Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
90%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: 23 wins & 84 nominations
Kill Bill: Volume 2 adds extra plot and dialogue to the action-heavy exploits of its predecessor, while still managing to deliver a suitably hard-hitting sequel.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is like the second slice of pizza – still delicious, but not quite as satisfying as the first. While some critics found it slow and self-conscious, others praised the emotional depth and standout performances from Uma Thurman and David Carradine. Personally, I loved the over-the-top violence and couldn’t get enough of the Bride’s revenge quest. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Tarantino monologue? Overall, if you’re a fan of the first film, you won’t be disappointed with this follow-up. Just make sure you have some popcorn and a strong stomach handy.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros.,
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Beijing, China
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, language and brief drug use
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 17m
-
Language(s):English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States, China, Mexico
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 16, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2004
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Chia-Hui Liu, Michael Parks, directed by Quentin Tarantino, written by Quentin Tarantino, produced by Lawrence Bender, action, R rating, box office gross, critic reviews, Miramax Films, Surround sound, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS, scope aspect ratio, revenge, assassin, hit list, ex-boyfriend, Mexico, martial arts, sword fighting, violence, blood, sequel, hard-hitting, emotional, character development, cinematography, Gordon Liu, Micheal Parks, top horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $154,118,820
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $243,120,345
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 595
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 26,512,578
US/Canada gross: $66,208,183
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $104,442,509
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 719
US/Canada opening weekend: $25,600,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $40,383,652
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 304
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $30,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $47,324,592
Production budget ranking: 836
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $25,484,293
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $170,311,459
ROI to date (est.): 234%
ROI ranking: 564
David Carradine – Bill – ‘Snake Charmer’
Michael Madsen – Budd – ‘Sidewinder’
Daryl Hannah – Elle Driver
Chia-Hui Liu – Pai Mei
Michael Parks – Earl McGraw, Esteban Vihaio
Director(s)
Quentin Tarantino
Writer(s)
Quentin Tarantino
Producer(s)
Lawrence Bender
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
23 wins & 84 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (244) | Top Critics (59) | Fresh (204) | Rotten (40)
n the hyper-kinetic Kill Bill 1 you didn’t know when the end happened, in Vol 2 you often wish the proceedings could hurtle to the finale, fast.
January 7, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
Vol. 2 fills in the motivational and emotional blanks that left the first movie tasting like a meal made only of appetizers.
March 13, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
I don’t even want to do Tarantino and his pathetic accomplices the honour of recounting the narrative of the second “volume” of this exercise in trashpedalling, and frankly I don’t need to, because there isn’t a plot to speak of.
January 9, 2018
Will Self
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Where KB1 had the pace of an ADHD six-year-old on a sugar high, KB2 has been Ritalinized, its tempo slowed to a crawl in self-conscious, and self-defeating, imitation of Sergio Leone. It’s two hours that feel like five.
January 5, 2018
Christopher Orr
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
If Kill Bill – Vol. 1 was like a roundhouse kick to the head, Vol. 2 is practically a warm hug.
August 15, 2012
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
Sequel just as over-the-top explicitly violent.
December 24, 2010 | Rating: 2/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Not quiiite as good as Vol. 1 (what is?), but the David Carradine scenes sure are.
June 23, 2022
Cory Woodroof
Williamson Home Page
The sequel is the more potent package of the two.
June 10, 2021
Howard Gorman
NME
Kill Bill is not a critique of sadistic bullying, it revels in it. … The film itself is oppressive and bullying, as well unpleasantly pleased with itself.
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Not as electric as the first part, yet Tarantino excels by entertaining you with more words than punches. David Carradine is fantastic in quite the juicy, memorable role. [Full review in Spanish]
May 29, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Fico Cangiano
CineXpress Podcast
Carradine is fantastic as Bill, while Thurman deserves consideration for an Academy Award nomination with her performance as the Bride.
November 16, 2019 | Rating: A
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News
Tarantino’s attempt to inject a more solemn tone as the narrative reaches its climax creates an awkward mesh with the proceeding pulpiness.
August 13, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro…
Plot
The murderous Bride is back and she is still continuing her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill, and taking aim at Bill’s younger brother Budd and Elle Driver, the only survivors from the squad of assassins who betrayed her four years earlier. It’s all leading up to the ultimate confrontation with Bill, the Bride’s former master and the man who ordered her execution!
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
David Carradine plays the role of Bill, also known as “Snake Charmer,” in Kill Bill: Vol. 2.
Quentin-Tarantino.jpg
90%
Kitchen Stories (2004)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 6 nominations
By turns touching and funny, this Norwegian import offers quietly absorbing commentary on modern life and friendship.
Kitchen Stories is a hilarious and heartwarming film that will make you appreciate the simple things in life, like a good cup of coffee and a warm friendship. The dry humor and subtle satire of Swedish society will have you chuckling throughout, while the touching relationship between the two leads will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. It’s the perfect movie to watch when you need a break from the fast-paced action flicks and want to slow down and enjoy the little moments. Plus, it’ll make you never look at Ikea designs the same way again.
