry the narrative forward until the last 20 minutes, when the film mostly meanders to the finish.
April 21, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/5
Matt Kelemen
Las Vegas CityLife
She was a fashion-industry icon and taste-maker for decades, working at Harper’s and then Vogue in an era when magazine publishing was as adventuresome as painting, filmmaking and music.
February 25, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)…
Plot
Maureen is pregnant and her husband Eddie is missing. Nervous, Maureen shares a couple of drinks with neighbor Kiefer, who tries to rape her and then beats her. When Eddie returns and finds his wife bruised, he goes ballistic, shoots a paramedic and is put in a psychiatric institution. Ten years later, Eddie is released and finds that Maureen has divorced him and is remarried with three children, one of whom is his little girl Jeanie. Eddie goes to reclaim his wife.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with fashion industry icons such as Manolo Blahnik and Hubert de Givenchy.
Lisa-Immordino-Vreeland.jpg