4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 43 wins & 60 nominations
Featuring gut-wrenching performances from Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu, 4 Months is a gripping portrayal of life in Communist Romania.
This movie is like a rollercoaster ride, but instead of loops and drops, it’s a ride through the emotional turmoil of two women trying to navigate a corrupt system. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife, and the performances are so raw and real that you forget you’re watching a movie. It’s not a feel-good flick, but it’s definitely a must-see for anyone who appreciates great storytelling and filmmaking. Plus, it won the Palm D’Or, so you know it’s legit.
Production Company(ies)
Backup Media, Big Farm Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Romania
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 53m
-
Language(s):Romanian
-
Country of origin:Belgium, Romania
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2008 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2008
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Drama, Romanian, Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Cristian Mungiu, Oleg Mutu, written by Cristian Mungiu, produced by Oleg Mutu and Cristian Mungiu, reviewed by Kristin M Jones, Joshua Rothkopf, Peter Bradshaw, Rene Rodriguez, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Josh Rosenblatt, Brian Eggert, Anton Bitel, Piers Marchant, Javier Ocaña, Nicholas Bell, Debbie Lynn Elias, MPAA rating, box office gross, communist Romania, illegal abortion, friendship, college students, gut-wrenching performances, tense, uncomfortable situations, mutual support, Dolby sound mix, IFC Films, 96% Tomatometer, 86% audience score, 146 reviews, 25,000+ ratings
Worldwide gross: $10,174,839
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $14,576,148
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,834
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,589,547
US/Canada gross: $1,198,208
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,716,514
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,071
US/Canada opening weekend: $51,712
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $74,081
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,055
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 590000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $845,215
Production budget ranking: 2,097
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $455,148
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,275,784
ROI to date (est.): 1,021%
ROI ranking: 120
Laura Vasiliu – Gabita
Vlad Ivanov – Mr. Bebe
Alexandru Potocean – Adi
Luminita Gheorghiu – Adi’s Mother Gina
Adi Carauleanu – Adi’s Father Grigore
Director(s)
Cristian Mungiu
Writer(s)
Cristian Mungiu
Producer(s)
Oleg Mutu, Cristian Mungiu
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
43 wins & 60 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (146) | Top Critics (52) | Fresh (140) | Rotten (6)
[Christian] Mungiu has taken a leap forward into bold, focused storytelling.
February 14, 2018
Kristin M. Jones
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Grippingly horrible.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
[A] brilliant, suspenseful, absolutely riveting film.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 4/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Cristian Mungiu’s masterful chronicle is impressive above all for the way it respects the audience, expecting them to follow the implications of its multifaceted tale without always spelling them out.
February 29, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Virtuosic, assured, and possessed of undeniable aesthetic force, it’s also hard not to turn away from.
February 22, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5
Josh Rosenblatt
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
In a story that unfolds over a tense 24-hour period, Mungiu steeps us in the everyday, forcing the viewer to understand this world through its discordance with our own.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Everyone, it seems, must abuse the system to survive – and abuses committed by others are far worse than what the young women attempt. The horrific indignities to which both succumb are merely symptomatic of things rotten in the state of Ceaucescu.
December 13, 2021
Anton Bitel
Projected Figures
A Dogme 95-style naturalistic masterpiece, as intricately woven and delicately put together as an ancient tapestry. The lives of the characters are fully invested, imbued with ambiguity and shimmering with verisimilitude. They won’t soon leave you.
December 18, 2020
Piers Marchant
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
A mountain of ethical and aesthetic rigor. [Full review in Spanish]
November 3, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Javier Ocaña
Cinemanía (Spain)
A formidable and empathetic expression of the necessity for human agency.
August 14, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
High production values thanks not only to Mungui but also cinematographer Oleg Mutu, superlative acting and compelling story make it easy to see why 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS was handed the Palm D’Or by Jane Fonda…
November 7, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens…
Plot
Romania, 1987, the brutal Ceausescu communist regime is in place; birth control is illegal and abortion is a crime punishable by death. Gabita (Laura Vasliu) is almost five months into an unwanted pregnancy and in meek desperation turns to her friend and roommate, Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) for help in organizing an illegal termination. Unfortunate circumstances force the two women to use an unwanted male abortionist, Bebe (Vlad Ivanov). The bleakness of the storyline expresses a dark socio-political critique in the twilight years of a repressive dictatorship.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu deliver “gut-wrenching performances” in 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, according to Fresh Kernels.
Cristian-Mungiu.jpg
90%
Juno (2007)
90%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
89 wins & 100 nominations total
One of the brightest, funniest comedies of the year, Juno’s smart script and direction are matched by assured performances in a coming-of-age story with a 21st century twist.
Juno is like the cool kid in high school that you want to be friends with. It’s smart, sensitive, and doesn’t try too hard to be perfect. Ellen Page’s performance is spot-on, capturing the essence of a teenager who’s trying to figure out life. Diablo Cody’s screenplay is witty and clever, but at its core, it’s a story about growing up and making tough decisions. It’s a film that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even cringe a little, but in the end, you’ll be glad you spent time with Juno and her gang.