Production Company(ies)
M K2 Productions, France 3 Cinéma C AB Productions,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild language
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):Norwegian, Swedish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 14, 2004
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Joachim Calmeyer, Tomas Norström, Bjørn Floberg, Reine Brynolfsson, Sverre Anker Ousdal, Leif Andrée, directed by Bent Hamer, written by Bent Hamer, Jörgen Bergmark, Arve Figenschow, comedy, drama, Norwegian, PG, box office gross $349.3K, reviewed by Roger Moore, Peter Rainer, Marta Barber, Steven Rea, Marjorie Baumgarten, Richard Nilsen, Michael Dequina, Ken Hanke, Steve Schneider, Kevin John Bozelka, Jeff Vice, Sean P Means, 1950s, Swedish researchers, home kitchen, modern housewife, bachelors, rural Norwegian town, kitchen behavior, odd single man, personal interactions, strange camaraderie, mild language, IFC Films, surround sound, Jörgen Bergmark, Arve Figenschow
Worldwide gross: $2,823,472
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,576,486
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,204
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 499,072
US/Canada gross: $351,235
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $569,307
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,297
US/Canada opening weekend: $48,103
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $77,969
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,037
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
Tomas Norström – Folke Nilsson
Bjørn Floberg – Grant
Reine Brynolfsson – Malmberg
Sverre Anker Ousdal – Dr. Jack Zac. Benjaminsen
Leif Andrée – Dr. Ljungberg
Director(s)
Bent Hamer
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Jörgen Bergmark, Arve Figenschow
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (7)
An ingeniously dry and bittersweet comedy about that 1940s and ’50s research.
November 29, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
A prime piece of comic anthropology.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
What starts as a satire of the methodical, modernity-seeking society in Sweden ends as a heartwarming dramatic comedy in Norway.
June 11, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
A thoroughly charming oddity. And, in the end, a moving one, too.
April 22, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
An enjoyable study of ridiculous regimentation and a sure balm to anyone who has overdosed on the efficient designs at Ikea.
April 17, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Kitchen Stories is so subtle that many viewers will not be aware that it’s screamingly funny.
April 15, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
The charm and chemistry of the two leads and subtle, wry moments of humor make for an endearing entertainment.
December 28, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Not the sort of film you’d want a steady diet of, but as a change of pace from the ordinary, it’s well worth a look.
February 16, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One of those rare winning exceptions to the axiom that movies should move, this one shows what advantage can be earned when men of good will sit still together.
November 24, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly
What you’re left with is a relationship between two men that is untouched by macho posturing or any trace of anxiety — and a perfect respite from the action flick mentality.
June 17, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Kevin John Bozelka
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A rich character piece with more than a few chuckle-worthy moments.
April 16, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Jeff Vice
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
Hamer’s pacing is poky, and the ‘well, duh’ moral … hits the audience well before it is revealed to the characters.
April 16, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4
Sean P. Means
Salt Lake Tribune…
Plot
In 1950s Norway, a Swedish researcher is sent to study the kitchen behavior of a single man, but despite strict orders to avoid personal interactions, he forms a strange camaraderie with his subject in the comedy/drama film “Kitchen Stories.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Joachim Calmeyer as Isak Bjørvik and Tomas Norström as Folke Nilsson.
Bent-Hamer.jpg
90%
Wattstax (2000)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 1 nomination
From the stage to the street, Wattstax brilliantly captures a musical moment — and a poignantly passionate response to painful social upheaval.
WATTSTAX is a documentary that captures the essence of a music festival and the social mood of the time. It’s got everything from smooth soulful performances to funky chicken dance-offs. Isaac Hayes belts out Shaft, Rufus Thomas does the Funky Chicken, and the Reverend Jesse Jackson sings I Am Somebody. It’s a great watch for anyone who wants to experience the energy and excitement of a music festival from the comfort of their own home. Plus, who doesn’t want to chant “I am somebody” along with the crowd?
Production Company(ies)
House Productions, Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London Wing Nut Films,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1973
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 38m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 4, 1973 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 7, 2004
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
Keyword(s)
documentary, music, R rating, directed by Mel Stuart, produced by Mel Stuart and Larry Shaw, starring James Alexander, Raymond Allen, Isaac Hayes, Luther Ingram, Jesse Jackson, Albert King, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ann Guarino, Gene Siskel, Dennis Hunt, Candice Russell, Jack Lloyd, John Weisman, Philip Elwood, Jonathan Takiff, Dick Banks, Alan Jones, Rob Nelson, TV Guide Staff, MPAA rating, Stax Records, Watts Summer Festival, Watts Riots, Richard Pryor, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, The Funky Chicken, God Is On Our Side, blaxploitation, historical time capsule, Memphis sound, Stax Records, Motown, Kim Weston, The Emotions, The Soul Children, The Dramatics, Johnnie Taylor, Carla Thomas, The Bar-Kays, Lift Every Voice and Sing, social commentary, Rev Jesse Jackson, Richard Pryor
Worldwide gross: $16,000
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $119,169
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,009
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 12,995
US/Canada gross: $16,000
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $119,169
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,642
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $119,169
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,869
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
Raymond Allen – Self
Isaac Hayes – Self
Luther Ingram – Self
Jesse Jackson – Self
Albert King – Self
Mel Stuart – Director, Producer
Larry Shaw – Producer
Director(s)
Mel Stuart
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Mel Stuart, Larry Shaw
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (4)
All [the performers] draw lively reactions from the crowd who get to chant, “I am somebody.” And isn’t that all what we want to be?
December 18, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Ann Guarino
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
It is a fine documentary in that it does, better than any popular music film with the possible exception of Woodstock, document a group of people, their music, how it came to be, and why they like it.
December 18, 2020
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
This is a fragmented, skittery film that does not have enough moments of interest and hilarity to offset the stretches of boredom.
December 18, 2020
Dennis Hunt
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Simply as a means of recording the fruition of hope among a centuries-maligned minority Wattstax can stand proud.
December 18, 2020
Candice Russell
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Just when you figure that the film industry has exhausted every possible avenue of exploration in the quest to present still another music festival documentary, along comes something with a nice, fresh twist. Such is the case with Wattstax.
December 18, 2020
Jack Lloyd
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Once In a while, a muslc-oriented film can transcend the ordinary and become a chronicle of a social mood instead of an on-film record of a concert. It was that way with Monterey Pop and Woodstock; it Is that way with WATTSTAX.
December 18, 2020
John Weisman
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Wattstax is always moving from the Coliseum stage to restaurant and barber shop comments; from street and alley scenes to night club episodes and church fronts and what goes on inside.
December 18, 2020
Philip Elwood
San Francisco Examiner
[Wattstax] does contain the usual elements, but also much more.
December 18, 2020
Jonathan Takiff
Philadelphia Daily News
Big moments musically include the smooth sensitivity of the Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas in pink tropical shorts and cape leading the coliseum in “The Funky Chicken,” and Isaac Hayes with very little voice but great presence singing “God Is On Our Side.”
December 18, 2020
Dick Banks
Charlotte Observer
The highlights are Isaac Hayes belting out Shaft, Rufus Thomas doing the Funky Chicken and the Reverend Jesse Jackson singing I Am Somebody.
December 18, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Alan Jones
Radio Times
Whether or not you call it “blaxploitation,” there was something like a riot goin’ on in the American cinema of 1973.
August 21, 2009
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
It’s a resonant and evocative historical time capsule.
January 26, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/5
TV Guide Staff
TV Guide…
Plot
Documentary with a selection from a non-stop 7-hour musical event at Watts, the Los Angeles Coliseum, August 20, 1972. It’s a sort of Woodstock event but with black artists, namely the groups Dramatics, Staple Singers, Rance Allen Group, Emotions, Bar Kays, Mel & Tim.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rufus Thomas performs in a hot pink leisure suit and leads the crowd in “The Funky Chicken.”
Mel-Stuart.jpg
90%
Raising Victor Vargas (2003)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 14 nominations
A coming-of-age tale marked by its authenticity.
Raising Victor Vargas” is a movie that captures the essence of teenage life in New York’s Lower East Side. It’s a coming-of-age story that’s both funny and heartwarming. The film follows the lives of Latino teenagers as they navigate their way through love, sex, and family. The characters are relatable and the dialogue is authentic. Director Peter Sollett does an excellent job of capturing the raw emotions of his young cast. It’s a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels. If you’re looking for a movie that will leave you feeling good, “Raising Victor Vargas” is the perfect choice.
Production Company(ies)
Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 28m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Victor Rasuk, Judy Marte, Melonie Diaz, Altagracia Guzman, Silvestre Rasuk, Krystal Rodriguez, directed by Peter Sollett, written by Peter Sollett, Eva Vives, Comedy, Drama, $2.1M box office, reviewed by Neil Norman, Nell Minow, Stella Papamichael, Geoff Pevere, Kimberley Jones, Terry Lawson, David Walsh, Felicia Feaster, Nick Rogers, Mark Halverson, R MPAA rating, produced by Scott Macaulay, Robin O’Hara, Alain de la Mata, Samuel Goldwyn Company, Surround, Dolby Stereo, Flat (1.85:1) Aspect Ratio
Worldwide gross: $2,816,116
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,564,563
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,205
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 497,771
US/Canada gross: $2,078,661
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,369,243
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,915
US/Canada opening weekend: $33,166
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $53,758
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,185
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $800,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,296,697
Production budget ranking: 2,069
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $698,272
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,569,594
ROI to date (est.): 129%
ROI ranking: 829
Judy Marte – Judy Martinez
Melonie Diaz – Melonie
Altagracia Guzman – Grandma
Silvestre Rasuk – Nino Vargas
Krystal Rodriguez – Vicki Vargas
Director(s)
Peter Sollett
Writer(s)
Peter Sollett, Peter Sollett, Eva Vives
Producer(s)
Scott Macaulay, Robin O’Hara, Peter Sollett, Alain de la Mata
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (110) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (106) | Rotten (4)
Peter Sollett’s remarkable movie about the lives and loves of Latino teenagers in New York’s Lower East Side is an unexpected treat.
January 11, 2018
Neil Norman
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: A+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
A keenly observed, captivating, and innately funny portrait of teenagers coming to terms with their sexuality.
September 9, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A marvel of closely observed, intimately captivating moments.
July 5, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
June 8, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It is throughly involving, depicting the real and recognizable frustrations of teenagers and the grown-ups who have responsibility for them.
May 30, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
The work avoids a variety of clichés and attempts to take seriously its young protagonists’ lives and dilemmas.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Few films capture how hostile and enormous the world can be for children and the defenses they create to cope, but this easygoing, lovely film does, to great, tender effect.
February 4, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
Writer/director Peter Sollett refreshingly avoids placing characters into lazy traps of pregnancy, betrayal or violence. These are intelligent, thoughtful teenagers whom you’ll fondly remember as struggling through desires and instincts.
September 17, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
ultimately, it lacks the backbone, the thematic heft, to be anything beyond a sweet redemption story
September 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Antani
Los Angeles Alternative
Sollett isn’t crusading or exploiting the kids’ sex lives. His approach is reminiscent of John Cassavetes’s Shadows in its emphasis on sibling bonds and improvised dialogue.