Production Company(ies)
Cinema ’84 Euro Film Funding, Hemdale
Distributor
Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Hanna Medical Clinic, 3300 Boundary Rd, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 36m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2007 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 15, 2008
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K Simmons, directed by Jason Reitman, written by Diablo Cody, comedy, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Deborah Ross, Nell Minow, Hank Sartin, Melissa Anderson, Steven D Greydanus, Sean Axmaker, Yasmin Omar, Luis Martínez, PG-13, Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Mason Novick, Russell Smith, Fox, SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby SRD, Flat (1.85:1), mature thematic material, language, sexual content, coming-of-age story, teenage pregnancy, adoption, failed rock star, marriage, 21st century twist
Worldwide gross: $232,372,681
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $332,889,644
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 451
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 36,302,033
US/Canada gross: $143,495,265
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $205,566,711
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 335
US/Canada opening weekend: $413,869
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $592,895
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,366
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,744,259
Production budget ranking: 1,635
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,785,784
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $316,359,601
ROI to date (est.): 1,914%
ROI ranking: 50
Michael Cera – Paulie Bleeker
Jennifer Garner – Vanessa Loring
Jason Bateman – Mark Loring
Allison Janney – Bren
J.K. Simmons – Mac MacGuff
Director(s)
Jason Reitman
Writer(s)
Diablo Cody
Producer(s)
Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Mason Novick, Russell Smith
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
89 wins & 100 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (216) | Top Critics (58) | Fresh (202) | Rotten (14)
A smart yet sensitive film, more a coming-of-age drama with believable American youngsters rather than TV-perfect Beverly Hills types…
January 29, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
Just a lovely, lovely film which asks for nothing.
August 23, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Melissa Anderson
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Ellen Page’s performance is the key to Juno’s journey, and she unerringly nuances her character’s blithe self-assuredness with just the right notes of uncertainty and innocence.
October 29, 2008 | Rating: A-
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
The Oscar-winning screenplay by Diablo Cody ricochets with askew dialogue but under the cleverness is a very human story of growing up
March 20, 2022
Sean Axmaker
Stream on Demand
The stripper-turned-screenwriter Diablo Cody can be credited with much of the film’s enduring genius.
June 25, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Yasmin Omar
Harper’s Bazaar
Just like the much-lauded [Little Miss Sunshine] from the previous year, the background (and surface) of this film is deeply reactionary. [Full review in Spanish]
November 2, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/5
Luis Martínez
Cinemanía (Spain)
I’m sitting here the next morning at my computer writing a review and I can’t stop laughing and crying and remembering scenes.
September 13, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Tremendous credit must be given to fledging screenwriter Cody…
May 26, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
A smart and very funny indie comedy that features a razor-sharp screenplay and an outstanding cast.
October 29, 2019 | Rating: A
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News…
Plot
A tale told over four seasons, starting in autumn when Juno, a 16-year-old high-school junior in Minnesota, discovers she’s pregnant after one event in a chair with her best friend, Bleeker. In the waiting room of an abortion clinic, the quirky and whip-sharp Juno decides to give birth and to place the child with an adoptive couple. She finds one in the PennySaver personals, contacts them, tells her dad and step-mother, and carries on with school. The chosen parents, upscale yuppies (one of whom is cool and laid back, the other meticulous and uptight), meet Juno, sign papers, and the year unfolds. Will Juno’s plan work, can she improvise, and what about Bleeker?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ellen Page’s performance as Juno is described as “unerringly nuanced” with just the right balance of “self-assuredness” and “innocence.”
Jason-Reitman.jpg
90%
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
90%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Visually dazzling and emotionally resonant, Slumdog Millionaire is a film that’s both entertaining and powerful.
Slumdog Millionaire is the ultimate rags-to-riches story that will have you cheering for the underdog. Danny Boyle’s direction is so wild and energetic that you’ll feel like you’re right there in the bustling streets of Mumbai. Sure, it’s not a gritty social panorama, but who cares when you’re swept up in a feel-good yarn that celebrates life, love, and destiny? Plus, it’s got a killer soundtrack that will have you dancing in your seat. All of the above? Final answer: yes, please!
Production Company(ies)
Bi Bi Film, Rai Fiction, Film Commission Torino-Piemonte
Distributor
Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 56m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 2009 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 31, 2009
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Tanay Chheda, directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, comedy, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Shubhra Gupta, Geoffrey Macnab, Ryan Gilbey, Deborah Ross, Jonathan Romney, Christy Lemire, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Leigh Paatsch, Felicia Feaster, MPAA rating R, Mumbai, poverty, game show, street kid, thief, flashbacks, emotional, visually dazzling, uplifting, feel-good, powerful, entertaining, producer Christian Colson, Fox, English, language, disturbing images, violence
Worldwide gross: $378,410,113
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $141,319,928
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
Freida Pinto – Latika (older)
Madhur Mittal – Salim Malik (older)
Anil Kapoor – Prem
Irrfan Khan – Inspector
Tanay Chheda – Jamal (middle)
Self – Danny Boyle (Director)
Self – Christian Colson (Producer)
Self – Simon Beaufoy (Writer)
Director(s)
Danny Boyle
Writer(s)
Simon Beaufoy
Producer(s)
Christian Colson
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Cinematography Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Directing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Editing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Winners, Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Original Score Winners, Oscar Original Song Winners, Oscar Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (289) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (264) | Rotten (25)
It’s not about poverty pornography. It’s not about a White guy showing us touchy Brown-skins squatting by the rail-tracks. In the end, it’s just about a film, which sweeps you up and takes you for an exhilarating ride on the wild side.
January 27, 2018
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
Slumdog Millionaire is an exhilarating ride — a feel-good yarn about a Mumbai street kid directed by Danny Boyle with a wild energy that makes even Trainspotting (Boyle’s calling card) look leaden-footed.
February 22, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
There are so many frantic pursuits through heaving streets that it is easy to lose track of who is chasing whom, or why. Energy and urgency are substituted for realism.
February 22, 2015
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Slumdog is a good film and an appealing film with some lovely performances but it’s not a great film: it’s too sentimental and predictable for that.
February 22, 2015
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Boyle set out to make this particular film rather than a gritty social panorama along the lines of Brazilian favela drama City of God. But keeping us cheerful takes the edge off the tougher insights into India.
January 27, 2014
Jonathan Romney
Independent on Sunday
TOP CRITIC
Boyle takes his wildly high-energy visual aesthetic and applies it to a story that, at its core, is rather sweet and traditionally crowdpleasing.
February 20, 2013
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
Even with its minor faults, the movie is, on the whole, an astoundingly uplifting, monumentally feel-good picture.
November 28, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
It’s such a beautifully rendered film that I’ll not be disappointed when it receives its expected Oscar nomination.
September 23, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
A soft-hearted fairytale told with a hard-headed social conscience, every scene coursing with energy, emotion, colour and, above all else, pure life.
April 17, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Slumdog is imprinted with a uniquely action-packed, peppy Boyle-ian sensibility, from its guttersnipe humor to an unrestrained joy in the imagination and hopefulness of children.
January 27, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
A. – Movie magic at its most glorious; B. Danny Boyle’s Masterpiece; C. A celebration of life and love with a little help from Destiny; D. All of the Above. My Final Answer: D. All of the Above.
November 16, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
[T]he perfect mix of comedy and drama, love story and thriller to make it enjoyable, thought-provoking and endlessly watchable.
October 30, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Nikki Baughan
Roll Credits…
Plot
As 18-year-old Jamal Malik answers questions on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” flashbacks show how he got there, surviving on the streets of Mumbai with his brother Salim and eventually landing a spot on the game show in the visually dazzling and emotionally resonant film, Slumdog Millionaire.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Dev Patel, who plays the lead role of Jamal Malik, had to undergo extensive training to perfect his Indian accent for the film.
Danny-Boyle.jpg
90%
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (2007)
90%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 4 nominations
Displaying Joe Strummer warts and all, The Future is Unwritten succeeds as both an engrossing documentary and a comprehensive examination of one of music’s most legendary figures.
Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten is a documentary that tells the story of the legendary punk rocker and his band, The Clash. Critics have praised the film for its energetic and inspiring portrayal of Strummer and his commitment to staying true to his ideals. Some have even called him one of the most important cultural figures of the 20th century. While the film may be a bit bloated at times, it offers fans an intimate look at the man behind the legend. Overall, it’s a must-see for anyone who loves punk rock and wants to learn more about one of its most iconic figures.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros.,
Distributor
IFC First Take
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:2h 5m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2007 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 8, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Joe Strummer, documentary, Julien Temple, Amanda Temple, Anna Campeau, Alan Moloney, The Clash, punk, music, archive footage, Steve Jones, Mick Jones, Brigitte Bardot, Bono, Steve Buscemi, warts and all, engrossing, comprehensive, legendary, critic reviews, Tomatometer, audience score, box office, gross USA, IFC First Take, English, 2h 5m, 2007, released in theaters, released in streaming, rent/buy, reviewed by Joshua Rothkopf, Dave Calhoun, Roger Moore, Amy Nicholson, Peter Howell, Liam Lacey, Toni Vall, Benjamin H Smith, Dave White, Dennis Schwartz, Emily Blunt, Joe Strummer, Steve Jones, Mick Jones, Brigitte Bardot, Bono, Steve Buscemi, punk rocker, guitarist, documentary, music, The Clash, Julien Temple, Amanda Temple, Anna Campeau, Alan Moloney, released in theaters, released in streaming, box office, gross USA, IFC First Take, Tomatometer, audience score, critic reviews
Worldwide gross: $1,193,491
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,709,757
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,453
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 186,451
US/Canada gross: $248,362
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $355,795
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,419
US/Canada opening weekend: $20,880
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $29,912
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,369
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
Steve Jones – self
Mick Jones – self
Brigitte Bardot – self
Bono – self
Steve Buscemi – self
Amanda Temple – producer
Anna Campeau – producer
Alan Moloney – producer
Julien Temple – director
Director(s)
Julien Temple
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Amanda Temple, Anna Campeau, Alan Moloney
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (64) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (7)
November 16, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 16, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Julien Temple’s film is an energizing work of art, a visually striking and inspiring look at a band that never ‘sold out’ and the leader who saw to it that they didn’t.
June 20, 2008 | Rating: 4/4
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The big unanswerable question is: Do we wish Strummer would have listened to David Lee Roth’s advice that “You don’t have to take life so seriously, honey”?
February 3, 2008 | Rating: B
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Miracle of miracles, a valuable portrait of Strummer manages to emerge from the chaos, helped by the film’s one consistent thread: tapes of a BBC World Service radio show he hosted in his final years.
February 1, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Temple, who chronicled the Sex Pistols…offers the full, sometimes bloated, context of Strummer’s life through the testimony of his many friends and collaborators.
February 1, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
An at times exciting, restless and absorbing film. [Full review in Spanish]
November 5, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Toni Vall
Cinemanía (Spain)
… effectively paints a three dimensional portrait of Strummer, unafraid to confront his philosophical contradictions, though neither dwelling on his flaws, and showing how by finding his humanity, he ultimately lived up to the ideals he espoused.
January 24, 2018
Benjamin H. Smith
Decider
April 4, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Dave White
Movies.com
Lively doc on the late Brit punk rocker guitarist for the Clash.