April 30, 2004
Matt Kelemen
Las Vegas CityLife…
Plot
Raising Victor Vargas is a coming-of-age comedy/drama about a Dominican teen in New York City’s Lower East Side who is determined to win over the stunning and stuck-up Judy Ramirez.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Victor Rasuk, who plays the titular character in Raising Victor Vargas, went on to star in the HBO series How to Make It in America.
Peter-Sollett.jpg
90%
City of Ghosts (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
City of Ghosts takes a hard-hitting, ground-level look at atrocities in a part of the world that may seem foreign to many viewers, but whose impact will be no less devastating.
City of Ghosts” is like a rollercoaster ride, but instead of loops and drops, it’s a heart-wrenching journey through the eyes of brave journalists fighting against ISIS. The film may not have a Hollywood ending, but it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of a free press and the sacrifices made by those who risk their lives to tell the truth. It’s a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the reality of the war on terror and the human cost of fighting for justice.
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, The Steve Tisch Company, Wendy Finerman Productions,
Distributor
IFC Films, Amazon Studios
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Bangkok, Thailand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some violence
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 32m
-
Language(s):English, French, Central, Khmer, Russian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 26, 2017
Genre(s)
Documentary/War
Keyword(s)
documentary, war, Syria, ISIS, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, Matthew Heineman, produced by Matthew Heineman, directed by Matthew Heineman, reviewed by Suzi Feay, reviewed by Donald Clarke, reviewed by Calvin Wilson, reviewed by Matthew Lickona, reviewed by Marc Savlov, reviewed by Barbara VanDenburgh, rated R, English, box office gross $124.5K, Aziz, Mohamad Almusari, Hamoud Almousa, Fuad Hasan, Hussam
Worldwide gross: $1,277,187
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,070,156
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,406
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 225,753
US/Canada gross: $357,197
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $578,971
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,295
US/Canada opening weekend: $30,547
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $49,513
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,211
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $17,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $28,365,256
Production budget ranking: 1,179
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,274,690
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$41,569,789
ROI to date (est.): -95%
ROI ranking: 1,997
Mohamad Almusari – self
Hamoud Almousa – self
Fuad Hasan – self
Hussam – self
Matthew Heineman – Director, Producer
Director(s)
Matthew Heineman
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Matthew Heineman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (104) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (102) | Rotten (2)
Astonishing viewing – but it will haunt you.
June 8, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Suzi Feay
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
There are the makings of a gripping story in these elements. But somehow City of Ghosts never quite comes together.
August 15, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
This film will give you a new appreciation for the freedoms that are often taken for granted in a democracy.
August 3, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/4
Calvin Wilson
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
An important story that loses something in the telling.
July 28, 2017 | Rating: 2/5
Matthew Lickona
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
There is zero “fake news” here.
July 27, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
“City of Ghosts” isn’t merely about the personal sacrifices of these men, but a testament to the necessity of a free and open press the world over.
July 27, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Barbara VanDenburgh
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Vital and insistent, “City of Ghosts” is a movie that haunts you long after walking out of the theater.
July 1, 2020 | Rating: A
Brent McKnight
The Last Thing I See
As powerful a profile on courage and the war on terror as you’ll ever see.
May 11, 2020
Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review
City of Ghosts works urgently…the grainy and grisly images contrast deeply with the Islamic State’s own slick filmic efforts that ironically and blatantly mimic the language of Hollywood movies with unsettling efficiency.
February 27, 2020
Elissa Suh
MUBI
Documentaries don’t get any timelier and pressing than director Matthew Heineman’s follow-up to Cartel Land.
January 28, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Jorge Ignacio Castillo
The Canadian Crew
The film is worth seeing for its personal stories and its realism, because real life rarely has the neat endings of fiction.
April 26, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Cate Marquis
We Are Movie Geeks
The story, as assembled, therefore reflects the refugees’ shifting situations, with a naturalistic combination of horror, tenderness and the vicarious heroic kick of seeing journalists sticking it to wrongdoers.
March 1, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Calum Baker
One Room With A View…
Plot
A con man flees to Southeast Asia when an international scam he was involved in goes sour. Suspecting he’s been double-crossed by his long-time mentor, he sets off to Cambodia for his promised cut. What he finds there is a mysterious and hostile environment where even the most polished criminal can end up on deadly ground.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Director Matthew Heineman also directed the critically acclaimed documentary Cartel Land.
Matthew-Heineman.jpg
90%
Adaptation (2002)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
65 wins & 100 nominations total
Dizzyingly original, the loopy, multi-layered Adaptation is both funny and thought-provoking.
Adaptation is like a wild ride through the mind of a genius, but also a little bit like being lost in a maze. You’re not quite sure where you’re going, but you’re having so much fun getting there that you don’t really care. It’s a movie that keeps you on your toes, constantly surprising you with its twists and turns. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good mind-bending film that makes you question everything you thought you knew? Plus, Nicolas Cage gives one of his best performances, which is saying something considering his career trajectory. All in all, Adaptation is a true original that’s worth the watch.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Santa Barbara, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, sexuality, some drug use and violent images
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 54m
-
Language(s):English, Latin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 21, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, directed by Spike Jonze, written by Charlie Kaufman, Susan Orlean, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Joshua Rothkopf, Nell Minow, David Ansen, Geoff Andrew, Sara Michelle Fetters, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Brian Eggert, David Walsh, Matt Brunson, Anton Bitel, PJ Nabarro, Patrick Nabarro, Leigh Paatsch, R MPAA rating, screenwriting, adaptation, self-loathing, sexual frustration, twin brother, The Orchid Thief, Susan Orlean, L.A screenwriter, freeloading, passion, intertwined, original, funny, thought-provoking, Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital, Columbia Pictures, Flat (1.85:1), Edward Saxon, Vincent Landay, Jonathan Demme, Nicolas Cage as Charlie Kaufman, Donald Kaufman, Meryl Streep as Susan Orlean, Chris Cooper as John Laroche, Tilda Swinton as Valerie, Cara Seymour as Amelia Kavan, Brian Cox as Robert McKee
Worldwide gross: $32,801,173
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $53,166,495
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,300
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,797,873
US/Canada gross: $22,498,520
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $36,467,215
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,201
US/Canada opening weekend: $384,478
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $623,190
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,352
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $19,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $30,796,563
Production budget ranking: 1,140
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $16,583,949
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,785,982
ROI to date (est.): 12%
ROI ranking: 1,337
Meryl Streep – Susan Orlean
Chris Cooper – John Laroche
Tilda Swinton – Valerie
Cara Seymour – Amelia Kavan
Brian Cox – Robert McKee
Director(s)
Spike Jonze
Writer(s)
Charlie Kaufman, Susan Orlean
Producer(s)
Edward Saxon, Vincent Landay, Jonathan Demme
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
65 wins & 100 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (210) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (190) | Rotten (20)
There’s no good reason why this should work-the picture is a schizzy, self-indulgent mess-but magically, it does.
March 16, 2020
Joshua Rothkopf
In These Times
TOP CRITIC
Adult stuff only but hilarious and fresh.
September 2, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
In the wrong hands, the lunacy could have gotten out of control, but Jonze has near-perfect pitch. He never forces the farce, rooting even Kaufman’s wildest digressions in real emotions.
July 6, 2010
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
For two-thirds of its running time the film is close to genius. But there’s still no third act.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Just go see it. Immediately. Today. There are far too few films that make one giddy and excited about the art of making movies. Adaptation is one of them, and it is for the ages.
June 19, 2003 | Rating: 4/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
It’s the sort of movie that keeps reinventing itself and nudging us in the ribs as it does. You’ll want to see it soon, because everyone you know will be talking about it.
April 27, 2003 | Rating: A-
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
This ceaselessly clever, brilliantly mind-bending film taps into the intangible spirit of Orlean’s book by involving the viewer in Kaufman’s painstaking translation to the screen.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Aside from a few mild swipes at the commercial film industry and New York pseudo-intellectual circles, the film is rather toothless.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
A dense picture operating on more than one level, Adaptation. benefits from its warped comic sensibilities and one (make that two) of Cage’s final great performances before his career free-fall.
October 19, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
…what emerges from this hothouse union is a perfect hybrid, as unique and weird as a rare orchid. It is also, ironically enough for an adaptation, a true original.
August 28, 2020
Anton Bitel
Projected Figures
Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman are able to keep Adaptation progressively lucid and amusing through the layered revelations of their postmodern musings.
February 1, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Blurs the lines between truth, fiction and bald-faced lies with innovative, breathtaking abandon.
May 11, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)…
Plot
While his latest movie Being John Malkovich (1999) is in production, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is hired by Valerie Thomas to adapt Susan Orlean’s non-fiction book “The Orchid Thief” for the screen. Thomas bought the movie rights before Orlean wrote the book, when it was only an article in The New Yorker. The book facts the story of rare orchid hunter John Laroche, whose passion for orchids and horticulture made Orlean discover passion and beauty for the first time in her life. Charlie wants to be faithful to the book in his adaptation, but despite Laroche himself being an interesting character in his own right, Charlie is having difficulty finding enough material in Laroche to fill a movie, while equally not having enough to say cinematically about the beauty of orchids. At the same time, Charlie is going through other issues in his life. His insecurity as a person doesn’t allow him to act upon his feelings for Amelia Kavan, who is interested in him as a man. And Charlie’s twin brother, pretentious Donald, has moved into his house with a goal of also becoming a screenwriter. Despite not admiring Donald as a screenwriter, Charlie asks for his advice. Together, they feel that there is some interesting subtext in the book on which Orlean herself can only elaborate, if only Charlie has the nerve to talk to her. If she can’t or won’t elaborate, they may have to find out the meaning of that subtext on their own.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nicolas Cage plays both Charlie Kaufman and his twin brother Donald in the film.
Spike-Jonze.jpg
90%
Lost Boys of Sudan (2004)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 3 nominations
Lost Boys of Sudan is a documentary that manages to capture the complexity and sophistication of the experiences of young refugees. While shot on video and with a PBS-like aesthetic, the film offers a riveting look at the hurdles faced by two refugees as they adjust to life in the United States. The film’s ability to trade in hope and humor, rather than despair, is a testament to its ability to offer a detailed look at the lives of these young men. While some critics have noted that the film fails to address the magnitude of the horror unfolding in the Sudan, Lost Boys of Sudan is a moving and poignant document that offers a unique perspective on the refugee experience.
The Lost Boys of Sudan is a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and question everything you thought you knew about the world. Shot on video and with a PBS vibe, it follows the journey of two refugees as they adjust to life in the United States. From the absurdity of a garbage disposal to the heartbreak of leaving family behind, this film captures the complexity of their experiences. While it may not delve into the larger political issues at play, it offers a glimpse into the lives of two remarkable young men. Get ready to be inspired and have your heartstrings tugged!