October 18, 2009 | Rating: B
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
This offers Strummer fans unlimited access to the man behind the legend. Though it really is for fans – who should run and buy it.
October 22, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Emily Blunt
Blunt Review
[Director Julien Temple] stops short of hagiography, while exhaustively positing Strummer as one of the most important cultural figures of the 20th century.
February 1, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jim Slotek
Jam! Movies…
Plot
As the front man of the Clash from 1977 onwards, Joe Strummer changed people’s lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence reaches out around the world, more strongly now than ever before. In “The Future Is Unwritten”, from British film director Julien Temple, Joe Strummer is revealed not just as a legend or musician, but as a true communicator of our times. Drawing on both a shared punk history and the close personal friendship which developed over the last years of Joe’s life, Julien Temple’s film is a celebration of Joe Strummer – before, during and after the Clash.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with a variety of celebrities, including Bono, Steve Buscemi, and Brigitte Bardot.
Julien-Temple.jpg
90%
Hot Fuzz (2007)
90%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 9 nominations
The brilliant minds behind Shaun of the Dead successfully take a shot at the buddy cop genre with Hot Fuzz. The result is a bitingly satiric and hugely entertaining parody.
Hot Fuzz is the perfect blend of action, comedy, and suspense that will leave you laughing and on the edge of your seat. The chemistry between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost is undeniable, and their hilarious antics will have you rooting for them until the very end. Director Edgar Wright expertly balances homage to action thrillers with a witty and clever deconstruction of the genre. It’s a movie that will make you want to grab a pint and join in on the fun. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride with Hot Fuzz.
Production Company(ies)
Brandywine Productions,
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
The Crown Pub, Wells, Somerset, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violent content including some graphic images, and language
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS-ES Dolby Digital EX
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 1m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 20, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 31, 2007
Genre(s)
Comedy/Action
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $80,743,363
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $115,670,350
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 953
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 12,613,997
US/Canada gross: $23,637,265
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $33,861,987
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,232
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,837,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $8,361,899
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,001
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): £8,000,000
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
Nick Frost – Danny Butterman
Jim Broadbent – Inspector Frank Butterman
Paddy Considine – DS Andy Andy Wainwright
Timothy Dalton – Simon Skinner
Billie Whitelaw – Joyce Cooper
Director(s)
Edgar Wright
Writer(s)
Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg
Producer(s)
Tim Bevan, Nira Park, Eric Fellner
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (202) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (184) | Rotten (18)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s such a vibrant goof, so full of love both for the movies and for its cast of ridiculous characters that you forgive it the odd soggy stretch.
August 18, 2007
Dana Stevens
Slate
TOP CRITIC
With a fine image and sound transfer and a worthwhile collection of hearty extras, Hot Fuzz is now in the running for the title of DVD of the Year.
July 19, 2007
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Wright and Pegg have topped Shaun of the Dead by trans(atlantic)planting a whole gaggle of genres.
April 24, 2007
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The movie duly quickens into pursuits of every speed, and the homage to action thrillers is there in the smallest detail; the clicking of a ballpoint pen, say, is amplified to sound as menacing as the cocking of a gun.
April 23, 2007
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
An amusing comedy that also manages to evoke memories of The Wicker Man, Plague of the Zombies, and other spooky yarns centering on eccentric villagers inhabiting the less-traveled paths of the British Isles.
October 3, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
You’ll never think of the cop buddy genre the same way again.
December 16, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Wesley Lovell
Cinema Sight
Becomes quite a funny, surreally silly affair after a very slow start.
August 3, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
A literate deconstruction of action movie tropes, while also being intelligent enough to actually offer a passable genre movie in the process.
November 3, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Wright understands how to perfectly balance action, comedy, drama, and suspense, and it pays off.
January 31, 2018
Jade Budowski
Decider
It’s a perfect spoof of the once popular action genre, that’s highlighted by the chemistry of Pegg and Frost.
April 29, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4
Austin Kennedy
Film Geek Central…
Plot
Top London cop PC Nicholas Angel is good. Too good. To stop the rest of his team looking bad, he is reassigned to the quiet town of Sandford. He is paired with Danny Butterman, who endlessly questions him on the action lifestyle. Everything seems quiet for Angel until two actors are found decapitated. It is called an accident, but Angel won’t accept that, especially when more and more people turn up dead. Angel and Danny clash with everyone while they try to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the apparent “accidents”.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film Hot Fuzz, but it does mention that the film features Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine, Timothy Dalton, and Billie Whitelaw in its cast.
Edgar-Wright.jpg
90%
Ratatouille (2007)
90%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
67 wins & 42 nominations total
Fast-paced and stunningly animated, Ratatouille adds another delightfully entertaining entry — and a rather unlikely hero — to the Pixar canon.
Ratatouille is the ultimate foodie movie that will make you want to cook up a storm in the kitchen, even if you’re a rat! The animation is top-notch, the story is heartwarming, and the characters are lovable. Plus, who knew that a rat could be such a talented chef? This movie is a must-watch for anyone who loves food, Paris, or just a good old-fashioned underdog story. Bon appétit!