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Houston, Texas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Arabic, Dinka, Swahili
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2009
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Lost Boys of Sudan, documentary, Santino Majok Chuor, Peter Nyarol Dut, directed by Megan Mylan, Jon Shenk, written by Megan Mylan, Jon Shenk, produced by Megan Mylan, Jon Shenk, colonialism, civil war, refugee camp, United States, adoptive families, school, menial jobs, stability, adjustment, English, $120.7K, 95% Tomatometer, 83% audience score, reviewed by Richard Nilsen, Ted Fry, Robert Denerstein, Michael Booth, Jeff Strickler, Roger Moore, Phil Villarreal, David Sterritt, Karen Karbo, Marty Mapes, Jeffrey Bruner, rated PG-13
Worldwide gross: $188,467
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $305,481
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,849
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 33,313
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
Peter Kon Dut – Self
Megan Mylan – Director, Producer
Jon Shenk – Director, Producer
Director(s)
Megan Mylan, Jon Shenk
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Megan Mylan, Jon Shenk
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (2)
Shot on video, and with the look of a PBS entry, it nevertheless manages to function on several levels — all of them complex and sophisticated.
August 26, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Culture shock is hopelessly inadequate to describe the experience of the young subjects of the riveting documentary Lost Boys of Sudan.
August 6, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ted Fry
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Offers an opportunity to see a good movie and learn something about an issue that has received far too little attention in the U.S. press.
July 23, 2004 | Rating: B
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
It might help you understand an unfamiliar face walking toward you on the street, and that’s a great accomplishment for any film.
July 23, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Booth
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
A documentary about two refugees who come to the United States, it offers a detailed look at the hurdles they face but makes no attempt to analyze, explain or advocate changes that would help them.
June 24, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Lacking that exotic ‘foreign’ focus and by failing to address the hardships of their early lives, we’re left with a routine film about teenagers making mistakes or growing up too fast.
June 4, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The documentary trades in hope and humor, rather than despair.
February 8, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star
A riveting movie.
December 2, 2004 | Rating: 4/4
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor
The scenes of Peter and Santino’s adjustment to life in Houston — a garbage disposal does what? — are at once quotidian, poignant and absurd.
September 17, 2004 | Rating: B+
Karen Karbo
Oregonian
In spite of their streets-paved-with-gold expectations, there is no Heaven on Earth
July 28, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit
The film also doesn’t get across the magnitude of the horror unfolding in the Sudan.
July 16, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Jeffrey Bruner
Des Moines Register
This is a very moving filmed document.
July 2, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jeff Vice
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)…
Plot
Lost Boys of Sudan follows the journey of two orphaned Sudanese boys as they travel from a refugee camp in Kenya to the United States to start a new life, but struggle to adjust to their new surroundings.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
Megan-Mylan.jpg
90%
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
39 wins & 13 nominations total
Though it may not always convince, Bowling for Columbine asks important questions and provokes thought.
Bowling for Columbine is a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and question everything you thought you knew about gun violence in America. Michael Moore’s style may not be subtle, but it sure is effective. From the desolate neighborhoods of Flint to the devastating aftermath of the Columbine shooting, this film will leave you with a lot to think about. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good argument? So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to be entertained and informed all at once.
Production Company(ies)
Icon Entertainment International, The Ladd Company, B. H. Finance C.V.
Distributor
United Artists
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violent images and language
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2003
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore, documentary, guns, America, Columbine High School massacre, Kmart, Canada, National Rifle Association, Charlton Heston, Marilyn Manson, political, provocative, thought-provoking, violent images, language, United Artists, box office, gross USA, R rating, surround sound, Dolby Stereo, Charles Bishop, Jim Czarnecki, Michael Donovan, Kathleen Glynn, reviewed by Joshua Rothkopf, Nell Minow, David Ansen, Andrew Sarris, Marjorie Baumgarten, Brian Eggert, Matt Brunson, David Walsh, Richard Crouse, Fresh Kernels, audience score, critic consensus, fresh, rotten, verified purchase, Fandango, MCU movies, horror movies, Netflix series, TV shows, streaming movies, actors
Worldwide gross: $58,011,975
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $96,216,491
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,035
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,492,529
US/Canada gross: $21,576,018
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $35,785,176
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,213
US/Canada opening weekend: $209,148
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $346,885
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,492
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $4,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $6,634,250
Production budget ranking: 1,815
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,572,544
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $86,009,697
ROI to date (est.): 843%
ROI ranking: 152
George W. Bush – Self
Dick Clark – Self
Charlton Heston – Self
Marilyn Manson – Self
John Nichols – Self
Director(s)
Michael Moore
Writer(s)
Michael Moore
Producer(s)
Charles Bishop, Jim Czarnecki, Michael Donovan, Kathleen Glynn, Michael Moore
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
39 wins & 13 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Documentary Feature Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (172) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (163) | Rotten (9)
Readers of these pages need no introduction to Michael Moore, nor will they require any acrobatics on my part to go see Bowling for Columbine, which is (brace yourselves) pretty terrific.
March 16, 2020
Joshua Rothkopf
In These Times
TOP CRITIC
Must-see gun violence documentary is brutal.
December 22, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
It’s both powerful and infuriating, brilliant and facile, hilarious and horrific, witty and demagogic. It’s a great movie to argue about.
November 5, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
January 21, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
All in all, Mr. Moore has given us a lot to think about in Bowling for Columbine, and he has entertained us royally in the process.
December 19, 2002
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Fun and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking.
November 3, 2002 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film’s continued relevance is impossible to ignore.
March 14, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Bowling for Columbine isn’t a subtle film; instead, it makes its case with Magnum force.
August 10, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
The shots of desolate, devastated neighborhoods in Flint, once a center of automobile production, are among the most effective in the film.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
An extremely effective, if not rambling film that asks the question “Are we (America) a nation of gun nuts, or are we just nuts?”
January 31, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
Though Moore’s style and biases have often been called into question, Bowling for Columbine diagnosed America’s gun problem…
June 22, 2020
Rocco T. Thompson
Screen Rant
The most striking thing about Michael Moore’s 2002 documentary, Bowling for Columbine, is how painfully relevant it still is.
June 3, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row…
Plot
The United States of America is notorious for its astronomical number of people killed by firearms for a developed nation without a civil war. With his signature sense of angry humor, activist filmmaker Michael Moore sets out to explore the roots of this bloodshed. In doing so, he learns that the conventional answers of easy availability of guns, violent national history, violent entertainment and even poverty are inadequate to explain this violence when other cultures share those same factors without the equivalent carnage. In order to arrive at a possible explanation, Michael Moore takes on a deeper examination of America’s culture of fear, bigotry and violence in a nation with widespread gun ownership. Furthermore, he seeks to investigate and confront the powerful elite political and corporate interests fanning this culture for their own unscrupulous gain.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about Bowling for Columbine.
Michael-Moore.jpg
90%
The Producers (1968)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
3 wins & 5 nominations total
A hilarious satire of the business side of Hollywood, The Producers is one of Mel Brooks’ finest, as well as funniest films, featuring standout performances by Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel.
The Producers is a comedic masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Mel Brooks’ hilarious idea of a musical about Hitler is brought to life by the incredible performances of Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. It’s amazing to think that a film about the worst musical in history has become one of the most beloved musicals of all time. The jokes are irreverent and the slapstick humor is top-notch. If you’re looking for a good laugh, The Producers is the perfect film to watch. Just make sure you’re not drinking anything while watching, or you might end up spitting it out from laughing too hard!
Production Company(ies)
AOI Promotion Fuji Television, Network GAGA.
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Broadway Theatre – 1681 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1968
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, German
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 1968 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars, Estelle Winwood, Christopher Hewett, directed by Mel Brooks, written by Mel Brooks, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Peter Bradshaw, Variety Staff, Dave Kehr, Andrew Collins, Marjorie Baumgarten, Nell Minow, Matt Brunson, Sarah Boslaugh, Mike Massie, Tom Beasley, Danielle Solzman, Rob Aldam, MPAA rating, Sidney Glazier, producer, “Springtime for Hitler”, worst play, hippie-freak star, old ladies, accountant, investors, flop, legal, worst musical, central Manhattan, New York, insane people, human heart, vulgar, obscene, original, defining movie, smart comic relief, cinema fans, comedy bits, refreshing, hilarious script, tasteful, effective, unique, entertaining, fun, ridiculous
Worldwide gross: $375,524
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,617,149
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,269
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 394,455
US/Canada gross: $328,673
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,165,868
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,929
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,091
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $58,670
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,140
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $941,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $9,063,968
Production budget ranking: 1,712
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,880,947
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$10,327,765
ROI to date (est.): -74%
ROI ranking: 1,836
Gene Wilder – Leo Bloom
Dick Shawn – Lorenzo St. DuBois
Kenneth Mars – Franz Liebkind
Estelle Winwood – “Hold Me, Touch Me” Old Lady
Christopher Hewett – Roger De Bris
Director(s)
Mel Brooks
Writer(s)
Mel Brooks
Producer(s)
Sidney Glazier
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
3 wins & 5 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (7)
Each time I’ve watched it – and I’ve watched it many times – Mel Brooks’ The Producers has felt horribly pertinent to the present moment.
August 1, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Mel Brooks has turned a funny idea into a slapstick film, thanks to the performers, particularly Zero Mostel.
August 12, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Everything that can go wrong in an amateur film does go wrong, from the timing to the structure to the pitch of the performances.
August 12, 2008
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It’s the ultimate punchline, the killer gag, that a proto-novel that turned into a proto-play that ended up as a movie about the worst musical in history, is now the most popular musical in town.
October 6, 2004 | Rating: 5/5
Andrew Collins
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Hilarious and irreverent, Brooks’ first film has the good fortune to be graced with the comic genius of Mostel, Wilder, and Shawn.
October 1, 2003
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Sublime.
June 19, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
The inspired lunacy extends to all corners of this madcap comedy which Brooks once insisted “rises below vulgarity.”
April 16, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
…a very New York film, from the little tour of central Manhattan Max uses to seduce Leo to the dueling conversations Max and his landlord …have with the Almighty.
April 13, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Sarah Boslaugh
TheArtsStl
An absolutely perfect combination of cartoonish nuttiness and naturally-flowing comical interactions.
December 7, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
A film that, like its fellow late 60s classic Bonnie and Clyde, still feels boundary-pushing and bold five decades after it was made.
August 14, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Tom Beasley
Flickering Myth
Mel Brooks’ feature directorial debut starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, The Producers, is one of the best comedies of all-time.