Production Company(ies)
Apple Original Films, Cartoon Saloon Mélusine Productions,
Distributor
Buena Vista
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Pixar Animation Studios – 1200 Park Avenue, Emeryville, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 51m
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 29, 2007 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2007
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Brad Garrett, directed by Brad Bird, written by Brad Bird, produced by Brad Lewis, comedy, G, Pixar, box office performance, $206.4M, reviewed by Anupama Chopra, David Stratton, Ryan Gilbey, Bob Mondello, Derek Malcolm, Anthony Quinn, Danielle Solzman, Cory Woodroof, Mike Massie, Matt Brunson, Mattie Lucas, genre, animation, Paris, chef, rat, sewer, restaurant, food, palate, sophisticated, dream, unlikely hero, critic reviews, audience score, Tomatometer, distributor, Buena Vista, sound mix, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS, aspect ratio, Scope (2.35:1), collection, Patton Oswalt as Remy, Ian Holm as Skinner, Lou Romano as Linguini, Brian Dennehy as Django, Peter Sohn as Emile, Brad Garrett as Auguste Gusteau
Worldwide gross: $623,726,085
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $893,529,968
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 118
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 97,440,564
US/Canada gross: $206,445,654
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $295,747,417
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 195
US/Canada opening weekend: $47,027,395
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $67,369,937
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 145
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $150,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $214,885,185
Production budget ranking: 85
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $115,715,672
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $562,929,111
ROI to date (est.): 170%
ROI ranking: 713
Ian Holm – Skinner (Voice)
Lou Romano – Linguini (Voice)
Brian Dennehy – Django (Voice)
Peter Sohn – Emile (Voice)
Brad Garrett – Auguste Gusteau (Voice)
Director(s)
Brad Bird
Writer(s)
Brad Bird
Producer(s)
Brad Lewis
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
67 wins & 42 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Animated Feature Film Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (254) | Top Critics (64) | Fresh (243) | Rotten (11)
This is a film about a rat who becomes a chef in Paris. But it’s so much more than that. It’s about what a great artist can be, where a great artist can come from, it’s about food and how to savour it.
May 18, 2020
Anupama Chopra
Film Companion
TOP CRITIC
It’s a great programme for all the family.
July 29, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Ratatouille is a wonderful, wistful comedy, and a sparkling return to form for the computer animation studio Pixar after last year’s lacklustre Cars.
August 24, 2014
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Kids are gonna gobble Ratatouille up; adults will relish its wit, and everyone will want to go out to eat after.
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello
NPR
TOP CRITIC
A comedy that relates realistically to life, fashioned not with dozens of hilarious jokes but with due regard for proper storytelling.
October 12, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Clever, certainly; ingenious, occasionally; enjoyable – hardly ever.
October 12, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Ratatouille puts the “anyone can cook” motto to the test and while it’s an absurd premise, this film is absolutely beautiful in every way.
June 29, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
It doesn’t have a flaw; it’s perfect storytelling and its emotional payoff is a landmark.
June 15, 2022
Cory Woodroof
615 Film
Despite the unexplained language barriers or farfetched plot, this delightfully delicious foray into the unimaginable never becomes preachy or immature.
November 27, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
A love letter to Paris, a valentine to the fine art of cooking, and a gift to film fans of all ages.
June 20, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
A delectable treat that represents the finest qualities in animation and American cinema.
June 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)
Has great vocal performances throughout and is about a character figuring out where they belong and finally being accepted there. I love it!
April 26, 2019 | Rating: A+
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net…
Plot
A rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great French chef despite his family’s wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the sewers of Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. Despite the apparent dangers of being an unlikely, and certainly unwanted, visitor in the kitchen of a fine French restaurant, Remy’s passion for cooking soon sets into motion a hilarious and exciting rat race that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ratatouille features the voice talents of Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, and Brad Garrett.
Brad-Bird.jpg
90%
Amazing Grace (2019)
90%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 6 nominations
Brilliantly capturing a remarkable performer near the peak of her prodigious power, Amazing Grace is a thrilling must-watch documentary for Aretha Franklin fans.
Amazing Grace” is the ultimate tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. This long-buried concert film is a musical feast that feels like it was filmed only yesterday. With Franklin’s powerhouse three-octave range and soulful phrasing, the documentary is 87 minutes of pure joy. It’s a perfect marriage of faith and showbiz, dignified by the fact that there’s nothing ersatz about it. The film is a tremendous tribute to Franklin and a document recorded during a watershed period of the American civil rights movement. It’s definitely worth the wait and then some!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic material involving slavery, and some mild language
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 6, 2019
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
Keyword(s)
Amazing Grace, Aretha Franklin, gospel, documentary, music, Alan Elliott, Joe Boyd, Rob Johnson, Chiemi Karasawa, Sabrina V Owens, Jerry Wexler, Tirrell D Whittley, Joseph Woolf, G, English, Nov 23 2018, $4.5M, 1h 27m, Andrea Gronvall, Adam Graham, David Stratton, Owen Gleiberman, Sandra Hall, Nell Minow, Tom O’Brien, Nick Levine, Nick Reilly, Alix Turner, Dennis Harvey, Matt Cipolla, 99%, 161 Reviews, 80%, 250+ Ratings, concert film, civil rights movement, three-octave range, soulful phrasing, musical feast, unfeigned exuberance, expressions of belief, familial intimacy, Queen of Soul, biggest selling gospel album, reconstructed, 89-minute film, featured audience reviews, horror movies, MCU movies, renewed & cancelled TV shows, Netflix series, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $32,120,360
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $46,014,597
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,376
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,017,949
US/Canada gross: $21,250,683
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $30,443,046
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,270
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,305,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,167,205
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,060
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
Alan Elliott – Director
Joey Carey – Executive Producer
Alexandra Johnes – Executive Producer
Stefan Nowicki – Executive Producer
Joe Boyd – Producer
Director(s)
Alan Elliott
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Joe Boyd, Alan Elliott, Aretha Franklin, Rob Johnson, Chiemi Karasawa, Sabrina V. Owens, Jerry Wexler, Tirrell D. Whittley, Joseph Woolf
Film Festivals
Berlin, South by Southwest, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (161) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (160) | Rotten (1)
The work as it stands now has considerable merit as a document recorded during a watershed period of the American civil rights movement. As a concert film, it’s elevated by Franklin’s powerhouse three-octave range and soulful phrasing.
December 16, 2019
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The long-buried concert film is a tremendously powerful tribute to Aretha Franklin.
December 16, 2019
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
This musical feast was filmed a very long time ago – but it feels like only yesterday.
December 16, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
In Amazing Grace, Aretha Franklin transcends the blues by saying a little prayer – or singing one – for all of us.
December 16, 2019
Owen Gleiberman
Variety
TOP CRITIC
It’s a perfect marriage of faith and showbiz, dignified by the fact that there’s nothing ersatz about it. At its heart is an unfeigned exuberance, together with a sense of history, which informs the tears, laughter and fervent expressions of belief.
August 28, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
87 minutes of pure joy/
August 5, 2019 | Rating: A-
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
It took 47 years to reach theaters, but the documentary “Amazing Grace” is sheer musical bliss.
June 14, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Tom O’Brien
Next Best Picture
Moments of familial intimacy that allow us to instantly forget that we’re watching one of the greatest singers of all time…
May 11, 2021
Nick Levine
NME
The ultimate tribute to the Queen of Soul.
April 29, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Nick Reilly
NME
The making of the biggest selling gospel album ever, reconstructed into an 89-minute film many years later. A great listen, a fascinating watch, though not entirely successful.
February 9, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Alix Turner
Ready Steady Cut
So, was it worth the wait? But of course, and then some.
October 21, 2020
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
Elliott and Buchanan follow [Franklin’s] lead instead, framing the footage with a deft, almost invisible hand to make for 87 minutes that are teeming with life.
July 27, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Matt Cipolla
Film Monthly…
Plot
In 1797, William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd), the great crusader for the British abolition of slavery, is taking a vacation for his health even while he is sicker at heart for his frustrated cause. However, meeting the charming Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), Wilberforce finds a soulmate to share the story of his struggle. With few allies such as his mentor, John Newton (Albert Finney), a slave ship Captain turned repentant Priest who penned the hymn, “Amazing Grace”, future Prime Minister William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Olaudah Equiano (Youssou N’Dour), the erudite former slave turned author, Wilberforce fruitlessly fights public indifference and moneyed opposition determined to keep their exploitation safe. Nevertheless, Wilberforce finds the inspiration in newfound love to rejuvenate the fight with new ideas that would lead to a great victory for social justice.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Aretha Franklin is the only cast member in the documentary Amazing Grace.
Alan-Elliott.jpg
90%
Volver (2006)
90%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
61 wins & 94 nominations total
Volver catches director Pedro Almodovar and star Penelope Cruz at the peak of their respective powers, in service of a layered, thought-provoking film.
Volver is like a telenovela on steroids, with ghosts, murder, and family drama galore. But don’t let that scare you away, because Pedro Almodóvar’s direction and the performances from Penelope Cruz and Carmen Maura make it a wild ride worth taking. It’s a film that’s both emotionally devastating and visually stunning, with a refreshing story that’s deeper and more intelligent than most Hollywood movies. Plus, who doesn’t love a good tribute to mother love? So grab some popcorn and get ready for a soap-opera that’s anything but conventional.
Production Company(ies)
Zanuck Brown Productions, Universal Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Almagro, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexual content and language
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:Spain
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Apr 3, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Penelope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Duenas, Chus Lampreave, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, directed by Pedro Almodovar, written by Pedro Almodovar, drama, R rating, Esther Garcia producer, $12.9M box office, reviewed by Alyx Vesey, Stanley Kauffmann, Candice Frederick, Amy Nicholson, Joshua Rothkopf, Roger Moore, Brian Eggert, Leigh Paatsch, Ruhaan Shah, Felicia Feaster, Dorothy Woodend, Spanish language, ghost story, family tragedy, mother-daughter relationship, Madrid, house fire, murder, grief, female empowerment, layered, thought-provoking, visually stunning, emotionally devastating, comedic timing, charming, soap-opera, twists, tribute to mother love, cinematic master, nuanced, beautifully filmed
Worldwide gross: $85,603,363
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $122,632,630
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 925
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,373,242
US/Canada gross: $12,899,867
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $18,479,935
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,435
US/Canada opening weekend: $202,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $289,379
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,551
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 7450000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,672,631
Production budget ranking: 1,640
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,747,212
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $106,212,787
ROI to date (est.): 647%
ROI ranking: 194
Carmen Maura – Abuela Irene
Chus Lampreave – Tía Paula
Lola Dueñas – Sole
Blanca Portillo – Agustina
Yohana Cobo – Paula
Director(s)
Pedro Almodóvar
Writer(s)
Pedro Almodóvar
Producer(s)
Esther García
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
61 wins & 94 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (173) | Top Critics (59) | Fresh (158) | Rotten (15)
As emotionally devastating as it is visually stunning.
January 7, 2021
Alyx Vesey
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
Volver disappoints.
February 6, 2018
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Beautiful performances, a refreshing story, and spot-on comedic timing make this a wonderful movie.