October 18, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
The Producers is a rip-roaring comedy which takes no prisoners and doesn’t distinguish reich from wrong.
October 30, 2018
Rob Aldam
Backseat Mafia…
Plot
Down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock is forced to romance rich old ladies to finance his efforts. When timid accountant Leo Bloom reviews Max’s accounting books, the two hit upon a way to make a fortune by producing a sure-fire flop. The play which is to be their gold mine? “Springtime for Hitler.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel deliver standout performances in The Producers, according to Fresh Kernels.
Mel-Brooks.jpg
90%
Read My Lips (2002)
90%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 12 nominations
Jacques Audiard’s “Read My Lips” is a cinematic masterpiece that seamlessly blends elements of thriller and romance to create a truly unique and captivating experience. The film’s ability to surprise and keep the audience on the edge of their seats is a testament to Audiard’s skill as a filmmaker. While some may argue that the film falls into trite cinematic tropes, Audiard’s masterful direction and the exceptional performances from the cast elevate the film to a level of sophistication rarely seen in modern cinema. “Read My Lips” is a must-see for any cinephile looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking experience.
Read my lips, this movie is the perfect mix of romance and thriller. It’s like a rollercoaster ride that you never want to end. The plot twists and turns will leave you on the edge of your seat, and the chemistry between the two leads is electric. It’s no wonder this movie has received such high praise from critics. Don’t wait for the Hollywood remake, watch the original and experience all the odd and intriguing wrinkles for yourself. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Production Company(ies)
Cosmopolitan Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
Distributor
Magnolia Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
52 Rue du Commandant Louis Bouchet, Meudon, Hauts-de-Seine, France
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, violence and some sexual content
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 58m
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Language(s):French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 5, 2002 Wide
Genre(s)
Mystery & Thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Vincent Cassel, Emmanuelle Devos, Olivier Gourmet, Olivia Bonamy, Olivier Perrier, Bernard Alane, Philippe Carcassonne, Jean-Louis Livi, directed by Jacques Audiard, written by Jacques Audiard, Tonino Benacquista, Mystery & thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nick Schager, Geoff Pevere, Rick Groen, Rene Rodriguez, Marjorie Baumgarten, Roger Moore, Nick Rogers, Mark Halverson, Tony Medley, Daniel Kasman, Joshua Tanzer, produced by Philippe Carcassonne, Jean-Louis Livi, MPAA rating R, French (Canada), Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, Flat (1.85:1), property development company, trainee, jail, romance, thriller, character study, offbeat, surprise, Hollywood remake, Hitchcockian, tension, sound design, cinematography, double act, unbearably tense, sexy, odd, beautiful, personal favorite
Worldwide gross: $5,393,526
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,945,500
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,003
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 975,518
US/Canada gross: $1,471,911
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,441,257
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,987
US/Canada opening weekend: $27,080
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $44,914
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,246
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): FRF 49,000,000
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
Emmanuelle Devos – Carla Bhem
Olivier Gourmet – Marchand
Olivia Bonamy – Annie
Olivier Perrier – Masson
Bernard Alane – Morel
Director(s)
Jacques Audiard
Writer(s)
Jacques Audiard, Tonino Benacquista
Producer(s)
Philippe Carcassonne, Jean-Louis Livi
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 12 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (96) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (3)
May be the finest thriller/romance hybrid of the new century.
May 4, 2005 | Rating: A-
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
Audiard has created one of those rare, commercially released movies that trades in actual, honest-to-god surprise.
October 4, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Having changed into action gear, the picture never looks back, leaving two people who seemed wonderfully unique to do things that are cinematically trite.
October 4, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
See it now, before the inevitable Hollywood remake flattens out all its odd, intriguing wrinkles.
September 20, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
This is only Audiard’s third film, but it should put him in the top ranks of international filmmakers.
September 9, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It’s neither as romantic nor as thrilling as it should be. But it offers plenty to ponder and chew on as its unusual relationship slowly unfolds.
September 5, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Crawling onto the razor’s edge with bare hands, Jacques Audiard’s film generates daringly uncomfortable, psychologically dangerous heat rarely found in romance of any stripe. Exhilaratingly paced, cleverly suspenseful and tastefully erotic.
September 17, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Un film en constante progression dmarrant sur la note d’un drame exceptionnel pour se terminer sous les traits d’un des suspenses les mieux nantis des annes 2000
March 16, 2006 | Rating: 8/10
Jean-François Vandeuren
Panorama
October 7, 2004 | Rating: 8/10
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com
August 7, 2004 | Rating: B-
Daniel Kasman
d+kaz. intelligent movie reviews
Like the Vertigo-inspired Chinese film Suzhou River, it pays homage to Hitchcock without copying, and the results are original and thrilling in their own right.
March 13, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joshua Tanzer
Offoffoff…
Plot
Young secretary Carla is a long-time employee of a maryam property development company. Loyal and hardworking, first to arrive and last to leave, Carla is beginning to chafe at the limitations of her career and is looking to move up. But as a 35-five-year-old woman with a hearing deficiency, she is not sure how to climb out of her humdrum life, though she is confident in her own abilities. Into her life comes Paul Angeli, a new trainee she decides to hire. Paul is 25 years old and completely unskilled, but Carla covers for him when the need arises because of his other qualities – he’s a thief, fresh out of jail and very good-looking. It’s a case of good meeting bad.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Vincent Cassel, who plays Paul Angeli in the film, is known for his roles in other French films such as La Haine and Irreversible.
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