September 12, 2017 | Rating: A
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
It’s up to charm to twinkle our attention away from the loose threads and daytime TV plotting.
July 2, 2009 | Rating: B-
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Even if Volver sounds too high-concept for you, know that Almodóvar is smart enough not to rest on laughs alone, extending his premise to dark, though occasionally tidy psychological territory.
February 3, 2007 | Rating: 4/6
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s clever and entertaining. It’s marvelously deft, but never daffy. It works well enough, despite feeling like the most conventional film this great, envelope-pushing Spanish director has ever made.
January 19, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Beautifully shot, structured, and acted, Almodovar’s film sees the past repeat itself, the dead come back to life, and the painfully concealed return to the fore.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
It’s a playful soap-opera, mad with colour and crazy twists. It’s a ghost story that won’t give you the chills. And most importantly of all, it’s yet another fine movie from Spanish master Pedro Almodovar.
July 30, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
The film never minces its words, it unabashedly confronts the challenges women everywhere face.
April 29, 2020
Ruhaan Shah
Film Companion
Almodóvar’s tribute to mother love is overflowing with the anguish and ecstasy of life.
January 28, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
The film is, almost by definition, deeper, more intelligent, more nuanced and more beautifully filmed than at least 95 percent of the movies coming out of Hollywood – if not more.
June 18, 2019
Remezcla Team
Remezcla
This is a woman’s picture in the best sense of the term, anchored by bravura turns from Penelope Cruz and Carmen Maura. Something of a departure for the Spanish auteur, it also seals his status as a cinematic master. Never that this was much in doubt.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)…
Plot
After a murder and family tragedy, the spirit of a deceased mother materializes to comfort her daughters in Pedro Almodovar’s drama, Volver.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Penélope Cruz stars in Volver, a film that catches her and director Pedro Almodovar at the peak of their respective powers.
Pedro-Almodóvar.jpg
90%
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2006)
90%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
22 wins & 13 nominations total
Review 1: “This movie was terrible. The acting was bad, the plot was boring, and the special effects were laughable. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.”
Review 2: “I found this cinematic endeavor to be a most lamentable experience. The thespian performances were lackluster, the narrative was insipid, and the visual effects were so preposterous as to elicit mirth rather than awe. I cannot in good conscience suggest this film to any discerning viewer.”
Review 3: “This movie was a complete waste of time. The acting was wooden, the story was predictable, and the special effects were subpar. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.”
Review 4: “Alas, this motion picture proved to be a most egregious squandering of one’s precious time. The histrionic displays were as stiff as a board, the plot was as foreseeable as the sunrise, and the visual effects were as unimpressive as a child’s finger painting. I implore you, dear reader, to abstain from this cinematic atrocity.”
New Review: “As I sat in the theater, I was struck by the overwhelming sense of ennui that permeated the room. The thespian performances were as flat as a pancake, the narrative was as trite as a Hallmark card, and the visual effects were as convincing as a politician’s promises. It was as if the filmmakers had taken a paint-by-numbers approach to creating this cinematic disaster. I cannot in good conscience recommend this film to anyone with an iota of taste or discernment. Save your time and money, and opt for a more stimulating form of entertainment, such as watching paint dry or grass grow.
Review 1: “The acting in this movie was superb. The characters were well-developed and the plot was engaging. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.”
Review 2: “I loved the cinematography in this film. The shots were beautifully composed and the use of color was stunning. It was like watching a work of art come to life.”
Review 3: “The soundtrack for this movie was incredible. The music perfectly captured the mood of each scene and added an extra layer of emotion to the story.”
New Review: “Holy cow, this movie was a rollercoaster ride of emotions! The acting was so good, I felt like I was right there with the characters. And don’t even get me started on the cinematography – it was like watching a painting come to life! But the real MVP was the soundtrack. I mean, I was tapping my foot and humming along the whole time. Overall, this movie was a masterpiece and I can’t wait to watch it again (and again and again).
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Studios,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Ludwig Maximillian University, Munich, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):German
-
Country of origin:Germany
-
Release date:NA
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Sophie Scholl, Die letzten Tage, German film, historical drama, World War II, Nazi Germany, White Rose resistance movement, true story, Sophie Scholl, Julia Jentsch, starring, directed by Marc Rothemund, written by Fred Breinersdorfer, produced by Sven Burgemeister, box office performance, budget, critical acclaim, reviewed by Roger Ebert, reviewed by Peter Travers, reviewed by A.O Scott, reviewed by Manohla Dargis, reviewed by Kenneth Turan, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, reviewed by David Ansen, reviewed by Stephanie Zacharek, reviewed by Mick LaSalle, reviewed by Ann Hornaday, reviewed by Ty Burr, reviewed by Claudia Puig, reviewed by Joe Morgenstern, reviewed by Owen Gleiberman, reviewed by Richard Roeper, reviewed by Scott Foundas, reviewed by Todd McCarthy, reviewed by Ella Taylor, reviewed by Carrie Rickey, reviewed by Desson Thomson, reviewed by J Hoberman, MPAA rating, German cinema, resistance, courage, bravery, execution, Gestapo, interrogation, prison, trial, execution, martyrdom, historical accuracy, political activism, non-violent resistance, moral courage, human rights, freedom, oppression, persecution, totalitarianism, dictatorship, fascism, anti-Semitism
Worldwide gross: $10,804,315
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,465,596
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,787
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,795,594
US/Canada gross: $680,331
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,036,813
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,185
US/Canada opening weekend: $17,310
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $26,380
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,420
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
Gerald Alexander Held – Robert Mohr
Fabian Hinrichs – Hans Scholl
Johannes Suhm – Christoph Probst
Jörg Hube – Roland Freisler
André Hennicke – Hartmut Volmer
Florian Stetter – Willi Graf
Maximilian Brückner – Alexander Schmorell
Johanna Gastdorf – Else Gebel
Petra Kelling – Magdalena Scholl
Franz Staber – Werner Scholl
Lilli Jung – Gisela Schertling
Wolfgang Pregler – Heinrich Himmler
Birgit Minichmayr – Traute Lafrenz
Alexander Held – Professor Huber
Johannes Klaußner – Fritz Hartnagel
Martin Brambach – Gestapo Man
Lea Draeger – Anneliese Knoop-Graf
Maria Hofstätter – Frau Scholl
Sophie Rois – Else Gebel
Director – Marc Rothemund
Writer – Fred Breinersdorfer
Producer – Sven Burgemeister
Producer – Christoph Müller
Producer – Marc Rothemund
Cinematographer – Martin Langer
Editor – Hans Funck
Composer – Reinhold Heil
Composer – Johnny Klimek
Director(s)
NA
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
22 wins & 13 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
Plot
The Final Days is the true story of Germany’s most famous anti-Nazi heroine brought to life. Sophie Scholl is the fearless activist of the underground student resistance group, The White Rose. Using historical records of her incarceration, the film re-creates the last six days of Sophie Scholl’s life: a journey from arrest to interrogation, trial and sentence in 1943 Munich. Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to her comrades, her cross-examination by the Gestapo quickly escalates into a searing test of wills as Scholl delivers a passionate call to freedom and personal responsibility that is both haunting and timeless.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days” has a 91% approval rating on Fresh Kernels, indicating that it is generally well-received by critics.
NA.jpg
90%
Dixie Chicks – Shut Up and Sing (2006)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Though ostensibly an intimate look at the Dixie Chicks after their 2003 anti-Bush remark, the film achieves broader relevance by exploring how media, politics, and celebrities intertwine.
Shut Up and Sing is a documentary that follows the Dixie Chicks as they navigate the fallout from lead singer Natalie Maines’ controversial comments about then-President George W. Bush. While some critics found the film to be superficial or lacking in substance, others praised it for its portrayal of the band’s resilience and loyalty to one another. As a non-critic, I have to say that watching the Chicks stand up for what they believe in was pretty inspiring. Plus, who doesn’t love a good underdog story? So if you’re looking for a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even start a revolution, Shut Up and Sing is definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Otto Preminger Films,
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 39m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2006 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 20, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Dixie Chicks, anti-Bush, controversy, media, politics, celebrities, Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck, David Cassidy, box office, Weinstein Co., R rating, English, 1h 39m, reviewed by David Ansen, Roger Ebert, Anthony Quinn, Tim Robey, Peter Bradshaw, Wendy Ide, David Walsh, Sarah Manvel, Cole Smithey, Natalie Maines, Emily Robinson, Martie Maguire, producer, director, writer, MPAA rating, budget, audience score, critic score, limited release, streaming, rent/buy, photos, genre, consequences, remark, Republican, fan rage, freedom of speech, image-rebuilding, politicization, threats, hypocrisy, patriotism, comeback, media frenzy, minority, Land of the free, soft rock, documentary style, heavy metal, Rush Beyond the Lighted Stage, Anvil the story of Anvil
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
Cecilia Peck – Director
David Cassidy – Producer
Barbara Kopple – Producer
Cecilia Peck – Producer
Claude Davies – Co-Producer
Director(s)
Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (125) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (111) | Rotten (14)
Masterfully edited, the film combines footage the band made for its Web site and footage shot by Kopple and Peck over the last two years. The filmmakers are clearly in awe of the Chicks’ fighting spirit.
February 6, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Shut Up and Sing tells the story of three young women whose belief in America is bred in the bone, and it shames their critics.
October 19, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
I came round to them by the end, but it’s not a great introduction.
June 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This a frank, and slightly scary film about one of America’s most cherished democratic privileges – freedom of speech – and how you’re more than welcome to it as long as you don’t say anything controversial. Then you’re off the air.
June 29, 2007
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A gold statue of the Dixie Chicks should be erected in Maines’ hometown of Lubbock, Texas.
June 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
It was a throwaway scrap of a comment tossed to an audience baying with appreciation.
June 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The result is somewhat superficial. Shut Up and Sing strikes only a glancing blow, when it could have done more.
February 14, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
As a documentary that magnificently demonstrates how actions have unintended consequences and how politics impact our personal choices.
August 7, 2018
Sarah Manvel
Cinemattraction
There is ample material to pick from, but it is often the quieter, more befuddled moments, when all the band’s bluster tapers off, and the women just look confused and scared, that the truth of the film emerges.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
The thrust of the movie lies in the trenchant mix of image-rebuilding strategies and genuine politicization the Chicks undergo
August 28, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
The Dixie Chicks spoke their minds, and that’s what America is all about. Shut up and deal with it.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
The most inspiring element of the film is the genuine fortitude and loyalty that Maines and her bandmates Emily Robinson and Martie Maguire exhibit outwardly and to one another.
April 24, 2009 | Rating: C
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com…
Plot
Shut Up and Sing is a documentary about the Dixie Chicks and the controversy that followed after lead singer Natalie Maines made a negative comment about President George W. Bush in 2003.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing goofy, funny, or odd is mentioned about the film or anyone in the cast.
Barbara-Kopple.jpg